| Although compound verbs play a significant role in the verbal category of the Turkic languages with their wide use and various meanings, no study provides either a formal criterion to distinguish compound verbs from other types of verbs and from verbal phrases, or offers a criterion to distinguish between the various meanings of compound verbs. In this study for the first time the criterion for singling out descriptive verbs is established, and formal criteria are offered for distinguishing compound verbs from other types of verbal combinations as well as from verbal phrases. The meanings and usage of compound verbs in Uighur and Uzbek are elaborated for the first time by offering the necessary conditions--morphological, syntactic and semantic environments--for determining a single specific meaning among many meanings for each form of compound verbs. The similarities and differences in nuance and usage of compound verbs, and the interrelations among them in each language, are shown by presenting the necessary conditions for denoting these similarities and differences. A semantic characterization and comparison of each form of compound verbs in Uighur and Uzbek are provided, and compound verbs are categorized into groups. This study offers evidence for the conclusion that compound verbs in the Turkic languages, specifically in Uzbek and Uighur, do not belong to the category of aspect, like the category of aspect in Russian. Compound verbs are different from aspect in Russian in terms of both formation and meaning. Regarding formation, compound verbs are formed by syntactic means, whereas aspect in Russian is formed by morphological means. Regarding meaning, compound verbs contain a broader concept than aspect. Besides modality, compound verbs express how an action takes place in terms of duration and direction, as well as manner of action and intention of the subject. |
