LINGUIST List 19.3533
Wed Nov 19 2008
Diss: Semantics/Syntax: Gehrke: 'Ps in Motion: On the semantics and...'
Editor for this issue: Evelyn Richter
<evelynlinguistlist.org>
1. Berit
Gehrke,
Ps in Motion: On the semantics and syntax of P elements and motion events
Message 1: Ps in Motion: On the semantics and syntax of P elements and motion events
Date: 19-Nov-2008
From: Berit Gehrke <berit.gehrkeupf.edu>
Subject: Ps in Motion: On the semantics and syntax of P elements and motion events
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Institution: Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS
Program: AiO
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2008
Author: Berit Gehrke
Dissertation Title: Ps in Motion: On the semantics and syntax of P elements and motion events
Dissertation URL: http://www.lotpublications.nl/publish/articles/002850/bookpart.pdf
Linguistic Field(s):
Semantics
Syntax
Dissertation Director:
Tanya Reinhart
Henriëtte de Swart
Maaike Schoorlemmer
Dissertation Abstract:
This study addresses semantic and syntactic issues concerning thecombination of elements of the category P (adpositions, verbal prefixes andparticles) with verbs of motion and (change of) location in the descriptionof motion events.
The general proposal is guided by the idea of a division of labour betweenspatial PPs and verbal predicates in structuring an event and contributingto its overall aspectual make-up. It is postulated that there are two mainways to combine PPs with verbs, namely as predicate modifiers (VP adjuncts)or as secondary resultative predicates (complements to V). Specialattention is paid to the latter possibility, which is analysed as involvingcomplex predicate formation and deriving an accomplishment event structure.Empirical support for this analysis is brought forward by a detailedinvestigation of English, Dutch, German, Russian and Czech data.Furthermore, a broader range of data discussed in the literature, such asRomance languages and data from language acquisition, is taken into accountto address the more general cross-linguistic variation in the descriptionof motion events. New constraints on such complex predicate formation areformulated and direct parallels are drawn to complex predicate formationwith other secondary resultative predicates, in particular adjectives.
This thesis is of relevance to researchers of various linguisticbackgrounds concerned with the interaction between semantics and syntax,typology, and more specifically to those interested in the area of eventstructure, inner aspect, and spatial meanings.
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