scholarly journals A constructional analysis of English un-participle constructions

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Schönefeld

AbstractThe present paper reports on an investigation into an English un-participle pattern that is called unpassive, or is described as an adjectival passive. The main characteristic of the pattern is an (adjectival) past participle prefixed by un-, which is used as a predicative complement to a verb. Besides the different terms used for the pattern, there is also some indeterminacy with respect to its particular form. All of the descriptions focus on the verb be, but mention is also made of go and remain. That is, the specifications of the pattern’s formal side differ to some extent. To provide information on this issue and to get hold of potential (verb-related) differences in the pattern’s function, we conducted an empirical analysis from a usage-based construction grammar perspective. Our focus is on the form-function interplay of the pattern in order to gain information about its constructional status and its exact formal and semantic make-up. The database selected for this study is the BNC, from which all occurrences of ‘verb plus un-participle’ were extracted. The data were submitted to collexeme and covarying collexeme analyses to identify the spectrum of meanings/functions associated with these forms, and distinctive collexeme analyses were carried out to see whether the un-participles found pattern differently with the individual verbs. The results indicate that, on closer examination, the un-participle construction does not represent a homogeneous category, but must be seen as a schematic template of related, though different, usage events that may have expanded analogously from a prototype construction. On the basis of our analyses and informed by findings from developmental studies, we suggest that the related constructions form a network.

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-273
Author(s):  
Anna Szolucha

I explore the impact that Occupy in Ireland had on subsequent campaigns and the lives of some of its core activists and analyse the interpretative processes through which they evaluated and modified the lessons and tactics of the protest. The picture that emerges from this empirical analysis is inherently complex and transient. It shows how the symbolic associations and framing of the encampments evolved and stalled the diffusion of their most recognisable practices and tactics such as assemblies. This observation highlights the importance of studying the empirical processes that explain how the interpretations of movements change over time, influencing the potential for the diffusion of tactics from one movement to another. Additionally, movement–movement influence may be constructed subjectively and hence, the individual engagement trajectories of activists can inform the analysis of how past protest influences future campaigns. Even though the practices and tactics that were most characteristic of the movement did not diffuse to subsequent protests, the analysis of the impacts of Occupy in Ireland suggests that the encampments functioned as a space for political training and experimentation which may have durable effects for future protest as well as its participants long after they left Occupy.


2007 ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Fernando Cabrales ◽  
Ana Fernández ◽  
Fritz Grafe

This note presents an empirical analysis of optimal taxation in Chile, adopting Roemer’s equality of opportunities as the evaluation criterion. The equality of opportunities optimal tax rules seek to equalize income differentials arising from factors beyond the control of the individual. Roemer’s theory of equality of opportunities (Roemer, 1998) has been employed to compute the extent to which tax-andtransfer regimes in some OECD countries equalize opportunities among citizens for income acquisition. In this note we apply this approach to Chile, a developing economy, and compare the results to those reported in Roemer, Aaberge, Colombino, Fritzell, Jenkins, Marx, Page, Pommer, Ruiz-Castillo, Segundo, Tranaes, Wagner and Zubiri (2003). We find that the optimal tax rate in Chile according to Roemer’s equalopportunities approach should be zero.


Probus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo García-Pardo ◽  
Rafael Marín

Abstract This paper argues that <ser ‘to be’ + past participle> constructions with subject-experiencer psychological verbs are adjectival passives, contra the received view that <ser + past participle> constructions are verbal passives across the board. We put forth a battery of morphological, syntactic and semantic tests to support our claim. The divide, we argue, is based on the individual-level/stage-level distinction, rather than on the lexical category of the participle. We provide a theoretical, aspect-based account that generates the distribution of ser and estar in verbal and adjectival participles and paves the way for a comprehensive analysis of the ser and estar distribution across other constructions where the alternation is attested, such as underived adjectives and prepositions.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel María Parra Oller ◽  
Salvador Cruz Rambaud ◽  
María del Carmen Valls Martínez

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to determine the discount function which better fits the individuals' preferences through the empirical analysis of the different functions used in the field of intertemporal choice.Design/methodology/approachAfter an in-depth revision of the existing literature and unlike most studies which only focus on exponential and hyperbolic discounting, this manuscript compares the adjustment of data to six different discount functions. To do this, the analysis is based on the usual statistical methods, and the non-linear least squares regression, through the algorithm of Gauss-Newton, in order to estimate the models' parameters; finally, the AICc method is used to compare the significance of the six proposed models.FindingsThis paper shows that the so-called q-exponential function deformed by the amount is the model which better explains the individuals' preferences on both delayed gains and losses. To the extent of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that a function different from the general hyperbola fits better to the individuals' preferences.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the search of an alternative model able to explain the individual behavior in a more realistic way.


2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert-Jan Put ◽  
Bart Maddens

This article examines the effect that municipality size and local office have on election candidates’ results. We argue that candidates from the larger municipalities have comparatively larger relevant networks, both in terms of constituents and party grassroots volunteers. In addition, these candidates appeal to a relatively larger share of voters within the constituency. We expect that the relative size of the candidates’ municipality will have a positive effect on the relative number of preferential votes they receive in the constituency and will interact with the effect that holding local office has on the individual election result. While the empirical analysis does not show support for the idea that municipality size will have a significant effect, the expected interaction between local office and municipality size is confirmed. The electoral advantage of being mayor, alderman or local councillor seems to increase with the relative size of the municipality in the district.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-122
Author(s):  
Yuyuan Zhou ◽  
Wenli Song

A good ecological environment is of great significance to improve happiness index and satisfaction of personal life. By analyzing the impact of society interaction on individual environmental protection behavior, it is found that how to improve individual environmental protection behavior plays an important role in building a green ecological environment. This study used the data of CGSS survey conducted by Renmin University of China in 2013 and employed SPSS statistical analysis to determine the influencing factors. Therefore, the higher an individual’s income level is, the more willing the individual is to take environmental protection behavior. The conclusion can be used for reference for policy formulation and environmental improvement in China. 


Author(s):  
Ana Caetano

The main goal of this paper is to present a theoretical proposal for the empirical analysis of personal reflexivity. Considering the challenges posed by the study of reflexivity, the contributions of different authors from sociology are discussed. A model for the analysis of the reflexive processes at the individual level is then proposed, based on the articulation between elements of critical realism and propositions fromdispositionalist theory and structuration theory. This model distinguishes internal and external dimensions of action and it is structured around different levels of analysis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangqiong Zhan ◽  
Elizabeth Closs Traugott

Abstract This paper investigates the development of the copula shì construction in Chinese from the perspective of diachronic construction grammar (Traugott & Trousdale 2013). In prior work the development has been conceptualized in a grammaticalization framework, with focus on the individual expression shì, rather than on its development in the context of both the immediate syntactic frame and also of other constructions such as the demonstrative shì construction and the copula wéi construction. We show that the copula shì construction went through various types of expansion and reduction. The change was not unidirectional in the way predicted by a grammaticalization model such as is proposed in e.g. Lehmann (1995, 2004) and Haspelmath (2004).


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