Ebook: Changing semantic factors in case selection: Russian evidence from the last two century

Morphology. 2011, Volume 21, Issue 3-4, pp 573-592.
We present a corpus-based study of variation in case assignment of the direct object of negated verbs in Russian over the past 200 years. Superficially the system of case forms available over this relatively
short period has remained largely the same, but the way in which certain cases are used has been radically altered. This is particularly apparent in the treatment of the direct object of negated verbs. We
argue that various semantic factors have been involved in bringing about this change, and that the role
and significance of these factors has been changing over the period under investigation. This has
implications for our understanding of the role of semantics in case assignment.