scholarly journals An Investigation into Lexical Aspect of Persian Light Verbs: zadan, dǎdan and xordan Based on Huddleston and Pullum (2002)

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-16
Author(s):  
Shapour Reza Berenjian ◽  
Jalal Rahimian
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Scientific Validity ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Lexical Aspect ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Equal Chance ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Status

The verb and its complement have their specific contributions to the meaning of predicate. Sometimes, the verb takes a more modest share than the complement in expressing the predicate; such verbs are referred to as light verbs. However, the degree of the lightness of the verbs is neither systematic nor predictable in verb constructions. We aim to investigate the lexical aspects of the Persian light verbs “zadan” (to hit), “dǎdan” (to give), and “xordan” (to eat) based on Huddleston and Pullum’s Model (2002). There are many verbs that lend themselves to light verb constructions. The data are collected from the Updating Persian Corpus consisting of 48M words. To this end, we extracted all light verbs in the sentences stored on the Updating Persian Corpus using the AntConc software based on Mansouri’s approach (2013). The sampling was done using random sampling method that has scientific validity and is generalizable. In random sampling, every entity of the population enjoys equal chance of inclusion in the sample. Then we analyzed the sentences containing light verbs in terms of the state and activity lexical aspects. The results were plotted in tables and figures with annotations of the verb features. For similar patterns, only one pattern was selected for further analysis. The light verb patterns were listed and analyzed in an inventory one by one. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical method and a corpus-based survey design. Descriptive research has both applied and basic aspects so that it leads to the discovery of facts and bodies of knowledge in an inductive way. An important characteristic of descriptive studies is that the researcher may not manipulate or control the status and role of variables. The researcher merely tends to study and describe what already exists. In this study, we used library research and content analysis methods.

Rise and be surprised: Aspectual profiling and mirativity in Odia light verb constructions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-164
Author(s):  
Maarten Lemmens ◽  
Kalyanamalini Sahoo
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Main Verb

AbstractIn this paper, we present our Construction Grammar account of light verb constructions in the Indo-Aryan language Odia (earlier known as Oriya). These light verb constructions are asymmetric complex verb predicates that combine a main verb (MV) with a light verb (LV). While the LVs are form-identical with a lexical verb, they are “light” because they have lost their lexical content as well as their argument structure. We argue that LV constructions present a coherent system: (i) they all modulate the interpretation of the event encoded by the main verb by adding a particular aspectual (phasal) profile on the event (i.e. profiling the ONSET, DURATION or COMPLETION of the event) and (ii) some of these light verbs further add a mirative interpretation. The present paper focuses on this subset of “aspectuo-mirative LVs” which can be characterised as non-parasitic expressions of mirativity; in particular, it presents new work on the light verb -uʈh ‘-rise’ that combines a profile on ONSET with mirativity. The constructional view that we present here offers an account of light verbs that is both descriptively and theoretically innovative. Its descriptive value resides in its systematic and fine-grained corpus-based analysis of the formal and semantic features of LVs beyond what is found in the existing literature. The theoretical contribution of our paper not only resides in offering a better understanding of the status of LVs in the grammar, but by situating the semantic value of some of these in the complex category of mirativity, it offers a more unified answer of quite disparate observations in the literature. Finally, we also address the question of whether this mirative value of the aspectuo-mirative LVs is semantic or pragmatic. As we will show, such a strict dichotomy cannot be maintained, which gives further support for a constructional approach.

The diachrony of light and auxiliary verbs in Indo-Aryan

Diachronica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Slade
Keyword(s):  
Historical Development ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Auxiliary Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Compound Verb

This study examines the historical development of light verbs in Indo-Aryan. I investigate the origins of the modern Indo-Aryan compound verb construction, and compare this construction with other light verb constructions in Indo-Aryan. Examination of the antecedents of the Indo-Aryan compound verb construction alongside other Indo-Aryan light verb constructions, combined with analysis of lexical and morphosyntactic differences between the compound verb systems of two Indo-Aryan languages (Hindi and Nepali), demonstrate that light verbs are not a stable or unchanging part of grammar, but rather undergo a variety of changes, including reanalysis as tense/aspect auxiliaries.

scholarly journals Determining light verb constructions in contemporary British and Irish English

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Ronan ◽  
Gerold Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Quantitative Results

