On the Fictive Reading of German Steigen ‘Climb, Rise’: A Frame Account

Fictive motion, i.e., the figurative stative use of verbs of motion, has attracted much attention in cognitive linguistics as a paradigm case for how basic dynamic concepts are exploited figuratively in concept formation (Langacker 1986; Matsumoto 1996; Talmy 2000; Matlock 2004a, b inter alia). In this paper, we present a case study of the fictive motion reading of the German movement verb steigen ‘climb, rise’ and explore how it can be related to the various dynamic readings of the verb. In our account of steigen, which builds on Gamerschlag, Geuder & Petersen’s (2014) analysis of the dynamic readings of the verb, we contrast the different readings in terms of frames, i.e., recursive attribute-value structures in the sense of Barsalou (1992) and Petersen (2007/2015).

Moving Time vs. Frame-relative motion

There is an elaborate analogy between Moving Time (composed of primary metaphors; e.g. Christmas is approaching) and Frame-relative Fictive Motion (e.g. Your destination is approaching). It has been suggested that this analogy could be involved in the motivation of Moving Time. However, a semantic frame analysis that includes all stages of the motion event shows that this analogy could not be involved in the motivation of Moving Time. It is further argued that Moving Time and Frame-relative Fictive Motion are instances of different types of cognitive-semantic structure. Moving Time is a selective integration of concepts from frames that do not share elements with each other, whereas Frame-relative Fictive Motion presupposes a single semantic frame. For the purpose of distinguishing fictive motion from primary metaphor (e.g. Moving Time), Coextension-path and Pattern-path fictive motion are studied in addition to Frame-relative. These three types of fictive motion can be distinguished from primary metaphor because they involve the integration of concepts from frames that share specific structure, whereas primary metaphor involves frames that do not share specific structure. In a preliminary classification of fictive motion as a type of metaphor, all three types of fictive motion discussed may be classified as resemblance-based metaphors. Coextension-path and Frame-relative fictive motion are also motivated by correlations in experience. These correlations, however, are different in kind from those that motivate primary metaphor.

Perspective construal techniques in indirect non-referential naming

The research explores the perspective construal techniques applied in predicate indirect noun groups in Russian. In this case, the discourse perspective is construed with a highly salient ob-ject of perspective in the construed frame of reference. To achieve this effect, the speaker / narrator chooses a particular type of predicate indirect noun groups, such as predicate con-structions with the verbs of fictive motion, appearance, and being (existence) or comparative constructions. Each of these construction types demonstrates its own linguistic and cognitive features, which are used to apply various perspectivization techniques to ensure that its inter-pretation will proceed successfully. To detect these techniques, a complex procedure is applied. Hand-selected fragments analysis followed by corpus statistic and correlation analysis help define the parameters and values in predicate indirect noun group constructions. These parameters are referential (bodily modus type, referent type, referent focus type), lexical (first / repeated lexeme use, type of attribute in pre-position, intensifier type in pre-position), syntactic (sentence initial / final position, position before a clause, co-reference distance in words and propositions) and textual ones (textual role, new microevent introduction). Vari-ance analysis has revealed a group of parameters typical for the studied construction types of predicate indirect noun groups. Parametric results allow describe the typical techniques of object mental scanning, object construal, frames of reference (coordinate system) construal. These include the techniques of mental path shortening / prolongation, embodiment con- strual alleviation / constraining, animated / non-animated object construal, stability / instabil-ity of frames of reference, etc.

Algumas considerações sobre leituras estativas de verbos de movimento em Português Europeu

A significant number of the so-called verbs of motion exhibit a consistent alternation between an eventive and a stative reading. In this view, the main goal of this paper is to investigate the linguistic factors that contribute to this aspectual behaviour regarding verbs of motion in European Portuguese. In particular, we consider the fictive motion hypothesis; the influence of tenses like the Presente do Indicativo (Simple Present) and the Imperfeito (Imperfect) that stativize the predications with which they co-occur; the status of the “figure” and, finally, the role played by the different subclasses of verbs of motion, with special reference to the distinction between inherently directed verbs and manner of motion verbs. We conclude that, like other types of verbs, the aspectual feature of dynamicity seems to play a crucial role in the alternation at hand.