Chapter 18 Lexical Functions: Description of Lexical Relations in a ...

—Chapter 18. Lexical Functions— 63
The two following LFs—Prox and Prepar—have no actantial structure of their own and
therefore with a nominal L they appear only with LFs of the type Oper i or Real i, i.e., they are
always used in complex LFs; with a verbal L they can appear alone. Their keyword L is a noun or
a verb with an predicate meaning.
57. Prox [Lat. proximāre (approach)] = proximative
Examples
Prox is a verb meaning (be about to …) ≈ (be on the verge of …).
Prox(die) = //be clinging to life, be fighting for life
ProxOper 1(despair) = be on the edge [of ~]
ProxOper 1(disaster) = head [for ~] < be on the brink [of ~]
ProxOper 1(tears) = be on the verge [of ~]
ProxFunc 0(storm) = brews, gathers
58. Prepar [Lat. praeparāre] = preparative
Prepar is a verb meaning (prepare N for ...) ≈ (get N ready for normal use or functioning);
Prepar1 is used to express the idea of (prepare oneself for ...).
Examples
PreparFact 0(car) = fill up [ART ~]
PreparFact 0(ears) = prick up [ART ~s]
PreparFact 2(program) = load [ART ~ into a computer]
PreparFact 2(ambush) = set [ART ~ for NY]
Prepar 1Real 1(ambush) = lay [in ~ for NY]
Prepar 1Real 2(plane) = board [ART ~]
Remark
Prepar and Prox stand in an obvious semantic relation:
Prepar(Y) ≈ consciously CausProx(Y).
That is, Prepar implies teleological, purposeful activity; that is why it was decided to keep it as a
separate LF.