scholarly journals Partizip II-Konstruktionen des Deutschen als Modifikatoren

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 123-146
Author(s):  
Ilse Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Grammatical Subject ◽  
Syntactic Position ◽  
The Status ◽  
Propositional Operator

This contribution concerns the interaction of morphology, syntax and semantics. It treats German past participles and concentrates on their function as heads in attributive and adverbial modifier phrases. It is argued that participles have the same argument structure as the underlying verbs and can undergo passivization, perfectivization and conversion to adjectives. Since these three operations involve changes in the morphosyntactic categorization they are considered as zero affixation. Two affixless templates – without any categorical changes – convert participle constructions to modifiers relating to participants or to situations. These phrases do not have a syntactic position for the grammatical subject, an operator or an adverbial relator. The pertinent components are present only in the semantic structure. Two further templates serve the composition of participle constructions as modifiers with the modificandum. It is necessary to differentiate between modifiers which function as predicates and those which have the status of a propositional operator. In syntax, these different semantic functions correspond to different adjunct positions of the respective participle phrases.  

scholarly journals German participle II constructions as adjuncts

2000 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 309-321
Author(s):  
Ilse Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Relative Pronoun ◽  
Syntactic Position ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Adverbial Clauses ◽  
Propositional Operator ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Interpretative Flexibility

The present investigation is concerned with German participles II (past participles) as lexical heads of adjuncts. Within a minimalist framework of sound-meaning correlation, the analysis presupposes a lexicalist conception of morphology and the differentiation of Semantic Form and Conceptual Structure. It is argued that participles II have the same argument structure as the underlying verbs and can undergo passivization, perfectivization and conversion to adjectives. As for the potential of participles to function as modifiers, it is shown that attributive and adverbial participle constructions involve further operations of conversion. Participle constructions are considered as reduced sentences. They do not have a syntactic position for the subject, for an operator (comparable to the relative pronoun in relative clauses) or for an adverbial relator (as in adverbial clauses). The pertinent components are present only in the semantic structure. Two templates serve the composition of modifiers - including participle constructions - with the modificandum. It is necessary to differentiate between modification which unifies two predicates relating to participants or to situations and frame setting modification where the modifier is given the status of a propositional operator. The proposed analysis shows that the high degree of semantic underspecification and interpretative flexibility of German participle II constructions resides in the indeterminacy of participles II with respect to voice and perfect, in the absence of certain constituents in the syntactic structure and in the presence of corresponding parameters in the Semantic Form of the participle phrases.  

scholarly journals The Status of Questions in the Ontology of Scientific Change

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
William Rawleigh
Keyword(s):  
Basic Element ◽  
Scientific Change ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Epistemic Agent ◽  
Distinct Class ◽  
Epistemic Stance ◽  
The Status ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Theory Acceptance ◽  
Scientific Questions

