Non-typical expression of positions of object, directive-start and directive-finish as the method of semantic transformation of Russian verbal idioms with prototypical structure of transference

This paper examines Russian verbal idioms with prototypical structure of transference that function in sentences as expressional predicates with actional semantics: e. g. вогнать в гроб / могилу кого, снимать стружку с кого, вставлять нож в спину кому, бросать деньги на ветер. These idioms represent examples of the asymmetry of the structure and the semantics. In this paper they are described in terms of semantic syntax and are analyzed as expressive predicates. We apply the method of modeling of sentence semantics that was postulated in the works of Novosibirsk syntactic school linguists, such as T. A. Kolosova, M. I. Cheremisina, N. B. Koshkareva. In particular, we use the term ‘typical syntactic structure’ (TSS) that defines the regularly used syntactic constructions with prototypical meaning and fixed structure. Typical syntactic structure of these idioms is intended for the expression of transference: somebody transfers something from one place to another. Typical semantics of these idioms is actional. The transformation of meaning is based on the non-typical expression of the positions of the object, directive-start, directive-finish in typical syntactic structure of transference. The paper describes three models of the modification of original semantics that are based on the type of idiom components that express obligatory semantic roles. The first group consists of idioms with free component in the position of object and fixed component in the position of directive-start / directive-finish, e. g.: вырвать из омута кого, взять в ежовые рукавицы кого, etc. The second group consists of idioms with free component in the position of directive-start / di-rective-finish and fixed component in the position of object, e. g.: снимать стружку с кого, ме тать громы и молнии в кого, etc. The third group consists of idioms with fixed components in the position of object and with fixed components in the position of directive-start / directive-finish, e. g.: выбить землю / почву из-под ног кого, бросать камень в огород кого, чей, кому, etc.