scholarly journals On the relationship between argument structure change and semantic change

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Bethany J. Christiansen ◽  
Brian D. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Structure Change ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
The Relationship

Argument structure (AS) and meaning are closely related, but the nature of the relationship is disputed. It is not entirely deterministic, as not all aspects of AS and meaning necessarily match up. Most discussion has focused on theory-internal issues and/or synchronic analysis of argument alternations. We, however, take a diachronic perspective, addressing how change in a verb’s AS correlates with meaning and vice-versa, and specifically asking if AS changes first, giving new semantics, or if meaning change triggers a different AS. We study these issues empirically via corpus work on the verb babysit, since it shows interesting changes involving AS and semantics in the relatively shallow diachrony of modern English.

Theoretical Approaches to the Functions of Indefinite Pronouns

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Haspelmath
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Features ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Mental Spaces ◽  
Logical Semantics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Indefinite Pronouns

This chapter focuses on various theoretical approaches to the semantic and syntactic functions of indefinite pronouns. It begins with a discussion of structuralist semantics, which suggests that language is a system whose parts must be defined and described on the basis of their place in the system and their relation to each other, rather than on the basis of their own intrinsic properties. It then considers some of the problems associated with structuralist semantics, including the unclear status of the semantic features; significant overlap of the functions of grammatical items in many areas, including indefinite pronouns; and structuralist semantics makes wrong predictions about semantic change. The chapter proceeds by analysing logical semantics and the issues raised by this approach, along with syntactic approaches, the theory of mental spaces, pragmatic scales and scale reversal. Finally, it explains the relationship between focusing and sentence accent.

Meaning change in Chinese: A numeral phrase construction from adjectives to superlatives to definite descriptions

Linguistics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Jin ◽  
Jun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Change Process ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Literal Meaning ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Gradable Adjectives ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Truth Conditional

Abstract This paper analyzes a hitherto unnoticed semantic change process in Chinese, in which lexical (adjectival) materials develop into superlative operators, and subsequently turn into definiteness markers. Our analysis focuses on the semantic factors that underlie this meaning change trajectory. Specifically, we argue that frequent association of gradable adjectives with superlative implication leads to pragmatic strengthening in which the superlative implication conventionally enters the literal meaning. Furthermore, we show that a further change in the extension of the nominal part of superlative phrases leads to a maximality reanalysis that is compatible with the semantics of definite NPs. This paper contributes to the burgeoning field of applying truth-conditional semantics to theories of grammaticalization.

Semantic Change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Closs Traugott
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Contextual Data ◽  
Analogical Thinking ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Types Of Change

Traditional approaches to semantic change typically focus on outcomes of meaning change and list types of change such as metaphoric and metonymic extension, broadening and narrowing, and the development of positive and negative meanings. Examples are usually considered out of context, and are lexical members of nominal and adjectival word classes. However, language is a communicative activity that is highly dependent on context, whether that of the ongoing discourse or of social and ideological changes. Much recent work on semantic change has focused, not on results of change, but on pragmatic enabling factors for change in the flow of speech. Attention has been paid to the contributions of cognitive processes, such as analogical thinking, production of cues as to how a message is to be interpreted, and perception or interpretation of meaning, especially in grammaticalization. Mechanisms of change such as metaphorization, metonymization, and subjectification have been among topics of special interest and debate. The work has been enabled by the fine-grained approach to contextual data that electronic corpora allow.

From Argument Diagrams to Argumentation Mining in Texts

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Peldszus ◽  
Manfred Stede
Keyword(s):  
Computational Linguistics ◽  
Argument Structure ◽  
Automatic Analysis ◽  
Critical Survey ◽  
Formal Representation ◽  
Rhetorical Structure ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Argumentation Mining ◽  
The Relationship

In this paper, the authors consider argument mining as the task of building a formal representation for an argumentative piece of text. Their goal is to provide a critical survey of the literature on both the resulting representations (i.e., argument diagramming techniques) and on the various aspects of the automatic analysis process. For representation, the authors also provide a synthesized proposal of a scheme that combines advantages from several of the earlier approaches; in addition, the authors discuss the relationship between representing argument structure and the rhetorical structure of texts in the sense of Mann and Thompsons (1988) RST. Then, for the argument mining problem, the authors also cover the literature on closely-related tasks that have been tackled in Computational Linguistics, because they think that these can contribute to more powerful argument mining systems than the first prototypes that were built in recent years. The paper concludes with the authors’ suggestions for the major challenges that should be addressed in the field of argument mining.

