An investigation into the semantic systems underlying spatial
and temporal expressions in confronted with two major problems: the
interplay of contextual factors in determining the interpretation of
particular expressions and the inter-relations between the two
semantic systems. The first of these in a recurrent theme through-
out the dissertation; the second underlies its organization and
orientation.
We begin, in Chapter 2, with a discussion of three recent
studies on the semantics of spatial expressions in English. The
conclusion is reached that more explicit attention must be given
to the role of the intra-sentential context and, in particular, to
the kind of situation being described by the sentence in which the
expression occurs. We also recognize the need to give an explicit
and comprehensive characterization of the notion of a journey,
which latter in prerequisite to an understanding of such functional
semantic elements an SOURCE, GOAL, PATH.
Chapter 3 in devoted to the semantic analysis of static uses of
locational and directional expressions. A tri-partite distinction
is made between direct locational expressions (e.g. 'at the Post
office) a semi-direct locational expressions (e.g. in front of the Post
office"), and indirect locational expressions (e.g. above the Post
office), Static directional expressions (e.g. towards the post
office') are subsumed within indirect locational expressions. The
orientational properties of the speaker/observer are found to be
crucial to the analysis of the meanings of semi-direct and indirect
locational expressions.
Chapter 4 sets forth the historical background of the localist,
hypothesis and surveys more recent arguments of a semantic and syntactic
nature which have been given in support of it. According to
the hypothesis, grammatical relations or functions, whether abstract
or concrete, are ultimately describable in terms of spatial notions.
The thesis of localism in set within a more encompassing theory of
egocentric and anthropocentric extension operative throughout the
language.
Chapter 5 enumerates and discusses the major contextual elements
within the sentence which interact with the co-occurrence and interpretation
potential of temporal adverbial. These comprise tense,
the progressive form, negation, spatial adverbials, referential
proportion of the noun phrases and lexical properties of the verb.
Chapter 6 redirects the focus to aspectual categories and to
different kinds of propositions which some of the other contextual
elements isolated in Chapter 5 participate in defining and with
reference to which generalizations regarding co-occurrence and
interpretations become statable. The logico-philocaphical tradition
with respect to verb classification is surveyed and then the linguistic
literature an aspect, aktionsartan, and verb classes. It is
suggested that a distinction be made between aspect, aktionsartan,
and proposition types, what is common to these three categories being
the role played by the concepts of existential status and change of
existential status in their characterizations.
Chapter 7 begins with an inforual characterization of a journey,
first in its most concrete and idealized manifestation an a point
moving from one point to another. The extension of locational relations,
direction, directed movementl, and journey to more abstract
domains, including most importantly the existential and the temporal,
is explored. The notion of existential location in incorporated
into a descriptive apparatus for the semantics of expressions of
physical extension in one dimension. This same notion also leads
to a natural interpretation of negation, quantification, aspect
and aktionearten and provides for a precise fomulation of, a.
journey. A more generalized characterization of a journey in given
which takes into account the extension of the moving object. A
localist classification of proposition types in proposed.
Chapter,. 8 applies the framework developed in Chapter 7 to the
analysis of tense and to the description of two selected note of
CkYT , lov%seadverbials:
,
(I) 'still! # Oyetlp IalreadyIq 13353M= and
and (2) *until* and 'since**
'Chapter
9 onumerates, the main findings of the investigation* to
the kind of situation being doscribed by the sentence in which thO
OxPr0, 8sion occurs* We also recognize the need to give an explicit
and comprehensive characterization of the notion of a journeyp
which latter in prerequisite to an understanding of such functional
semantic elements an SOURCE9G OAL9P ATH.
Chapter 3 in devoted to the semantic analysis of static us* of
locational and directional expressions. A tri. partits distinction
is made between direct locational, expressions (soge 'at the Post
office)q semi-direct locational expressions (sege Un frOist of the I)Oat
office"), and indirect locational expressions (soge labove the Post
offiest), Static directional expressions (*4, ge #towards the post
office') are subsumed within indirect locational expressionse The
orientational properties of the speaker/observer are found U) be
crucial to the analysis of the meanings of semi. -direct and indirect
locational, expressions.
Chapter 4 sets forth the historical background of the localist,
(ii)
hypothesis and surveys nors, recent arguments of a semantic and syntactic
nature which have been given in support of it* According to
the hypothesis# grammatical relations or functionsp whether abstract
or concretes are ultimately describable in terms of spatial notionse
The thesis of localism in set within a more encompassing theory of
egocentric and anthropocentric extension operative throughout the
language.
Chapter 5 enumerates and discusses the major contextual elements
within the sentence which interact with the co-occurrence and interpretation
potential of temporal adverbial@* These comprise tonset
the progressive forms negationg spatial adverbialsq referential
proportion of the noun phrases and lexical properties of the verb*
Chapter 6 redirects the focus to aspectual categories and tw
different kinds of propositions which some of the other contextual
elements isolated in Chapter 5 participate in defining and with
reference to which generalizations regarding oo-occurrence and
interpretations become statablee The logico-philocaphical tradition
with respect to verb classification is surveyed and then the linguistic
literature an aspectq aktionsartang and verb classes* It in
suggested that a distinction be made between aspootp aktionsarteng
and proposition types, what in coitmon to these three categories being
the role played by the concepts of existential status and change of
existential status in their characterizations.
Chapter 7 begins with an inforual characterization of a journeyp
first in its most concrete and idealized manifestation an a point
moving from one point to another* The extension of locatiOnal roletionag
directiong directed movementl, and journey to more abstract
domainag including most importantly the existential and the temporal*
is *xplorede The notion of existential location in incorporated
(iii)
into a descriptive apparatus for the semantics of expressions of
physical extension in one dimension* This same notion also leads
to a natural interpretation of negationg quantificationg aspect
and aktionearten and provides for a precise fomulation of, a.
JournOY9 A more generalized characterization of a journey in given
which takes into account the extension of the moving objooto A
10cali8t classification of proposition types in proposed*
Chapter,. 8 applies the framework developed in Chapter 7 to the
analysis of tans* and to the description of two selected note of
CkYT , lov%seadverbials:
,
(I) 'still! # Oyetlp IalreadyIq 13353M= and
and (2) *until* and 'since**
'Chapter
9 onumerates, the main findings of the investigation