John Benjamins Publishing Company
The role of force dynamics and intentionality in the reconstruction of L2 verb meanings: A Danish-Spanish bidirectional study
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Abstract
This chapter examines the role of force dynamics and intentionality in the description of placement events by two groups of native speakers of typologically and genetically different languages, Danish and Spanish, and by two groups of intermediate adult learners, Danish learners of L2 Spanish and Spanish learners of L2 Danish. The results of the study showed that (a) force dynamics and intentionality are important semantic components in both languages, but their distribution and relative focus differed cross-linguistically, and (b) the two learner groups had difficulties in reconstructing the meanings of the L2 verbs involving these two semantic components. Learning difficulties were observed when moving from a less to a more complex L2 system, when moving in the opposite direction, i.e., from a more to a less complex L2 system and when moving to an L2 system that is as complex as the learners native one.
Abstract
This chapter examines the role of force dynamics and intentionality in the description of placement events by two groups of native speakers of typologically and genetically different languages, Danish and Spanish, and by two groups of intermediate adult learners, Danish learners of L2 Spanish and Spanish learners of L2 Danish. The results of the study showed that (a) force dynamics and intentionality are important semantic components in both languages, but their distribution and relative focus differed cross-linguistically, and (b) the two learner groups had difficulties in reconstructing the meanings of the L2 verbs involving these two semantic components. Learning difficulties were observed when moving from a less to a more complex L2 system, when moving in the opposite direction, i.e., from a more to a less complex L2 system and when moving to an L2 system that is as complex as the learners native one.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Applying Cognitive Linguistics: Identifying some current research foci (figurative language in use, constructions and typology) 1
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I. Figurative language in use
- Overt and covert uses of metaphor in the academic mentoring in English of Spanish undergraduate students at five European universities 23
- The interpretation of metonymy by Japanese learners of English 51
- Methodological triangulation in the study of emotion: The case of 'anger' in three language groups 73
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II. Constructing meaning in language (L1 and L2 acquisition)
- On-line processing of verb-argument constructions: Visual recognition threshold and naming latency 103
- The role of force dynamics and intentionality in the reconstruction of L2 verb meanings: A Danish-Spanish bidirectional study 133
- Cross-linguistic influence in the interpretation of boundary-crossing events in L2 acquisition 157
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III Typology
- Thinking for translating and intra-typological variation in satellite-framed languages 181
- Showing versus telling: Representing speech events in English and Spanish 205
- Subject index 229
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Applying Cognitive Linguistics: Identifying some current research foci (figurative language in use, constructions and typology) 1
-
I. Figurative language in use
- Overt and covert uses of metaphor in the academic mentoring in English of Spanish undergraduate students at five European universities 23
- The interpretation of metonymy by Japanese learners of English 51
- Methodological triangulation in the study of emotion: The case of 'anger' in three language groups 73
-
II. Constructing meaning in language (L1 and L2 acquisition)
- On-line processing of verb-argument constructions: Visual recognition threshold and naming latency 103
- The role of force dynamics and intentionality in the reconstruction of L2 verb meanings: A Danish-Spanish bidirectional study 133
- Cross-linguistic influence in the interpretation of boundary-crossing events in L2 acquisition 157
-
III Typology
- Thinking for translating and intra-typological variation in satellite-framed languages 181
- Showing versus telling: Representing speech events in English and Spanish 205
- Subject index 229
