The English Resultative as a Family of Constructions Goldberg & Jackendoff (2004) LING 7420...
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Transcript of The English Resultative as a Family of Constructions Goldberg & Jackendoff (2004) LING 7420...
The English Resultative as The English Resultative as a Family of Constructionsa Family of Constructions
Goldberg & Jackendoff (2004)Goldberg & Jackendoff (2004)LING 7420 10/12/06LING 7420 10/12/06
1. A Constructional View of 1. A Constructional View of GrammarGrammar The constructional viewThe constructional view
a)a) There is a cline of grammatical There is a cline of grammatical phenomena. phenomena.
b)b) Everything on this cline is to be Everything on this cline is to be stated in a common format. stated in a common format. There is no principled divide There is no principled divide between ‘lexicon’ and ‘rules.’between ‘lexicon’ and ‘rules.’
c)c) At the phrasal level, pieces of At the phrasal level, pieces of meaning are captured by meaning are captured by constructions.constructions.
A Constructional View of A Constructional View of GrammarGrammar
Differs from traditional lexicalist Differs from traditional lexicalist approachesapproaches Does not emphasize the role of Does not emphasize the role of
words (lexical heads) in words (lexical heads) in determining phrasal patternsdetermining phrasal patterns
Expands the notion of the lexicon Expands the notion of the lexicon to include phrasal patternsto include phrasal patterns
Examples of ConstructionsExamples of Constructions
Idiosyncratic Garden-variety
…and everything in between!
Constructions are like idiomsConstructions are like idioms
Listed in the lexicon withListed in the lexicon with Syntactic structureSyntactic structure MeaningMeaning Partial phonologyPartial phonology
May have argument positionsMay have argument positions ““Twistin’ the Twistin’ the nightnight away.” away.”
‘‘night’ night’ obj. of ‘twist’ obj. of ‘twist’ ““Fred watered the plants Fred watered the plants flatflat.”.”
‘‘flat’ flat’ arg of ‘water’ arg of ‘water’
????????????
What are diagnostics for argument What are diagnostics for argument positions of constructions?positions of constructions? In “Fred watered the plants flat,” how do In “Fred watered the plants flat,” how do
we know that “flat” is in an “argument we know that “flat” is in an “argument position?position?
““In the transitive resultative construction In the transitive resultative construction (NP VP NP AP), the AP is an argument (NP VP NP AP), the AP is an argument position of the costruction…” = circular position of the costruction…” = circular logic?logic?
The VP in constructionsThe VP in constructions
Verb + construction = Verb + construction = complement structurecomplement structure
……but,…how? but,…how? Verbs across languages Verbs across languages
(Narasimhan, 1998)(Narasimhan, 1998) Similar semantic implicationsSimilar semantic implications Similar aspectual propertiesSimilar aspectual properties Similar discourse contextsSimilar discourse contexts DIFFERENT constructionsDIFFERENT constructions
Costs of constructionsCosts of constructions
Need to admit meaningful Need to admit meaningful constructions as items stored in constructions as items stored in the lexiconthe lexicon
Need to abandon the rigid view Need to abandon the rigid view that the verb alone determines that the verb alone determines the complement structure of its the complement structure of its VPVP
Evidence for constructionsEvidence for constructions(it’s not just an arbitrary explanation for one (it’s not just an arbitrary explanation for one syntactic phenomenon)syntactic phenomenon)
General principles of syntactic General principles of syntactic and argument structure cannot and argument structure cannot account for all meaningsaccount for all meanings
Aspects of constructions are Aspects of constructions are rare cross-linguisticallyrare cross-linguistically
2. Dimensions of Variations in 2. Dimensions of Variations in ResultativesResultatives A A familyfamily of constructions of constructions
Sharing important properties but Sharing important properties but differing in specificsdiffering in specifics
Family resemblances of the sort Family resemblances of the sort found in nonlinguistic categoriesfound in nonlinguistic categories
1.1. Establish a taxonomyEstablish a taxonomy2.2. State which properties are State which properties are
from the constructionfrom the construction3.3. Pick out the differencesPick out the differences
TerminologyTerminology
Resultative Phrase (RP)Resultative Phrase (RP) AP or PPAP or PP Occupies the normal position of a Occupies the normal position of a
verbal argumentverbal argument Differ from depictive or “current Differ from depictive or “current
state” phrasesstate” phrases Resultative: “Herman hammered the Resultative: “Herman hammered the
metal flat.”metal flat.” Depicitive: “She handed him the Depicitive: “She handed him the
towel wet.”towel wet.”
