Why Russian aspectual prefixes aren’t empty

Prefix		IZ-
Methodology
iz-
o(b)-
ot-
pere-
pod-
pri-
raz-
u-
v-
v(o)z-
vy-

Submeaning	Description	Example	Example gloss
1. OUT OF A CONTAINER	Cause smth/smb to leave a location (container)	Gospod' izgnal ix iz raja	The God banished them from paradise
2. EMPTY A CONTAINER	Retrieve smth from a container so that the container gets empty	Amerikanec isčerpal svoi argumenty	The American ran out of arguments
3. EXHAUSTIVE RESULT	Reach a complete irreversible result	Za tri mesjaca on ispisal dve tetradi	In three months he used up two notebooks
4. EXHAUST A SURFACE	The action affects the whole surface of an object	Koty sil'no ego iscarapali	The cats scratched him all over
5. NEGATIVE EXHAUSTION	An object is exhaustively damaged by the action	Vasilij izbil do smerti byvšego zjatja	Vasilij beat his former son-in-law to death
6. CREATE AN IMAGE ON A SURFACE *	An image appears as a result of the action	-	-
7. MAKE OUT OF	Create by giving shape to a raw material	On izvajal statuju ženy	He made a sculpture of his wife
8. DECLINE/DEVIATE	Curve a straight object	Telo eë izognulos'	Her body bent
9. ACQUIRE	Gain smth from someone	On isprosil blagoslovenie	He asked and obtained blessing
10. ENDURE *	Resist hard conditions	-	-

^* According to our findings the prefixes vy- and iz- share the same radial category. However the prefix iz- does not have any verbs in two of the submeanings within this radial category. These meanings are listed in the list of submeanings, but are not shown on the diagram and are not ascribed to any verbs.

1. OUT OF A CONTAINER
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iscelit’(sja) cure celit’ give treatment m

ispit’ have a drink of pit’ drink n

ispravit’(sja) correct pravit’(sja) correct m

istolkovat’ interpret, comment on tolkovat’ interpret m

izbežat’ avoid bežat’ run m

izbrat’ choose, select brat’ take n

izgnat’ banish gnat’ chase n

izlovit’ catch out lovit’ try to catch n

izvinit’(sja) excuse vinit’ accuse m

izvleč’ extract, take out of vleč’ drag n

izyskat’ find, search out iskat’ search n

izžit’ get rid of žit’ live m

Specialized Perfectives (12)

1. OUT OF A CONTAINER
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iscelit’(sja)	cure	celit’	give treatment	m
ispit’	have a drink of	pit’	drink	n
ispravit’(sja)	correct	pravit’(sja)	correct	m
istolkovat’	interpret, comment on	tolkovat’	interpret	m
izbežat’	avoid	bežat’	run	m
izbrat’	choose, select	brat’	take	n
izgnat’	banish	gnat’	chase	n
izlovit’	catch out	lovit’	try to catch	n
izvinit’(sja)	excuse	vinit’	accuse	m
izvleč’	extract, take out of	vleč’	drag	n
izyskat’	find, search out	iskat’	search	n
izžit’	get rid of	žit’	live	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

izlečit’(sja) cure lečit’(sja) treat m

izmenit’(sja) change menjat’(sja) change m

Natural Perfectives (2)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
izlečit’(sja)	cure	lečit’(sja)	treat	m
izmenit’(sja)	change	menjat’(sja)	change	m

2. EMPTY A CONTAINER
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

isčerpat’ run out of čerpat’ scoop m

isteč’ lose blood; expire (of time) teč’ flow n/m

izlit’ express lit’ pour m

izložit’ express klast’ lay m

Specialized Perfectives (4)

2. EMPTY A CONTAINER
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
isčerpat’	run out of	čerpat’	scoop	m
isteč’	lose blood; expire (of time)	teč’	flow	n/m
izlit’	express	lit’	pour	m
izložit’	express	klast’	lay	m

Natural Perfectives: not attested
3. EXHAUSTIVE RESULT
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

ispisat’ write all over, using up all paper or ink pisat’ write m

istlet’ rot, reduce to dust tlet’ rot m

izgotovit’sja get prepared, ready gotovit’sja prepare m

izorvat’ tear all up into pieces rvat’ tear m

izučit’ make a thorough study of an issue učit’ study m

izvedat’ experience, get to know vedat’ know m

Specialized Perfectives (6)

