From X to Y: Anatomy of a Constructional Pattern

Compositionality is undoubtedly one of the hardest problems in linguistics. In decoding theories, the speaker occupies a leading role, having to carefully choose the form that better encodes the meaning to be communicated. In contrast, in inferential theories, the burden is shifted from speaker to hearer: linguistic information typically underspecifies meaning and the hearer must make a number of inferences to bridge the gap between what is said and what is meant. In this article, I argue that constructional meaning can aid the process of sentence meaning formation by providing a scaffold that can help the hearer with the construal operations. Constructions, by providing an additional layer of meaning, constrain the range of possible meanings activated by words thereby reducing the combinatorial explosion when several words are joined together. This process is examined here by analysing the meanings associated with the grammatical construction [from X to Y], which is connected to a polysemy network of related senses, using examples extracted from a multimodal corpus. A preliminary analysis of the gesturing behaviour associated with the different senses proposed is also included, which can be seen to contribute to the characterisation of the different senses of the polysemy network.

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The German Constructicon Project: Framework, methodology, resources

Lexicographica - International Annual for Lexicography / Internationales Jahrbuch für Lexikographie ◽

10.1515/lex-2019-0003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 15-40

Author(s):

Alexander Ziem ◽

Johanna Flick ◽

Phillip Sandkühler

Keyword(s):

Preliminary Analysis ◽

Grammatical Function ◽

Link Type ◽

Semantic Annotations ◽

Part Of Speech ◽

Grammatical Construction ◽

Computational Work ◽

Work Routine ◽

The University ◽

Speech Phrase

Abstract The paper introduces aims and efforts of the German Constructicon Project (GCP) (www.german-constructicon.de) hosted at the University of Düsseldorf. The ultimate goal of the project is not only to identify and describe oftentimes overlooked grammatical constructions, but also to offer comprehensive descriptions of them in a dictionary-like online repository. Each construction entry is intended to provide all relevant grammatical information necessary to understand and correctly use the respective grammatical construction. Based on constructicographical analyses of authentic corpus examples, the paper reports on the methodological foundations of GCP, most importantly the annotation categories used, as well as on the computational work routine yielding construction entries. The routine includes five consecutive steps, (i) subcorporation and preliminary analysis, (ii) parsing pipeline (automatic annotations of part of speech, phrase type and grammatical function), (iii) semantic annotations, (iv) semi-automatic analyses of the annotations and, finally, (v) compilation of construction entries. For illustration, we present the geschweige denn (‘let alone’) construction in its habitat of the negating_connector construction family. The paper concludes with outlining a full-fledged construction entry for geschweige denn in the German Constructicon.

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KALIMAT BAHASA SUNDA DALAM TEKS PROSA SUNDA KUNO ABAD KE-16 (Analisis Struktur dan Semantis)

LOKABASA ◽

10.17509/jlb.v8i2.14199 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 181

Author(s):

Illam Nurwansah ◽

Yayat Sudaryat ◽

Ruhaliah Ruhaliah

Keyword(s):

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Sentence Structure ◽

Linguistic Information ◽

Sentence Meaning ◽

Simple Sentences ◽

Compound Sentence

Penelitian ini memiliki tujuan untuk menganalisis struktur kalimat dengan menggunakan pendekatan tagmémik. Sumber data diambil dari transliterasi teks Carita Parahiyangan yang memakai berbahasa Sunda kuno. Penelitian ini dilakukan karena belum ada analisis mengenai struktur kalimat bahasa Sunda kuno secara mendalam, sebagai informasi linguistik bahasa Sunda temporal. Metode yang dipakai yaitu analisis deskriptif. Bentuk kalimat yang terdapat dalam bahasa Sunda kuno berupa kalimat lengkap dan kalimat ringkasan. Kalimat tunggal sederhana yang ditemukan memiliki tiga pola yaitu (1) S-P, (2) S-P-O, (3) S-P-Pel, sedangkan kalimat tunggal perluasan terdapat empat pola yaitu (1) S-P-K, (2) K-S-P-K, (3) S-P-O-K, dan (4) S-P-Pel-K. Kalimat majemuk setara yang ditemukan berupa kalimat asindetis dan sindetis. Kalimat majemuk asindetis tersusun dari dua klausa, tiga klausa dan empat klausa, sedangkan kalimat sindetis tersusun dari dua klausa. Pola kalimat majemuk bertingkat yaitu berupa kalimat majemuk bertingkat subjektif dan adverbial. Hubungan makna unsur kalimat yang ditemukan yaitu berdasarkan peran semantis subjek, predikat, objek, pelengkap dan keterangan. Hubungan makna antarklausa dalam kalimat majemuk setara terdapat dua jenis yaitu (1) kalimat pertentangan, dan (2) kalimat lanjutan. Hubungan makna antarklausa kalimat majemuk bertingkat terdapat enam jenis, yaitu (1) kalimat waktu, (2) kalimat syarat, (3) kalimat penyebab, (4) kalimat akibat, (5) kalimat pernyataan, dan (6) kalimat guna.AbstractThis research has purpose to analyze sentence structure by using tagmémik approach. Sources of data are taken from Carita Parahiyangan transliteration text that uses ancient Sundanese. This research is conducted because there is no analysis about ancient Sundanese sentence structure deeply, as temporal linguistic information of Sundanese. The method used is descriptive analysis. The sentence forms contained in ancient Sundanese consists of complete sentences and summary sentences. Simple sentences found have three patterns i.e. (1) S-P, (2) S-P-O, (3) S-P-C, while single sentences extension have four patterns i.e. (1) S-P-A, (2) A-S-P-A, (3) S-P-O-A, and (4) S-P-C-A. Compound sentences are found in the form of asindetis and syndetic sentences. Asindetis compound sentences are composed of two clauses, three clauses, and four clauses, while the syndetic sentences are composed of two clauses. Multilevel compound sentence pattern that is in the form of compound sentences with subjective and adverbial level. Relation of the sentence meaning found is based on the role of semantic subject, predicate, object, complement and adverb. The meaning relation between clauses in equal compound sentences consist two types i.e. (1) conflicting sentences, and (2) advanced sentences. The meaning relation between clauses in different degree compound sentences consist of six types i.e. (1) temporal sentence, (2) requirement sentence, (3) causal sentence, (4) effect sentence, (5) statement sentence, and (6) order sentence.