????????????
ResultativesResultatives Argument phrasesArgument phrases State is dependent State is dependent
upon the action of upon the action of the main verbthe main verb
Designates a resultDesignates a result
Diagnostics, please!Diagnostics, please!
DepictivesDepictives Clear adjunctsClear adjuncts Do not Do not
designate designate states states contingent on contingent on the actionthe action
Do not Do not designate designate resultsresults
Taxonomy of resultativesTaxonomy of resultatives
Intransitive Intransitive NP VP RPNP VP RP TransitiveTransitive NP VP NP RPNP VP NP RP Selected (d.o. selected by verb)Selected (d.o. selected by verb) Unselected (d.o. not selected by Unselected (d.o. not selected by
verb)verb) Fake reflexives (reflexive obj. Fake reflexives (reflexive obj.
cannot alternate with other NPs)cannot alternate with other NPs)
Pop Quiz!Pop Quiz!
He drank himself He drank himself to a frenzy.to a frenzy.
He stepped onto He stepped onto the stage in a the stage in a Liberace-inspired Liberace-inspired jacket made of jacket made of audio-cassette audio-cassette tape and lulled me tape and lulled me into a false sense into a false sense of securityof security
Get your butt over Get your butt over here now!here now!
The scallops have The scallops have shrunk tight. shrunk tight.
The vaccinated The vaccinated chased the chased the unvaccinated to unvaccinated to treatment.treatment.
She snogged him She snogged him senseless.senseless.
Sudoku, the puzzle Sudoku, the puzzle that drives that drives everybody crazy.everybody crazy.
Property vs. SpatialProperty vs. Spatial
RP expresses a property RP expresses a property AP (and some PPs-- “into pieces”)AP (and some PPs-- “into pieces”)
RP expresses a spatial RP expresses a spatial configurationconfiguration PP (and a few APs-- “free,” PP (and a few APs-- “free,”
“clear”)“clear”)
????????????
He jumped clear of the traffic.He jumped clear of the traffic. AP spatial resultativeAP spatial resultative
He drove me home.He drove me home. Resultative?Resultative? If so, what is “home”?If so, what is “home”?
Host of the RPHost of the RP
NP who undergoes a change, NP who undergoes a change, with the endpoint being with the endpoint being expressed by the RPexpressed by the RP
UsuallyUsually Transitive: Transitive: objectobject host host
He hammered He hammered the metalthe metal flat. flat. Intransitive: Intransitive: subjectsubject host host
The pondThe pond froze solid. froze solid.
Unusual HostsUnusual Hosts
Transitive SubjectTransitive Subject ““newly emerged in the literature”newly emerged in the literature” Demonstrates independent Demonstrates independent
dimension of variation (not dimension of variation (not dependent upon transitivity)dependent upon transitivity)
BillBill followed the road into the followed the road into the forest.forest.
All examples provided are spatial All examples provided are spatial resultativesresultatives
Unusual HostsUnusual Hosts
Implicit (nonsubject) hostImplicit (nonsubject) host Verbs of bodily/substance Verbs of bodily/substance
emission, ingestionemission, ingestion Entity of motion is not overtly Entity of motion is not overtly
expressedexpressed Deleted cognate object?Deleted cognate object?
He coughed into the sink.He coughed into the sink. She screamed into the phone.She screamed into the phone.
Summary of independent Summary of independent dimensions of resultativesdimensions of resultatives RP = AP vs RP = PPRP = AP vs RP = PP RP = property vs. RP = spatialRP = property vs. RP = spatial Intransitive vs. TrasitiveIntransitive vs. Trasitive
Within transitive: selected vs. Within transitive: selected vs. unselectedunselected Within unselected: normal vs. fake Within unselected: normal vs. fake
reflexivereflexive
Choice of host Choice of host (subject/object/implicit)(subject/object/implicit)
3. The Semantics of the 3. The Semantics of the ResultativeResultative
Two separable eventsTwo separable events Verbal subeventVerbal subevent Constructional subeventConstructional subevent
More than just conjunction…More than just conjunction………the subevents are relatedthe subevents are related• MEANSMEANS• RESULT RESULT • INSTANCEINSTANCE
The Semantics of the The Semantics of the ResultativeResultative
The semantic argument The semantic argument structure of the constructional structure of the constructional subevent determines the subevent determines the syntactic argument structure of syntactic argument structure of the sentence by general the sentence by general principles of argument linking.principles of argument linking.