3. EXHAUSTIVE RESULT
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
ispisat’	write all over, using up all paper or ink	pisat’	write	m
istlet’	rot, reduce to dust	tlet’	rot	m
izgotovit’sja	get prepared, ready	gotovit’sja	prepare	m
izorvat’	tear all up into pieces	rvat’	tear	m
izučit’	make a thorough study of an issue	učit’	study	m
izvedat’	experience, get to know	vedat’	know	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iskromsat’ cut to pieces carelessly kromsat’ cut to pieces carelessly m

iskrošit’(sja) crumble up, chop up krošit’(sja) crumble, chop m

iskupat’(sja) bathe kupat’(sja) bathe m

ispeč’(sja) bake peč’(sja) bake m

isprobovat’ try probovat’ try m

istoloč’ pound to powder toloč’ pound to powder m

istopit’ heat, light and keep fire topit’ heat, light and keep fire m

istratit’(sja) spend, waste tratit’(sja) spend, waste m

istupit’(sja) blunt tupit’(sja) blunt m

izbalovat’ pamper, spoil a child balovat’ pamper, spoil a child m

izmel’čat’ become small mel’čat’ become small m

izmel’čit’ make small, granulate mel’čit’ make small, granulate m

izmerit’ measure merit’ measure m

izrasxodovat’(sja) spend all of rasxodovat’(sja) spend m

izžarit’(sja) roast, fry žarit’(sja) roast, fry m

Natural Perfectives (15)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iskromsat’	cut to pieces carelessly	kromsat’	cut to pieces carelessly	m
iskrošit’(sja)	crumble up, chop up	krošit’(sja)	crumble, chop	m
iskupat’(sja)	bathe	kupat’(sja)	bathe	m
ispeč’(sja)	bake	peč’(sja)	bake	m
isprobovat’	try	probovat’	try	m
istoloč’	pound to powder	toloč’	pound to powder	m
istopit’	heat, light and keep fire	topit’	heat, light and keep fire	m
istratit’(sja)	spend, waste	tratit’(sja)	spend, waste	m
istupit’(sja)	blunt	tupit’(sja)	blunt	m
izbalovat’	pamper, spoil a child	balovat’	pamper, spoil a child	m
izmel’čat’	become small	mel’čat’	become small	m
izmel’čit’	make small, granulate	mel’čit’	make small, granulate	m
izmerit’	measure	merit’	measure	m
izrasxodovat’(sja)	spend all of	rasxodovat’(sja)	spend	m
izžarit’(sja)	roast, fry	žarit’(sja)	roast, fry	m

4. EXHAUST A SURFACE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iscarapat’ scratch all over carapat’ scratch m

istoptat’ trample all over toptat’ trample m

izryt’ dig up all over ryt’ dig m

Specialized Perfectives (3)

4. EXHAUST A SURFACE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iscarapat’	scratch all over	carapat’	scratch	m
istoptat’	trample all over	toptat’	trample	m
izryt’	dig up all over	ryt’	dig	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

ispačkat’(sja) soil, stain all over pačkat’(sja) soil, stain m

ispakostit’ stain all over pakostit’ stain m

ispolosovat’ cover with welts polosovat’ cover with welts m

izgvazdat’sja soil, stain all over gvazdat’sja soil, stain m

izmarat’(sja) smear all over marat’(sja) smear m

izmazat’(sja) smear all over mazat’(sja) smear m

izrešetit’ cover with holes rešetit’ cover with holes m

Natural Perfectives (7)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
ispačkat’(sja)	soil, stain all over	pačkat’(sja)	soil, stain	m
ispakostit’	stain all over	pakostit’	stain	m
ispolosovat’	cover with welts	polosovat’	cover with welts	m
izgvazdat’sja	soil, stain all over	gvazdat’sja	soil, stain	m
izmarat’(sja)	smear all over	marat’(sja)	smear	m
izmazat’(sja)	smear all over	mazat’(sja)	smear	m
izrešetit’	cover with holes	rešetit’	cover with holes	m

5. NEGATIVE EXHAUSTION
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iskusat’ bite all over kusat’ bite m

isterzat’ tear the whole thing to pieces terzat’ torment, tear m

izbit’ beat up bit’ beat m

izmotat’(sja) wear out, make exhausted motat’(sja) wind, reel m

iznosit’(sja) wear out nosit’(sja) wear m

izranit’ wound all over ranit’ wound m

izvesti(s’) waste; wear self out; poison, kill smb vesti’ lead m

Specialized Perfectives (7)

