Verbs of pure change of state in English: projection, constructions and event structure

Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) is a theory of clausal relations whose strength lies in its typological validity and eclecticism. However, its system of lexical representation has some weaknesses, as it fails to satisfactorily explain the semantics of those structures that extend beyond the basic meaning of the verb, like resultative constructions or other expressions of event composition. Thus, this dissertation can be considered as a contribution to the development of the system of lexical representation of RRG. For that purpose, and following Mairal and Van Valin (2001) I turn to Pustejovsky's Generative Lexicon (GL), which captures lexical meaning by splitting lexical information into four different levels of representation, namely argument structure, qualia structure, event structure and lexical inheritance structure. The close analysis of those levels of representation has provided the necessary input to strengthen RRG's system of lexical representation. Furthermore, I also draw from other lexical-semantic theories like Levin and Rappaport Hovav's which, being less projectionist than RRG, expand their scope beyond the predicate. Levin (1993) claims that what determines the syntax of a verb is found in the properties of whole verbal classes rather than in the properties of individual verbs. Hence, I have selected a verbal class that allows me to make syntactic generalisations from the behaviour of verbs as a class. The analysis has proved that the three levels are interrelated, and the three of them contribute to the meaning definition of break verbs. The analysis of syntactic and semantic valence, of argument-adjuncts, and of adjuncts, has contributed to the definition of those meanings that fall out of the scope of the meaning of the predicate; and the analysis of subeventual structure and temporal sequence has endowed the event with duration, another fundamental feature of changes of state. Following Faber and Mairal (1999) y Mairal y Faber (2002), I have propounded the incorporation into logical structures of adjuncts with a semantic impact, and I have developed the notion of merge as an alternative to Goldberg¿s constructions. In short, this dissertation has contributed to the development of a more accurate system of lexical representation for RRG.

Grantor dc:publisher

Universidad de La Rioja (España)

Year dc:date

2007

Author dc:creator

• Martínez Fernández, Beatriz

Contributors dc:contributor

• Martín Arista, Francisco Javier (Universidad de La Rioja)

Statement dc:rights

• LICENCIA DE USO: Los documentos a texto completo incluidos en Dialnet son de acceso libre y propiedad de sus autores y/o editores. Por tanto, cualquier acto de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública y/o transformación total o parcial requiere el consentimiento expreso y escrito de aquéllos. Cualquier enlace al texto completo de estos documentos deberá hacerse a través de la URL oficial de éstos en Dialnet. Más información: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/info/derechosOAI | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS STATEMENT: Full text documents hosted by Dialnet are protected by copyright and/or related rights. This digital object is accessible without charge, but its use is subject to the licensing conditions set by its authors or editors. Unless expressly stated otherwise in the licensing conditions, you are free to linking, browsing, printing and making a copy for your own personal purposes. All other acts of reproduction and communication to the public are subject to the licensing conditions expressed by editors and authors and require consent from them. Any link to this document should be made using its official URL in Dialnet. More info: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/info/derechosOAI

Language dc:language

spa

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaites?codigo=1401

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dialnet.unirioja.es:TES0000000980