The currently accepted scientonomic ontology includes two classes of epistemic elements – theories and methods. However, the ontology underlying the Encyclopedia of Scientonomy includes questions/topics as a basic element of its semantic structure. Ideally there should be no discrepancy between the accepted ontology of theoretical scientonomy and that of the Encyclopedia.  I argue that questions constitute a distinct class of epistemic elements as they are not reducible to other elements that undergo scientific change – theories or methods. I discuss and reject two attempts at reducing questions to either descriptive or normative theories. According to the descriptive-epistemic account, scientific questions can be logically reduced to descriptive propositions, while according to the normative-epistemic account, they can be reduced to normative propositions. I show that these interpretations are incapable of capturing the propositional content expressed by questions; any possible reduction is carried at the expense of losing the essential characteristic of questions. Further, I find that the attempts to reduce questions to theories introduce an infinite regress, where a theory is an attempt to answer a question, which is itself a theory which answers another question, ad infintum. Instead, I propose to incorporate the question-answer semantic structure from erotetic logic in which questions constitute a distinct class of elements irreducible to propositions. An acceptance of questions into scientonomic ontology as a separate class of epistemic elements suggests a new avenue of research into the mechanism of question acceptance and rejection, i.e. how epistemic communities come to accept certain questions as legitimate and others as illegitimate. Suggested Modifications [Sciento-2018-0001]: Accept the following definition of question: Question ≡ a topic of inquiry. [Sciento-2018-0002]: Accept the ontology of epistemic elements with theories, methods, and questions as distinct epistemic elements. Reject the previously accepted ontology of epistemic elements. [Sciento-2018-0003]: Provided that modification [Sciento-2018-0002] is accepted, accept that the epistemic stance that can be taken by an epistemic agent towards a question is question acceptance (the opposite is unacceptance), defined as follows:  Question Acceptance ≡ a question is said to be accepted if it is taken as a legitimate topic of inquiry. [Sciento-2018-0004]: Provided that modifications [Sciento-2018-0002] and [Sciento-2018-0003] are accepted, accept the following question as legitimate topics of scientonomic inquiry:  Mechanism of Question Acceptance: How do questions become accepted as legitimate? What is the mechanism of question acceptance?  Indicators of Question Acceptance: What are the historical indicators of theory acceptance? How can observational scientonomists establish that such-and-such a question was accepted as a legitimate topic of inquiry by a certain epistemic agent at a certain time?

scholarly journals Passives and impersonals

2003 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES P. BLEVINS
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Strong Tendency ◽  
Human Agent ◽  
Verb Forms ◽  
The Status ◽  
Direct Objects

This paper argues that the term ‘passive’ has been systematically misapplied to a class of impersonal constructions that suppress the realization of a syntactic subject. The reclassification of these constructions highlights a typological contrast between two types of verbal diathesis and clarifies the status of putative ‘passives of unaccusatives’ and ‘transitive passives’ in Balto-Finnic and Balto-Slavic. Impersonal verb forms differ from passives in two key respects: they are insensitive to the argument structure of a verb and can be formed from unergatives or unaccusatives, and they may retain direct objects. As with other subjectless forms of personal verbs, there is a strong tendency to interpret the suppressed subject of an impersonal as an indefinite human agent. Hence impersonalization is often felicitous only for verbs that select human subjects.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Kaplan ◽  
Joan Bresnan
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Modular Design ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Functional Structure ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Prosodic Structure ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Constituent Structure ◽  
Lexical Functional Grammar ◽  
Linguistic System

Modular design of grammar: Linguistics on the edge presents the cutting edge of research on linguistic modules and interfaces in Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG). LFG has a highly modular design that models the linguistic system as a set of discreet submodules that include, among others, constituent structure, functional structure, argument structure, semantic structure, and prosodic structure, with each module having its coherent properties and being related to each other by correspondence functions. The contributions in this volume represent the broad range and interconnection of theoretical, formal, and descriptive considerations that continues to be the hallmark of LFG.

scholarly journals Alternation-based generalizations are stored in the mental grammar: Evidence from a sorting task experiment

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 601-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florent Perek,
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Sorting Task ◽  
Syntactic Form ◽  
Dative Alternation ◽  
The Status

AbstractAccording to constructional approaches, grammar consists of an inventory of symbolic pairings of a syntactic form with an abstract meaning. Many of such so-called constructions can be perceived as having highly similar meanings: such pairs have been discussed under the name of alternations, especially in the domain of argument structure, for example the widely documented dative alternation (e.g. John gave Mary a book vs. John gave a book to Mary). This paper explores what status such pairs of constructions can be given in construction grammar, on the basis of a sorting task experiment.Construction grammar traditionally recognizes generalizations of a common syntactic form over semantically similar sentences, but the status of higher-level generalizations of a common meaning over syntactically different forms is rarely discussed. In our study, we devised a sorting task that subjects could resolve by relying on generalizations of either of these two kinds. We find that subjects rely on alternation-based generalizations more often than purely constructional ones in their sorting behavior. We suggest these results show that generalizations of a common meaning between formally different constructions are plausible categories stored by speakers and should be given more attention in construction grammar research.

