Spatial Semantic Features: ‘Convergent ’ vs. ‘Divergent ’ Verbs

Abstract

In this study, we investigate two classes of spatial semantic features for verbs, using a priming paradigm. The verb classification is based on a distinction between the movement directions ‘convergent ’ (reducing the distance) and ‘divergent ’ (enlarging the distance between two objects). These directionality features were also applied to abstract conceptual domains like social contact or functional relation. The results confirm the concrete / abstract distinction for verbs and show that ‘convergent’ and ‘divergent ’ are able to produce priming effects within, and possibly across, conceptual domains. Convergent and divergent did not behave symmetrically leading us to the conclusion that they may be two different features rather than values of a ‘direction ’ feature