5. NEGATIVE EXHAUSTION
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iskusat’	bite all over	kusat’	bite	m
isterzat’	tear the whole thing to pieces	terzat’	torment, tear	m
izbit’	beat up	bit’	beat	m
izmotat’(sja)	wear out, make exhausted	motat’(sja)	wind, reel	m
iznosit’(sja)	wear out	nosit’(sja)	wear	m
izranit’	wound all over	ranit’	wound	m
izvesti(s’)	waste; wear self out; poison, kill smb	vesti’	lead	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iskalečit’(sja) cripple kalečit’(sja) cripple m

ispepelit’ incinerate pepelit’ incinerate m

isportit’(sja) spoil portit’(sja) spoil m

ispugat’(sja) scare pugat’(sja) scare m

istočit’ eat away, spoil točit’ eat away, spoil m

istomit’(sja) tire, torment tomit’(sja) tire, torment m

istrepat’(sja) fray, tear; become shabby trepat’(sja) fray, tear; become shabby m

istruxljavet’ moulder truxljavet’ moulder m

izdoxnut’ die (of animals) doxnut’ die (of animals) m

izmjat’(sja) crumple all over mjat’(sja) crumple all over m

izmučat’(sja) torment mučat’(sja) torment m

izmučit’(sja) torment mučit’(sja) torment m

izmytarit’(sja) torment, harass mytarit’(sja) torment, harass m

iznasilovat’ rape nasilovat’ rape m

izurodovat’(sja) cripple, disfeature urodovat’(sja) cripple, disfigure m

izuvečit’(sja) maim, mutilate uvečit’(sja) maim, mutilate m

Natural Perfectives (16)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iskalečit’(sja)	cripple	kalečit’(sja)	cripple	m
ispepelit’	incinerate	pepelit’	incinerate	m
isportit’(sja)	spoil	portit’(sja)	spoil	m
ispugat’(sja)	scare	pugat’(sja)	scare	m
istočit’	eat away, spoil	točit’	eat away, spoil	m
istomit’(sja)	tire, torment	tomit’(sja)	tire, torment	m
istrepat’(sja)	fray, tear; become shabby	trepat’(sja)	fray, tear; become shabby	m
istruxljavet’	moulder	truxljavet’	moulder	m
izdoxnut’	die (of animals)	doxnut’	die (of animals)	m
izmjat’(sja)	crumple all over	mjat’(sja)	crumple all over	m
izmučat’(sja)	torment	mučat’(sja)	torment	m
izmučit’(sja)	torment	mučit’(sja)	torment	m
izmytarit’(sja)	torment, harass	mytarit’(sja)	torment, harass	m
iznasilovat’	rape	nasilovat’	rape	m
izurodovat’(sja)	cripple, disfeature	urodovat’(sja)	cripple, disfigure	m
izuvečit’(sja)	maim, mutilate	uvečit’(sja)	maim, mutilate	m

6. CREATE AN IMAGE ON A SURFACE: Not attested

7. MAKE OUT OF
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

izgotovit’ make out of gotovit’ prepare n

izvajat’ sculpt out of vajat’ sculpt n

Specialized Perfectives (2)

7. MAKE OUT OF
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
izgotovit’	make out of	gotovit’	prepare	n
izvajat’	sculpt out of	vajat’	sculpt	n

Natural Perfectives: not attested
8. DECLINE / DEVIATE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

izlovčit’sja contrive, do smth cunning lovčit’ contrive, act cunningly m

izognut’(sja) bend out, crook gnut’ bend n

Specialized Perfectives (2)

8. DECLINE / DEVIATE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
izlovčit’sja	contrive, do smth cunning	lovčit’	contrive, act cunningly	m
izognut’(sja)	bend out, crook	gnut’	bend	n

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

iskorežit’(sja) bend, warp korežit’(sja) bend, warp m

iskoverkat’ distort, mangle koverkat’ distort, mangle m

iskrivit’(sja) bend, distort krivit’(sja) bend, distort n

Natural Perfectives (3)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
iskorežit’(sja)	bend, warp	korežit’(sja)	bend, warp	m
iskoverkat’	distort, mangle	koverkat’	distort, mangle	m
iskrivit’(sja)	bend, distort	krivit’(sja)	bend, distort	n

9. ACQUIRE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

isprosit’ obtain by asking prosit’ ask m

istrebovat’ claim, demand according to legal right trebovat’ demand m

Specialized Perfectives (2)

9. ACQUIRE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
isprosit’	obtain by asking	prosit’	ask	m
istrebovat’	claim, demand according to legal right	trebovat’	demand	m

Natural Perfectives: not attested

10. ENDURE: Not attested