Controller-controllee relations in purposive constructions
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Lilián Guerrero
Abstract
This paper examines purpose and rationale clauses, two subtypes of purposive constructions. The study of these constructions has been mainly developed for English within formal syntax. A purpose clause is a VP-internal adjunct containing a gap bound to the matrix object(i.e. controllee), while a rationale clause is a VP-external adjunct lacking a gap bounded to the matrix object. A similar approach to controller-pivot relationships for purpose has been adopted in previous studies in Role and Reference Grammar. Based on cross-linguistic data, I argue that the lexical manifestation of the controlled element is a language-specific feature, i.e. it can be covert or overt. In some languages, the two lexical manifestations are possible, i.e. a construction-specific property.
Abstract
This paper examines purpose and rationale clauses, two subtypes of purposive constructions. The study of these constructions has been mainly developed for English within formal syntax. A purpose clause is a VP-internal adjunct containing a gap bound to the matrix object(i.e. controllee), while a rationale clause is a VP-external adjunct lacking a gap bounded to the matrix object. A similar approach to controller-pivot relationships for purpose has been adopted in previous studies in Role and Reference Grammar. Based on cross-linguistic data, I argue that the lexical manifestation of the controlled element is a language-specific feature, i.e. it can be covert or overt. In some languages, the two lexical manifestations are possible, i.e. a construction-specific property.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Controller-controllee relations in purposive constructions 1
- Transitivity, constructions, and the projection of argument structure in RRG 23
- Constructions in RRG 41
- A constructional perspective on clefting in Persian 67
- Radical Role and Reference Grammar (RRRG) 103
- Constructions as grammatical objects 143
- Constructions in Role and Reference Grammar 179
- Towards a model of constructional meaning for natural language understanding 205
- Meaning construction, meaning interpretation and formal expression in the Lexical Constructional Model 231
- Constructions in the Lexical Constructional Model 271
- From idioms to sentence structures and beyond 295
- Index 331
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction vii
- Controller-controllee relations in purposive constructions 1
- Transitivity, constructions, and the projection of argument structure in RRG 23
- Constructions in RRG 41
- A constructional perspective on clefting in Persian 67
- Radical Role and Reference Grammar (RRRG) 103
- Constructions as grammatical objects 143
- Constructions in Role and Reference Grammar 179
- Towards a model of constructional meaning for natural language understanding 205
- Meaning construction, meaning interpretation and formal expression in the Lexical Constructional Model 231
- Constructions in the Lexical Constructional Model 271
- From idioms to sentence structures and beyond 295
- Index 331
