THE SUBSTITUTION OF THE PREPOSITION “U” WITH THE PREPOSITION “V”

Abstract

This study investigates the extent to which, and the contexts in which the preposition v (“in, at”) has begun to replace the preposition u (“in, at”). To this end, a semantic analysis of the preposition u is followed by a survey examining speakers’ preferences in choosing a preposition to express two meanings traditionally associated with u, namely location (place of residence) and possession of a personal quality. The results confirm an ongoing competition between u and v, including cases where the codified standard prescribes the use of u.