……(however you want to link it)(however you want to link it)
Resultative Verbs vs. Resultative Verbs vs. Resultative ConstructionsResultative Constructions Inherently resultative verbs (verbal Inherently resultative verbs (verbal
resultatives*) have resultatives*) have broader or broader or narrowernarrower selectional properties than selectional properties than the general constructionthe general construction ““make”: allows NPs and APs (broader)make”: allows NPs and APs (broader) ““drive”: only allows APs and PPs drive”: only allows APs and PPs
referring to demented mental states referring to demented mental states (narrower)(narrower)
*verbal resultatives cannot be paraphrased as *verbal resultatives cannot be paraphrased as two subeventstwo subevents
Property vs. Path ResultativesProperty vs. Path Resultatives
Property: host attains the Property: host attains the property expressed by the RPproperty expressed by the RP
Path: host traverses the path Path: host traverses the path expressed by the RPexpressed by the RP Follow-type and spit-type Follow-type and spit-type
examples discussed later… examples discussed later…
Noncausative vs. CausativeNoncausative vs. Causative
GenerallyGenerally Intransitive = NoncausativeIntransitive = Noncausative Transitive = CausativeTransitive = Causative
Can be property or path, AP or Can be property or path, AP or PPPP
Sound-emission and Sound-emission and disappearance resultativesdisappearance resultatives Same syntactic form as (16b), but Same syntactic form as (16b), but
not licensednot licensed Relationship between verbal and Relationship between verbal and
constructional subevents is that the constructional subevents is that the verbal event is a RESULT of the verbal event is a RESULT of the constructional (sound/disappearance constructional (sound/disappearance is a result of motion)is a result of motion)
Selectional restrictions: Selectional restrictions: disappearance verbs and the way-disappearance verbs and the way-constructionconstruction
In summary (so far)In summary (so far)
Distinct subconstructions with Distinct subconstructions with Similar syntax, arg structure, Similar syntax, arg structure,
subeventssubevents Unique selectional restrictionsUnique selectional restrictions
Subconstructions form a familySubconstructions form a family
4. Aspectual Properties4. Aspectual Properties
Telic (“end-bounded”)Telic (“end-bounded”) Atelic (“non-end-bounded”)Atelic (“non-end-bounded”) StativeStative
So you think resultatives are So you think resultatives are invariably telic, huh?invariably telic, huh?
Atelic resultativesAtelic resultatives
Property resultatives (AP)Property resultatives (AP) Non-end-bounded change of stateNon-end-bounded change of state ““A-er and A-er”A-er and A-er” ““ever A-er” ever A-er”
Path resultatives (PP)Path resultatives (PP) Non-end-bounded spatial PPsNon-end-bounded spatial PPs Diagnostic: “…for hours”Diagnostic: “…for hours”
Stative ResultativesStative Resultatives
Indistinguishable from path in Indistinguishable from path in both syntactic and arg-structure both syntactic and arg-structure propertiesproperties
Extension interpretation of Extension interpretation of motion, or of maintenance of motion, or of maintenance of shape shape
Causation does not involve Causation does not involve change, but forced maintenance change, but forced maintenance of stateof state
Temporal Relation of Temporal Relation of SubeventsSubevents To do “X by MEANS of Y” you To do “X by MEANS of Y” you
have to do X first!have to do X first! Constructional subevent cannot Constructional subevent cannot
precede the verbal subeventprecede the verbal subevent Verbal event is…Verbal event is…
Concurrent withConcurrent with Overlapping withOverlapping with Entirely precedingEntirely preceding
……the constructional subeventthe constructional subevent
Temporal Delay?????Temporal Delay?????
(32) Sam sang enthusiastically (32) Sam sang enthusiastically during the class play. He woke during the class play. He woke up hoarse the next day and up hoarse the next day and said, “Well, I guess I’ve sung said, “Well, I guess I’ve sung myself hoarse.” (Rappaport, myself hoarse.” (Rappaport, Hovav & Levin 2001:775)Hovav & Levin 2001:775)
With all unselected objects?With all unselected objects? Is it really a delay?Is it really a delay?
Temporal RelationsTemporal Relations
Relation between subevents Relation between subevents determined by:determined by: Semantic relationSemantic relation Pragmatic world knowledgePragmatic world knowledge Tendency to interpret monoclausal Tendency to interpret monoclausal
events as cotemporalevents as cotemporal
5. World Knowledge5. World Knowledge
Fake reflexives--should they Fake reflexives--should they really be grammatically really be grammatically separated from other separated from other resultatives?resultatives?
