Construction Grammar Discussion Group: March 27

Posted on March 12, 2009 by benecla

A Constructional Analysis of Quasi-Incorporation in Dutch

Geert Booij (University of Leiden)

Date and time: March 27, 15.30-17.00
Location: Utrecht University (precise location will be added)

Reading: If you would like to read the article we will be discussing, please send an e-mail to Elena Tribushinina.

 

Abstract: This paper deals with quasi-incorporation, the phenomenon that bare nouns form tight phrasal lexical units with verbs. The data are mainly from Dutch. The semantics of quasi-incorporation is similar to that of real noun-incorporation: the bare noun receives a generic interpretation, and the NV combination denotes a conventional activity. However, the lexical units are phrasal since they are separable in root clauses, and in verb raising clusters. It is shown that such Dutch bare Noun + V combinations (either singular or plural nouns) have two structural interpretations. They are either VPs with an NP that consist of the bare noun only, or they are units of the form [N0 V0]V0, and thus a case of adjunction of the bare noun to the verb. The behaviour of these NV combinations under verb raising, in the Dutch periphrastic progressive construction, and with respect to the choice of the correct negative word (geen or niet) is shown to follow from the assumption of two possible structural analyses. Thus, Dutch quasi-incorporation is parallel to the analysis of similar cases of incorporation in Japanese, presented in Iida and Sells (2007). If the bare noun has no argumental role with respect to the verb, it is only the second structural option that is available, that of adjunction.

Quasi-incorporation can be seen as a construction, in which a specific syntactic pattern receives a specific semantic interpretation, that of conventional activity. Thus, the paper argues that the notion ‘construction’ is essential for giving a proper account of the semantics of quasi-noun incorporation.

 

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Discourse op Dinsdag: March 24

Posted on March 12, 2009 by benecla

 

Date & time: March 24, 15:30-17:00

Location: Utrecht University, Janskerkhof 13, Room 0.06

Sergey Avrutin

UiL-OTS, Utrecht University

The syntax-discourse interface and representation of anaphoric dependencies

Abstract

I will present a model of the syntax-discourse interface that is based on the different representations of functional and lexical elements in discourse.  Specifically, in the model I develop, functional categories such as D introduce a discourse place holder (‘a file card frame’) and lexical categories such as N introduce the referential substance (‘a file card heading’).  Anaphoric elements of three types are analyzed: SE elements (‘zich’), SELF elements (‘zichzelf’) and pronouns. The main idea is that the differences in morphology and feature specification of these elements result in their different discourse representations.  Their interpretation depends on the relationship between discourse entities (file cards) which are constrained by a set of rules/principles that I discuss.  A substantial part of the theory of anaphora, therefore, appears to be explainable at a beyond-narrow-syntax level.

The Discourse op Dinsdag discussion group is intended for researchers working on discourse from a language use perspective, and offers a platform to discuss their work (in progress). For more information check our website http://www.let.uu.nl/vici.

Meetings are planned 4-weekly on Tuesdays 15:30-17:00, in Utrecht. If you wish to participate, please let us know. If you’re interested in presenting your research, we invite you to come forward by sending an email to r.vanveen@uu.nl.

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