Motion encoding in language and space

This book brings together researchers in linguistics, computer science, psychology and cognitive science to investigate how motion is encoded in language. The book is divided into two parts. Part I considers the parameters at play in motion encoding (including directed motion) by presenting new research on Estonian, English, Norwegian, Bulgarian, Italian, German, Russian, Persian, and Tamil. Part II investigates the way in which different levels of spatial resolution or granularity play a role in the encoding of motion in language

Categorization of directional motion verbs

This study presents a proposal of categorization of directional motion verbs, i.e. ones whose lexical semantics specifies a direction of motion, even without an overt directional complementation. The categorization proposed here includes (1) source/goal verbs, which are used to refer to bounded paths; (2) unbounded path verbs, which can be divided into two subgroups of upward/downward verbs and forward/backward verbs; (3) route verbs, which include cross and pass; (4) constant verbs, which again can be divided into two subgroups of chase verbs and accompany verbs; (5) deictic verbs, namely come and go, which are approached as a separate class. The proposal originates from previous studies conducted to this end in semantics, and is meant to encourage discussion on further advancement in this area of linguistic studies

Second Language Learner Knowledge of Verb–Argument Constructions: Effects of Language Transfer and Typology

This article examines second language (L2) learner knowledge of English verb–argument constructions (VACs), for example, the ‘V against n’ construction. It investigates to what extent constructions underpin L2 learners' linguistic competence, how VAC mental representations in native speakers and learners differ, and whether there are observable effects of the learners' first language. Native speakers of English and advanced learners of 3 different first language backgrounds (Czech, German, Spanish) were asked to generate the first verb that came to mind to fill the gap in 20 sparse VAC frames like “she ____ against the….” The comparison of learner and native speaker verb responses highlights crosslinguistic transfer effects as well as effects of language typology that impact verb semantics (cf. Talmy, 1985). Our findings suggest that learners whose L1 is, like English, satellite‐framed (here Czech and German) produce more target‐like verbs than learners whose L1 is verb‐framed (here Spanish).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109566/1/modl12149.pd

Verbos de movimento e sua representação na estrutura léxico conceptual

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística, Florianópolis, 2015.Esta tese investiga a representação lexical dos verbos de movimento. O objetivo desse estudo é elaborar uma classificação dos verbos de movimento da língua portuguesa (possivelmente aplicável a uma tipologia de língua, mas este trabalho comparativo não foi feito na tese), baseada na representação lexical da teoria do Léxico Gerativo (PUSTEJOVSKY, 1995). Propõe-se alterar a perspectiva dicotômica entre verbos de movimento que fundem movimento e modo e que fundem movimento e trajetória, incluindo uma terceira classe: a dos verbos de movimento que fundem o modo e a trajetória em sua raiz. Assim, classificam-se os verbos de movimento em três tipos: a) verbos estritamente de modo de movimento sem translação, como balançar e flutuar; b) verbos estritamente de movimento com translação e trajetória, como entrar, subir e chegar; e c) verbos de movimento com translação, modo e trajetória que se caracterizam por apresentar uma polissemia regular de ora focar o modo de movimento (João correu cambaleando) ora a trajetória (João correu para a escola). Com base na definição das classes de verbos e de suas características distinguidoras, passou-se à representação léxico conceptual dessas classes de verbos. Primeiramente apresenta-se o argumento trajetória com uma estrutura mais rica e complexa constituída pelos argumentos origem, meta e via envolvidos na conceptualização de trajetória. Em seguida, demonstra-se como os argumentos de trajetória são mapeados na representação léxico conceptual da TLG. Os verbos da classe de movimento e trajetória e verbos da classe movimento, modo e trajetória apresentam uma sistematicidade quanto à necessidade de um argumento trajetória na sua estrutura argumental e o mapeamento de cada argumento na estrutura qualia. Os verbos da classe de movimento e modo não apresentam argumentos de trajetória em sua estrutural argumental, embora possam aparecer em uma sentença com um argumento trajetória por meio de uma composicionalidade sentencial.Abstract : This thesis investigates the lexical representation of motion verbs. The aim of this study is to develop a classification of the Portuguese motion verbs (possibly applicable to a language typology, but this comparative work was not done in the thesis), based on lexical representation of the Lexicon Generative theory (Pustejovsky, 1995). It is proposed to change the dichotomous perspective between verbs that conflate the mode of action and motion; and verbs that conflate motion and path, including a third class: the verbs that conflate motion, mode and path at its root. Thus, the motion verbs are classified into three types: a) motion verbs without translational motion as swing and float; b) motion verbs with translation and path, like enter, ascend and arrive; c) motion verbs with translation, mode and path, which are characterized by having a regular polysemy which highlight or the motion mode (John ran reeling) or the path (John ran to school). Based on the definition of the classes of verbs and their characteristics, it started the conceptual lexicon representation of these classes of verbs. First presents the path argument with a richer, more complex structure made up of the arguments source, target and via involved in the conceptualization of path. Then it is shown how the path arguments are mapped in the conceptual lexicon representation of TLG. Motion verbs and path and motion verbs, mode and path have a systematic way on the need for an path argument in its argument structure and the mapping of each argument in qualia structure. The motion verbs and mode have no history of arguments in its argument structure, although they may appear in a sentence with an argument path through a compositional sentence

Categories and Units in Language and Linguistics

The papers in this volume concern different linguistic categories from a variety of perspectives. The first and second papers by Janusz Badio deal with evaluation in EFL written stories and the linguistic coding of events in agreement with their variable salience in conceptualisation. The chapter by Alan Cienki analyses gesture units to draw conclusions about language in general. Kamila Ciepiela looks at the category of identity as a product and process. Craig Callender presents a chapter on the perception and the nature of the phoneme followed by a chapter by Henryk Kardela, who discusses how meanings and forms are fused into single morphological units. Krzysztof Kosecki turns the readers’ attention on the prototype of narrative and emotion in E. Hemingway’s story Cat in the Rain and on the analysis of Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain. Przemysław Krakowian’s interesting article explains the role of Multi Facet Rash Analysis in tests of oral production. Ourania Papadima expertly overviews the very important categories of second language pedagogy, ESP and EAP. Jana Richterova provides an analysis of resource books for advanced learners of English. Nezrin Samedova-Hajiyeva’s chapter centres on the grammatical category of aspect. Last, Jacek Waliński describes the categorization of directional verbs in English