No. Because they just make No. Because they just make sense.sense.
(hmmm…thoughts?)(hmmm…thoughts?)
6. How arguments are shared6. How arguments are shared
How do we relate the verb args How do we relate the verb args to the construction args?to the construction args?
FARFAR All args must be realizedAll args must be realized Syntactic positions can be sharedSyntactic positions can be shared
Diagnostic: an arg is necessary Diagnostic: an arg is necessary in the active, simple past tensein the active, simple past tense
How arguments are sharedHow arguments are shared
Shared arguments have the Shared arguments have the same thematic rolessame thematic roles
Args with the same thematic Args with the same thematic role share the same syntactic role share the same syntactic positionposition
Optionally transitive/Intransitive Optionally transitive/Intransitive verbs allow a constructional arg verbs allow a constructional arg to overrideto override
Pop Quiz, the sequel!Pop Quiz, the sequel!
Map the verbal and Map the verbal and constructional arguments for the constructional arguments for the examples from the first ‘pop examples from the first ‘pop quiz.’quiz.’
The Semantic Coherence The Semantic Coherence PrinciplePrinciple
Only semantically compatible Only semantically compatible roles (rV and rC) can be roles (rV and rC) can be combinedcombined
““Close enough”Close enough” If rV can be construed as an If rV can be construed as an
instance of rC, they can be unifiedinstance of rC, they can be unified
Variability predicted Variability predicted
Potentially affected items can be Potentially affected items can be construed as patientsconstrued as patients
Events may be things that happen to Events may be things that happen to us or things that we dous or things that we do
Intransitive spatial resultatives vary Intransitive spatial resultatives vary with the animacy of the subjectwith the animacy of the subject
Transitive spatial resultatives need Transitive spatial resultatives need “instigator” subjects“instigator” subjects
7. Extending the Analysis7. Extending the Analysis
FollowFollow-type verbs-type verbs Transitive verbsTransitive verbs Subject hostSubject host Two types:Two types:
Motion determined by objectMotion determined by object Transitive noncausative spatial Transitive noncausative spatial
resultativesresultatives Obj = vehicleObj = vehicle Obj = path of motionObj = path of motion
Extending the AnalysisExtending the Analysis
Dancing mazurkas!Dancing mazurkas! Verb + object = complex predicateVerb + object = complex predicate
Can’t be passivizedCan’t be passivized Referential objects yield ill-formed Referential objects yield ill-formed
sentencessentences
Extending the AnalysisExtending the Analysis
SpitSpit cases cases Seem to violate FARSeem to violate FAR Implicit entities in motionImplicit entities in motion
Specified path--PP further delineates Specified path--PP further delineates the paththe path
Bodily emissionBodily emission Highly inferable theme arguments Highly inferable theme arguments
need not be overtly exressedneed not be overtly exressed
??? Thoughts ?????? Thoughts ???
8. Productivity8. Productivity
Spatial resultativesSpatial resultatives Totally productiveTotally productive Constraints posed by meaning of Constraints posed by meaning of
constructionconstruction Any spatial PP that can be a path Any spatial PP that can be a path
can be an RPcan be an RP Telic/atelicTelic/atelic Complex/simpleComplex/simple Goal-directed/source-directedGoal-directed/source-directed
ProductivityProductivity
Property resultativesProperty resultatives Some lexical resultatives are Some lexical resultatives are
productive, allow for a range of productive, allow for a range of predicatespredicates
Some lexical resultatives are more Some lexical resultatives are more constrainedconstrained
Productivity of APs depends on Productivity of APs depends on the lexical resultativethe lexical resultative
ProductivityProductivity
IdiomsIdioms A wide variety of examples…A wide variety of examples…
Generalizations about APsGeneralizations about APs More productive = delineated stateMore productive = delineated state Gradable APs = less productiveGradable APs = less productive
Restriction on PPsRestriction on PPs PPs with acceptable PPs with acceptable
corresponding APs cannot be corresponding APs cannot be RPsRPs
In SummaryIn Summary
“…“…the grammar contains the the grammar contains the property resultative as an property resultative as an overarching generalization, but overarching generalization, but particular subclasses, particular subclasses, constrained in all sorts of constrained in all sorts of different ways, are learned different ways, are learned indivdually.”indivdually.”