Variation and change in English path verbs and constructions: Usage patterns and conceptual structure
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Anatol Stefanowitsch
Abstract
English is classified as a satellite-framed language with manner-conflating verbs, but it also has a substantial number of (usually Romance) pathconflating verbs that are used transitively with a locative direct object. In this chapter, I address two aspects of these verbs. Using the case of enter, I show how they are initially used in the satellite-framed English motion construction, leading to a double encoding of the path, and are then integrated into the transitive pattern in order to avoid semantic conflicts within the motion construction. I also show how the use of enter in the motion construction and the transitive construction may lead to a semantic specialization in varieties where both variants exist, such that the double encoding of the path stresses the aspect of boundary crossing.
Abstract
English is classified as a satellite-framed language with manner-conflating verbs, but it also has a substantial number of (usually Romance) pathconflating verbs that are used transitively with a locative direct object. In this chapter, I address two aspects of these verbs. Using the case of enter, I show how they are initially used in the satellite-framed English motion construction, leading to a double encoding of the path, and are then integrated into the transitive pattern in order to avoid semantic conflicts within the motion construction. I also show how the use of enter in the motion construction and the transitive construction may lead to a semantic specialization in varieties where both variants exist, such that the double encoding of the path stresses the aspect of boundary crossing.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors and contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction: Beyond typology 1
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Part I. Variation
- Typology as a continuum 17
- Same family, different paths 39
- Disentangling manner and path 55
- The encoding of motion events 77
- Motion events in Turkish-German contact varieties 115
- Variation in the categorization of motion events by Danish, German, Turkish, and L2 Danish speakers 133
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Part II. Change
- Describing motion events in Old and Modern French 163
- Lexical splits in the encoding of motion events from Archaic to Classical Greek 185
- Caused-motion verbs in the Middle English intransitive motion construction 203
- Variation and change in English path verbs and constructions: Usage patterns and conceptual structure 223
- Author index 245
- Language index 247
- Subject index 249
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors and contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction: Beyond typology 1
-
Part I. Variation
- Typology as a continuum 17
- Same family, different paths 39
- Disentangling manner and path 55
- The encoding of motion events 77
- Motion events in Turkish-German contact varieties 115
- Variation in the categorization of motion events by Danish, German, Turkish, and L2 Danish speakers 133
-
Part II. Change
- Describing motion events in Old and Modern French 163
- Lexical splits in the encoding of motion events from Archaic to Classical Greek 185
- Caused-motion verbs in the Middle English intransitive motion construction 203
- Variation and change in English path verbs and constructions: Usage patterns and conceptual structure 223
- Author index 245
- Language index 247
- Subject index 249