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Wittgenstein on Metaphor

Scripta ◽

10.5752/p.2358-3428.2016v20n40p156 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (40) ◽

pp. 156

Author(s):

Diogo de França Gurgel

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Research Methods ◽

Philosophical Investigations ◽

What Is Said ◽

Sentence Meaning ◽

Linguistic Dimension ◽

Paul Grice

In this work, I examine Wittgenstein’s possible contributions to an elucidation of the grammatical status of certain metaphors – often found in theoretical and speculative texts – which resist an approach based on the assumption of a clear split between the fields of pragmatics and semantics. I take as examples of works that depart from this assumption Elizabeth Camp’s Contextualism, Metaphor and What is said (which explores the lines suggested by Paul Grice), and John Searle’s Expression and Meaning. Both rely on a distinction between speaker’s meaning (utterance meaning) and sentence meaning to explain the nature of metaphor. They assume that the very metaphorical operation involves meaning something instead of saying something. But it is anything but obvious that, when we consider, e.g., the following metaphor of Philosophical Investigations: “A picture held us prisoners” (§115), we can assume that we are facing a non-descriptive use of language. I argue that Wittgenstein himself can provide us with tools to examine a possible descriptive function of this kind of sentence when he develops his grammatical research methods which: a) are not focused on the linguistic dimension of a sentence but on the linguistic dimension of discourse; b) bring up the issue of language learning; c) lead us to ask if certain metaphors could not work as modifiers of convictions, i.e., if they could not act directly on what Wittgenstein once called Weltbild. Keywords: Metaphor. Wittgenstein. Weltbild. Saying. Meaning.

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FeXIV Line Emission Polarization of the July 11, 1991 Solar Corona

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100026002 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 144 ◽

pp. 541-547

Author(s):

J. Sýkora ◽

J. Rybák ◽

P. Ambrož

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Solar Corona ◽

Emission Line ◽

Solar Eclipse ◽

White Light ◽

Preliminary Analysis ◽

Line Emission ◽

Total Solar Eclipse ◽

Degree Of Polarization ◽

High Resolution Images

AbstractHigh resolution images, obtained during July 11, 1991 total solar eclipse, allowed us to estimate the degree of solar corona polarization in the light of FeXIV 530.3 nm emission line and in the white light, as well. Very preliminary analysis reveals remarkable differences in the degree of polarization for both sets of data, particularly as for level of polarization and its distribution around the Sun’s limb.

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Characterization of RF Sputtered ZnO Piezoelectric Films Using Transmission Electron Microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100114050 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

pp. 86-87

Author(s):

Kemining W. Yeh ◽

Richard S. Muller ◽

Wei-Kuo Wu ◽

Jack Washburn

Keyword(s):

Integrated Circuit ◽

Acoustic Waves ◽

New Technology ◽

Surface Acoustic Waves ◽

Electromechanical Properties ◽

Leading Role ◽

Saw Devices ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

High Degree

Considerable and continuing interest has been shown in the thin film transducer fabrication for surface acoustic waves (SAW) in the past few years. Due to the high degree of miniaturization, compatibility with silicon integrated circuit technology, simplicity and ease of design, this new technology has played an important role in the design of new devices for communications and signal processing. Among the commonly used piezoelectric thin films, ZnO generally yields superior electromechanical properties and is expected to play a leading role in the development of SAW devices.

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AAC Supports for Individuals With Rett Syndrome Across the Lifespan

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac24.3.74 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 74-85

Author(s):

Sandra M. Grether

Keyword(s):

Rett Syndrome ◽

Communication Skills ◽

Preliminary Analysis ◽

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Motor Deficits ◽

Complex Profile ◽

Communication Behaviors ◽

The Individual

Individuals with Rett syndrome (RS) present with a complex profile. They benefit from a multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. In our clinic, the Communication Matrix © (Rowland, 1990/1996/2004) is used to collect data about the communication skills and modalities used by those with RS across the lifespan. Preliminary analysis of this data supports the expected changes in communication behaviors as the individual with RS ages and motor deficits have a greater impact.

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