Derivatives of the proto-slavic root *slu- (on semantic evolution)

The article deals with the development of the semantics of the Slavic derivatives of the Proto-Slavic roots *slu-/*slou-. The analysis is based on the material of modern Slavic languages presented in lexicographical sources, using a comparative-historical method. The research reveals that the derivatives of this root are represented in Slavic languages in different phonetic and derivational variants. Semantical^, the lexemes under discussion (mostly verbs) realize perceptual semantics, namely, the semantics of auditory perception, though functioning differently in modern Slavic languages. Perceptive semantics generates figurative meanings in all Slavic languages. Thus, in the East and South Slavic languages, there appear meanings associated with obedience and submission. In the East Slavic languages, the semantics of such lexemes reflects, on the one hand, the process of learning and education based on auditory perception, and on the other hand, the rational processing of information received through the auditory channel. In the West Slavic derivatives, the Proto-Slavic *slu-/*slou-form the attitudinal meaning, reflecting the position of the subject in the society or their taste preferences. In general, it should be noted that the most complex semantic structure of the Proto-Slavic derivatives *slu-/*slou- is found in the Russian language, where they generate a greater number of figurative meanings. Thus, the derivatives under analysis are semantically related to different fields: perceptual, rational, behavioural, educational, and attitudinal. However, the basic meaning for them is still perceptual (auditory).

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