Time and truth

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Detges
Keyword(s):  
Old English ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Past Participle ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Discourse Strategies ◽  
The Invisible

This paper is concerned with the “invisible hand” behind the polygenetic pathways of semantic change in grammaticalization. A comparison between Old English habban + Past Participle and Spanish tener + Past Participle brings to light specific discourse strategies which speakers use resultatives for. On the basis of this analysis, the paper re-examines the problem of explaining the shift from non-temporal to temporal meaning. It is argued that this shift is brought about by some very basic discourse strategies which are strong motives for repeated meaning change in the same direction.

scholarly journals ‘Future Talk’ in Newspaper Editorials: Predictions and Their Role in Argumentative Discourse

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Farzana Masroor ◽  
Muhammad Yousaf ◽  
Azhar Habib ◽  
Ijaz Ali Khan
Keyword(s):  
Speech Acts ◽  
Argument Structure ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Argumentative Discourse ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
The Future ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Newspaper Editorials

Newspaper editorials are known for taking a stance while fulfilling their goals of persuading the audience. In this regard, making future predictions is a crucial strategy in the argument structure of editorials. They are considered as risky acts since they are meant to outline future course of action as well as outcomes of such actions for their audience. This research is focused on the analysis of the speech acts of predictions among newspaper editorials of Pakistani, American and Malaysian newspapers. The analysis is focused on the exploration of forms, force and occurrence of these acts. The results indicate the preference of Pakistani and American newspapers in using strong predictions. The Malaysian newspaper meanwhile is found to be less explicit when predicting the future. This is indicated by less use of the strategy as well as adoption of implicit ways to express propositions related to the future. The results affirm the role of editorials as opinion leaders in their respective societies and the differences across cultures can be interpreted with respect to the extra linguistic and contextual factors that control editorial structures and strategies. The findings of the study are useful for future researchers to explore the relationship of language and its communicative purpose especially when fulfilling the goals of persuasion across cultures and contexts.

scholarly journals Establishing the Symbolic Association of the Concept of 'Youth' in the British and American Literary Discourse in the 19th-21st Centuries

Linguaculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Beshlei
Keyword(s):  
Single Unit ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Symbolic Meaning ◽  
Literary Discourse ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Cultural Images ◽  
Associative Chain ◽  
Social Novels ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
American Authors

The article deals with axiologically marked symbolic associations related to the sociocultural phenomenon of youth. The research is conducted on the basis of social novels by British and American authors of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The symbolic meaning of the concept is formed in a textual context and motivated by cultural images, ideas and values. It does not cause an internal semantic change but complements the range of meaning in the process of discourse implementation. The study of the symbolic embodiment of the concept of YOUTH in English literary discourse is not limited to the analysis of individual words but requires conducting an interpretative-textual analysis of the coherent discourse situation, indicating the formation of an associative chain during concept actualization. Chain elements are linked internally into a single unit, forming an associative group. The symbol, carrying the axiological potential of its culture, operates in inseparable unity with the axiological component of the concept under study. The data clarify the relationship between positive and negative axiological representations of the concept.

Event Structure and Verbal Decomposition

2019 ◽  
pp. 313-341
Author(s):  
Gillian Ramchand
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Event Structure ◽  
Semantic Representations ◽  
Structural Interpretation ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter explores the relationship between constrained semantic representations of events, and structured syntactic representations that express them. I show that these representations track each other systematically, and that argument structure generalizations emerge in lock-step with these structures. I therefore propose a system in which those generalizations follow from the following general principles of structural interpretation: (i) embedding corresponds to the cause/leads to relation; (ii) each subevental structure is related potentially to a participant NP; (iii) event-recursion is limited to structures with at most one dynamic predication per event phase. The maximal subevental structure consists of a stative predication embedding a dynamic one, and the dynamic one in turn embedding a stative one. This structure and its proper subsets exhaust the event types built by the grammar. These principles ensure the relative prominence of the different argument positions as well as specific entailments for the different positions.

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