This study implements an automated parser-based approach to the investigation of light verb constructions. The database consisting of ICE-GB and ICE-IRE is used to obtain qualitative and quantitative results on the use of light verb structures. The study explains and evaluates the steps employed to optimize parser output in detecting open lists of light verb constructions. It discusses the qualitative usage differences of these structures in the data between the two varieties and finds that ICE-GB favours fewer high frequency light verbs while ICE-IRE contains more diverse lower frequency light verbs and more passives. Overall, counts of light verb constructions are considerably higher than previously assumed. The projected counts suggest that attestations of light verb constructions will increase considerably if the search is not restricted to certain high-frequency light verbs as is typically done in studies employing manual or semi-automatic approaches to data collection.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of a specific type of lexical collocation (light verb + noun) in Croatian, Italian and English language and its use in classroom teaching of lexis

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-348
Author(s):  
Marijana Alujević ◽  
Tanja Brešan Ančić ◽  
Dijana Vinčić
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
English Language ◽  
Contrastive Analysis ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Foreign Language Acquisition ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Verb Constructions

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and the analysis of collocations, one of the most significant aspects of idiomatic use of language. A special emphasis has been put on a comparative review of the most common Light Verb Constructions consisting of light verbs (cro. lagani glagoli, ital. verbi supporto) and nouns in Croatian, English and Italian language. The aforementioned construction is chosen since it is extremely common in the early stages of language acquisition. Moreover, the aim of the conducted contrastive analysis has been to determine overlaps in order to use the examples of positive transfer in teaching lexis (English/Italian – L2), as well as to prevent negative interference such as false analogies. The research is based on the assumption that the number of completely concordant collocations taught in the early stages of foreign language acquisition is limited. Thus, prompt detection and putting emphasis on their relevance is essential. Following the discussion of the results of the contrastive analysis, the relevance of teaching collocations, i.e. presenting the most common collocations simultaneously with new vocabulary will be stressed. In accordance with the above­mentioned, we believe that collocational approach is the most useful and effective in teaching languages.

scholarly journals Semantic Constraints on Light Verb Constructions in Modern Irish

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 67-88
Author(s):  
Maria Bloch-Trojnar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Verb Classes ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Semantic Constraints ◽  
Verbal Noun ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Systematic Behavior ◽  
Semantic Verb Classes

The paper focuses on the semantics of Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) in Modern Irish. Structures made up of a light verb (déan ‘do’, tabhair ‘give’, faigh ‘get’, bain ‘take, extract’) and a verbal noun (VN) complement are investigated. LVCs are argued to have a telicising effect which results from the interaction of the aktionsart of the VN complement and syntax. Particular light verbs show systematic behavior in their ability to combine with VNs derived from certain semantic verb classes (verbs of movement, emission of sound, social interaction etc.) in order to present the situation from different angles by giving prominence to certain participants (Agent, Patient, Experiencer). The choice of a specific light verb may also lead to a subtle semantic modification such as volitionality.

scholarly journals Type hierarchies for passive forms in Korean

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghoun Song ◽  
Jae-Woong Choe
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Nouns ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions

This paper aims to provide type hierarchies for Korean passive constructions on the basis of their forms within the HPSG framework. The type hierarchies proposed in this paper are based on the classification of Korean passives; suffixal passives, auxiliary passives, inherent passives, and passive light verb constructions. Verbs are divided into five subtypes in accordance with the possibility of passivization. We also provide type hierarchies for verbal nouns and passive light verbs.

Productivity, richness, and diversity of light verb constructions in the history of American English

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-388
Author(s):  
John D. Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
American English ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich

Abstract This study provides an empirical analysis of productivity in Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) in the history of American English. LVCs contain a semantically light verb like make or take that may be paired with an abstract nominal object, as in make an assumption or take charge. Using a 406-million word corpus of texts written between 1810 and 2009, we track the frequency of LVCs and analyze the range of light verb + nominal object pairings. Using statistical measurements of biodiversity from the field of ecology, we evaluate the hypothesis that “the rich get richer” among light verbs: the most frequent verbs become more frequent and more diverse, occurring with an ever-growing variety of different NP complements. The results contribute to ongoing discussions in cross-linguistic, diachronic research on reasons for the growth of LVCs, the gradient nature of linguistic productivity, and the role of exemplars in the interaction between type and token frequencies during periods of linguistic change.

