A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions
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Pilar Guerrero Medina
Abstract
In this paper I will explore the relationship between constructional and verbal semantics in a two-participant construction exemplified by expressions like I broke my arm (when I fell) (Talmy 2000, 518), where the Subject is described as a mere circumstantial setting for the process (Davidse 1992, 128). Drawing on corpus data with change-of-state verbs, I will illustrate the syntactic contexts where this construction occurs in English, analysing how the particular uses of these verbs interact with the semantico-pragmatic value of the construction. Along the lines of Lemmens (2006), and building on previous work of mine (Guerrero Medina 2010), I will adopt a lexico-paradigmatic view and argue that the paradigmatic behaviour of a verb is actually determined by the entire construction.
Abstract
In this paper I will explore the relationship between constructional and verbal semantics in a two-participant construction exemplified by expressions like I broke my arm (when I fell) (Talmy 2000, 518), where the Subject is described as a mere circumstantial setting for the process (Davidse 1992, 128). Drawing on corpus data with change-of-state verbs, I will illustrate the syntactic contexts where this construction occurs in English, analysing how the particular uses of these verbs interact with the semantico-pragmatic value of the construction. Along the lines of Lemmens (2006), and building on previous work of mine (Guerrero Medina 2010), I will adopt a lexico-paradigmatic view and argue that the paradigmatic behaviour of a verb is actually determined by the entire construction.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
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Introduction
- On the relatedness of functionalism and pragmatics 1
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I. Methods in the analysis of language and discourse
- Developing comprehensive criteria of adequacy 19
- A method of analysing recontextualisation in the communication of science 37
- Contrastive corpus annotation in the CONTRANOT project 57
- Form and function in evaluative language 87
- Life before Nation 111
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II. Pragmatics and grammar
- A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions 133
- How did we think? 149
- The adverb truly in Present-Day English 169
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III. Current trends in pragmatics and discourse analysis
- Nominal reference and the dynamics of discourse 189
- ‘Pragmatic punting’ and prosody 209
- Besides as a connective 223
- Searle and Sinclair on communicative acts 243
- Strategies of (in)directness in Spanish speakers’ production of complaints and disagreements in English and Spanish 261
- Name index 285
- Term index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
-
Introduction
- On the relatedness of functionalism and pragmatics 1
-
I. Methods in the analysis of language and discourse
- Developing comprehensive criteria of adequacy 19
- A method of analysing recontextualisation in the communication of science 37
- Contrastive corpus annotation in the CONTRANOT project 57
- Form and function in evaluative language 87
- Life before Nation 111
-
II. Pragmatics and grammar
- A lexico-paradigmatic approach to English setting-constructions 133
- How did we think? 149
- The adverb truly in Present-Day English 169
-
III. Current trends in pragmatics and discourse analysis
- Nominal reference and the dynamics of discourse 189
- ‘Pragmatic punting’ and prosody 209
- Besides as a connective 223
- Searle and Sinclair on communicative acts 243
- Strategies of (in)directness in Spanish speakers’ production of complaints and disagreements in English and Spanish 261
- Name index 285
- Term index 289
