2. The lexicalized meaning extensions of the Amharic body-part word fit ‘face’

Abstract

This study deals about the lexicalized meaning extension of the Amharic body-part word fit
‘face. The data collected from the day-to-day usage of Amharic and analayised qualitatively,
depending on their meaning in a given context. Words add meanings. The added, extended
meanings may have the same or different functions from previous meanings. Based on the
functions of extended meanings, the route of meaning extensions can be labelled as either
grammatical or lexical. This study describes the meaning extensions of the Amharic body-part
term, the word fit ‘face’ and the lexicalization processes following the theoretical model of
cognitive semantic typology. The lexicalization processes involve a wide array of contexts of
which seven meaning extensions of fit ‘face’ and their associated contexts have been identified
using authentic examples from various secondary data sources: 1) traditional military rank
ፊታውራሪ, 2) emotion and personality trait ኮሶ ፊት, 3) non-verbal cues in communication ፊት
አሳየ, 4) be summoned (forced to stand, to attend) ከዳኛ ፊት, 5) front tooth ፊት ጥርስ, 6) secret
door of a castle or a fenced compound ፊትበር, and 7) being beautiful ፊተ ሰልካካ and ugly ኮሶ
ፊት.