scholarly journals Enriching VALLEX with Light Verbs: From Theory to Data and Back Again

2018 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-56
Author(s):  
Václava Kettnerová ◽  
Markéta Lopatková ◽  
Eduard Bejček ◽  
Petra Barančíková
Keyword(s):  
Formal Model ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Data Annotation ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Linguistic Annotation ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Syntactic Behavior ◽  
Syntactic Properties

Abstract This paper summarizes results of a theoretical analysis of syntactic behavior of Czech light verb constructions and their verification in the linguistic annotation of a large amount of these constructions. The concept of LVCs is based on the observation that nouns denoting actions, states, or properties have a strong tendency to select semantically underspecified verbs, which leads to a specific rearrangement of valency complementations of both nouns and verbs in the syntactic structure. On the basis of the description of deep and surface syntactic properties of LVCs, a formal model of their lexicographic representation is proposed here. In addition, the resulting data annotation, capturing almost 1,500 LVCs, is described in detail. This annotation has been integrated in a new version of the VALLEX lexicon, release 3.5.

scholarly journals Light Verb Constructions in Lithuanian: Identification and Classification

2020 ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
Jolanta Kovalevskaitė ◽  
Erika Rimkutė ◽  
Laura Vilkaitė-Lozdienė
Keyword(s):  
Small Group ◽  
Shared Task ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Identification Process ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Multiword Expressions ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Syntactic Features ◽  
Verb Constructions

 Light verb constructions (LVCs) are verb-noun constructions in which the noun carries the semantic meaning and the verb is semantically reduced, when compared with its main meaning, for example, atlikti analizę (‘to perform an analysis’). LVCs in Lithuanian have not been addressed much so far. The analysis of Lithuanian LVCs was carried out as a part of the PARSEME project on verbal identification of multiword expressions (MWE). This paper aims at presenting some initial findings on the identification of LVCs in Lithuanian, based on the 1st edition of the PARSEME shared-task results (2017). We describe the identification process according to the semantic and syntactic features of LVCs (PARSEME guidelines 1.0 2017) and discuss the grammatical features of the identified Lithuanian LVCs. LVCs seem to be less frequent in Lithuanian than in other languages: they make up about 0.2% (215 instances) of the analysed 200,000 token corpus. Based on the number of different LVCs, there seem to be two groups of verbs functioning as light verbs: a relatively small group of common light verbs used in the most prototypical examples of Lithuanian LVCs (e.g., vykdyti ‘to perform’, atlikti ‘to perform’, daryti ‘to do’, and turėti ‘to have’) and a larger group of less common light verbs. Most of the nouns in analysed LVCs have suffixes -imas and -ymas, which are the most typical Lithuanian suffixes for deriving a noun from a verb. Almost 40% of all LVCs are used with 1–3 words intervening between a verb and a noun.

scholarly journals Complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Role And Reference Grammar ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Matrix Verb

This paper characterises complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish. Light verbs are attested in many of the world’s languages (Alsina, Bresnan & Sells, 2001; Butt, 1995, 2003). Cross linguistically, there appears to be a common class of verbs involved in these constructions and generally there is agreement that light verbs contribute to the formation of complex predicates. Light verbs seem have a non-light or ‘heavy’ verb counterpart. In this paper we discuss the light verb constructions (LVC) as found in modern Irish and how they form complex predicates. We claim that the light verb (LV) encodes the event process initiation (or cause) and the matrix verb indicates the bounded component or result. In light verb constructions, the matrix verb appears in Modern Irish syntax as a verbal-noun form. The function of light verbs in these constructions is to modulate the event and sub-event semantics. We distinguish between auxiliary verbs constructions (AVC) and those constructions involving complex predicated and light verbs (Aikhenvald & Dixon, 2006; Anderson, 2006). We provide evidence based on an analysis of Irish data that shows how aspect and argument structure considerations are resolved for the complex predicate within the light verb construction via the linking system between semantics and syntax. We motivate a functional account, based on Role and Reference Grammar (Nolan, 2012; Nolan & Diedrichsen, 2013; Van Valin, 2005; Van Valin & LaPolla, 1997), that appeals to the analysis of complex predicates within a consideration of the layered structure of the clause.

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