Classes of creation verbs
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Elisabetta Jezek
Abstract
This paper introduces a taxonomy for creation verbs consisting in two main classes: create verbs and verbs of derived creation. Each class has subclasses which are discussed in detail. I argue that while verbs belonging to the first class have creation as their core sense, verbs of derived creation either have another sense as primary or are underspecified, and take on a creation reading only in verb-argument composition. The overall goal of the paper is to support this distinction through a corpus-informed qualitative analysis of the semantic and syntactic properties of a target set of verbs belonging to both classes. Particularly, starting from intuitive semantic groupings, I pin down the syntactic features shared by verbs belonging to each group and propose a classification at the syntax/semantic interface. Results of the analysis show that the proposed distinction is empirically grounded.
Abstract
This paper introduces a taxonomy for creation verbs consisting in two main classes: create verbs and verbs of derived creation. Each class has subclasses which are discussed in detail. I argue that while verbs belonging to the first class have creation as their core sense, verbs of derived creation either have another sense as primary or are underspecified, and take on a creation reading only in verb-argument composition. The overall goal of the paper is to support this distinction through a corpus-informed qualitative analysis of the semantic and syntactic properties of a target set of verbs belonging to both classes. Particularly, starting from intuitive semantic groupings, I pin down the syntactic features shared by verbs belonging to each group and propose a classification at the syntax/semantic interface. Results of the analysis show that the proposed distinction is empirically grounded.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
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PART I. Types of word classes
- Carving verb classes from corpora 17
- Classes of creation verbs 37
- On Light Nouns 51
- The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
- The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
- Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
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PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
- Hungarian is a classifier language 141
- Cardinal numerals 161
- On the borders of neglected word classes 181
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PART III. Across word classes
- Between adjective and noun 203
- On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
-
PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
- Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
- Half and other unique words 263
- Index of languages 283
- Index of names 285
- Index of subjects 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
PART I. Types of word classes
- Carving verb classes from corpora 17
- Classes of creation verbs 37
- On Light Nouns 51
- The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
- The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
- Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
-
PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
- Hungarian is a classifier language 141
- Cardinal numerals 161
- On the borders of neglected word classes 181
-
PART III. Across word classes
- Between adjective and noun 203
- On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
-
PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
- Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
- Half and other unique words 263
- Index of languages 283
- Index of names 285
- Index of subjects 289
