Семантико-синтактична структура на българското „студено ми е“ и английското „І аm cold“ – синхронно и диахронно изследване {(Semantic-syntactic struct

The syntactic behaviour of English I am cold displays some peculiarities due to the fact that it comes from earlier me is cold. This construction is isomorphic with the corresponding phrases in other European languages. It is necessary to know the semantic-syntactic structure of this type of „impersonal“ constructions in order to gain insight into the mechanism of the change towards personal construction in Middle English. Using surface data from different languages the following predicate components have been detected: property assignment, identity, existence and location. In most European languages these relations are expressed by the verb of being. Rules are proposed for reaching surface structures like OE Cold is and me is cold, MdE It is cold. The transition to It is cold is connected with the change in the semantic structure of the verb to be. Me in Me is cold ceased to be interpreted as a Dative. The following factors are relevant in determining the surface form of an „impersonal meaning“: 1) the nature of the verb of being; 2) the way of expressing the notion of an interested person (Ethical Dative); 3) the presence/absence of a grammatical category of gender. Bulgarian is, so to say, a stage behind in all three items.