scholarly journals Siladang Syntax: A Study of Grammar Typology

2021 ◽  
pp. 541-549
Author(s):  
Purwanto Siwi
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Prepositional Phrase ◽  
Clause Structure ◽  
Transitive Verb ◽  
Grammatical Subject ◽  
Alignment System ◽  
Verbal Predicate ◽  
Transitive Verbs ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Intransitive Verbs

The analysis of basic clause structures shows that clauses in Bahasa Siladang consist of verbal and non-verbal predication. The non-verbal predicate can be filled by an adjective, noun, numeral or prepositional phrase. The analysis of the argument structure shows that the intransitive predicate requires one NP argument as the only argument functioning as the grammatical subject, which can be an agent or a patient. Meanwhile, the transitive verb predicate requires two or more arguments. The presence of these arguments in the predicate in transitive sentences is mandatory. The conclusion from the analysis of the grammatical behavior in syntactic construction is that SL is a language which has a grammatical alignment system which gives the same treatment to A and S, and a different treatment to P. It can be categorized as an accusative language, marking the direct object of transitive verbs, making them different from the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs. Keywords: clause structure, argument structure, syntactic typology

scholarly journals Formy reprezentacji argumentu propozycjonalnego w bułgarskich, polskich i rosyjskich zdaniach ufundowanych na predykacie mentalnym

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksander Kiklewicz
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Argument Structure ◽  
Grammatical Form ◽  
Syntactic Position ◽  
Propositional Structure ◽  
Predicate Argument Structure ◽  
Mental Verbs

Forms of Representation of Propositional Argument in Bulgarian, Polish and Russian Expressions Based on the Mental PredicateThis article offers a discussion of Bulgarian, Polish and Russian mental verbs from the perspective of syntactic valence. The author examines grammatical forms of propositional argument in sentences with mental verbs which represent predicate-argument structure P (x, q). All syntactic forms in the focus of this study are classified into several patterns: observance, compression and splitting. The author demonstrates that what they involve is analogical reflection of propositional structure, greater or smaller compression of propositional argument, or its segmentation and doubling of syntactic position. The author examines the regularity of implementation of each grammatical form in Bulgarian, Polish and Russian on the basis of relevant quantitative data. Formy reprezentacji argumentu propozycjonalnego w bułgarskich, polskich i rosyjskich zdaniach ufundowanych na predykacie mentalnym Tematem prezentowanego artykułu są bułgarskie, polskie i rosyjskie czasowniki mentalne, badane w perspektywie walencji syntaktycznej. Autor analizuje gramatyczne formy realizacji argumentu propozycjonalnego w zdaniach z czasownikami mentalnymi w pozycji orzeczenia, które reprezentują strukturę predykatowo-argumentową P (x, q). Wszystkie formy syntaktyczne podzielono na kilka typów: przestrzeganie, kompresja i rozszczepienie. Autor pokazuje, że w tym zakresie mamy do czynienia z kalkowaniem struktury propozycjonalno-semantycznej, z mniej lub bardziej intensywną kompresją argumentu propozycjonalnego lub z jego rozczłonkowaniem i podwojeniem pozycji syntaktycznej. Została zbadana regularność realizacji każdej formy gramatycznej w systemie trzech języków. Wnioski są oparte na danych kwantytatywnych.

scholarly journals MENACE IN THE SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE OF THE SENTENCE

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Kuravska N.Yu. ◽  
Tykha U.I.
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Structural Types ◽  
Pragmatic Analysis ◽  
Communicative Process ◽  
The Status ◽  
Descriptive Method ◽  
Linguistic Phenomenon

Purpose. The article deals with the studying of semantics of menace as the means of expression of volitive modality. The purpose of the article is to determine the essence, semantic structure, functional and semantic specificity of menace; to analyze a menace situation in the system of its components, to examine the means of its expression in modern Ukrainian fiction.Methods. We have used method of theoretical and conceptual analysis for critical analysis of concepts available in Ukrainian and foreign linguistics regarding menace, method of continuous fixation of menace utterances from the texts of modern Ukrainian fiction, descriptive method and method of internal interpretation to establish differential features of menace, methods of semantic and functional-pragmatic analysis to characterize the functional-semantic features of menace and the means of its expression in modern Ukrainian fiction, method of contextual analysis, which assumes the existence of some context in which we study and analyze the semantics of menace.Results. The essence, semantic and functional peculiarity of menace compared to other modal manifestations is determined. Menace is a complicated linguistic phenomenon. Its origin is connected with the necessity of representation of the modal meaning of threat. Menace is a special type of volitive modality that realizes semantics of threat by a complex of different means. Menace is characterized by the independence of semantic structure, functional, communicative and pragmatic specificity, diversity of structural types. The peculiarities of the Ukrainian language in semantic and grammar meaning are also indicated.Conclusions. Menace is a mitigatory type of volitive modality, aimed at satisfying the needs, desires and interests of the speaker, and menace utterances are characterized by freedom of choice of the addressee, as he/she makes a decision as to the fulfillment of the action which is beneficial to the addresser. In a menace situation, the status of participants in the communicative process is not significant, and the action is performed by the addressee; menace utterances can be used both in formal and informal situations, they are initiative and normative. Verbal (lexical-semantic, morphological, syntactic) and non-verbal means are used to express menace, that prove and demonstrate illocutionary power of threat.Key words: menace modality, menace semantics, menace, menace utterance, menace situation, menace meaning. Мета. Стаття присвячена вивченню семантики менасива як засобу вираження модальності волевиявлення. Метою стат-ті є розкриття сутності менасива, визначення його семантичної структури і функціонально-семантичної специфіки; розгляд менасивної ситуації в системі її складників; аналіз різнорівневих засобів вираження менасива в художніх текстах сучасної української мови.Методи. У статті використано метод теоретико-концептуального аналізу для критичного аналізу концепцій, наявних в українському й зарубіжному мовознавстві стосовно менасива, метод суцільної фіксації менасивних висловлень із художніх текстів сучасної української мови, описовий метод із використанням прийому внутрішньої інтерпретації для встановлення диференційних ознак менасива, методики функціонально-семантичного й функціонально-прагматичного аналізу для харак-теристики функціонально-семантичних особливостей менасива та засобів його вираження в художніх текстах сучасної укра-їнської мови, а також для дослідження менасива в дії, у процесі його функціонування, метод контекстуального аналізу, який передбачає наявність деякого контексту, у якому вивчаємо й аналізуємо семантику менасива.Результати. У статті розкрито сутність, семантичну й функціональну своєрідність менасива на тлі інших модальних виявів. З’ясовано, що менасив є складним лінгвістичним явищем, виникнення якого пов’язане з необхідністю оформлення одного з видів модальних значень, а саме значення погрози. Визначено, що менасив є особливим типом волевиявлення, що реалізує семантику погрози сукупністю різнорівневих засобів. З’ясовано, що для менасива характерні незалежність семан-тичної структури, функціональна, комунікативна і прагматична специфіка, різноманітність структурних типів. У статті також показано специфіку української мови в семантико-граматичному сенсі.Висновки. Автори статті дійшли висновку, що менасив є одним із типів модальності пом’якшеного волевиявлення, спря-мований на задоволення потреб, бажань та інтересів мовця, а для менасивних висловлень характерна наявність свободи вибо-ру в адресата, оскільки він ухвалює рішення про виконання / невиконання дії, яка є бенефактивною для адресанта. У менасив-ній ситуації статус учасників комунікативного процесу несуттєвий, а каузовану дію виконує адресат; менасивні висловлення можуть уживати як в офіційній, так і в неофіційній обстановці, вони є ініціативними й нормативними. Для вираження мена-сива використовують вербальні (лексико-семантичні, морфологічні, синтаксичні) і невербальні засоби, які засвідчують і вияв-ляють іллокутивну силу погрози.Ключові слова: менасивність, менасивна модальність, менасивна семантика, менасив, менасивне висловлення, менасив-на ситуація, менасивне значення.

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