|
Typology and Usage : Explorations of Motion Events across Languages| old_uid | 3210 |
|---|
| title | Typology and Usage : Explorations of Motion Events across Languages |
|---|
| start_date | 2007/10/01 |
|---|
| schedule | 10h-12h |
|---|
| online | no |
|---|
| summary | Motion event descriptions have been a fruitful arena for cognitive and functional linguistic approaches concerned with usage. Talmy’s typology of verb-framed and satellite-framed languages has accounted, to some extent, for patterns of expression of path and manner in both narrative and experimental data. At the same time, not all usage patterns—either within or across the two typological groups—can be accounted for on this dichotomy. The domain of intransitive, human motion will be explored on the basis of a systematic sampling of novels
written in six languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. The critical interface between typology and usage lies in the means of expressing PATH. For one type of language (e.g., English), all paths can be expressed by a common construction type, in which path information is provided outside of the verb (“PIN” constructions: Path-in-Nonverb). For another type of language (e.g.,
French), users face a choice between two construction types: (1) the PIN type for paths that are not concerned with geometric features of the GROUND (Talmy’s “conformation”), and (2) another type for paths that do include such features. For the second construction type, the verb conflates both direction and characteristics of the ground (“PIV” constructions: Path-in-Verb). PIN and PIV construction types have different consequences for the encoding of both MANNER and PATH,
probably differentially influencing speakers’ attention to dimensions of motion events.
Many different sorts of factors influence usage, therefore cognitive linguistics cannot provide predictive models. The goal must be to formulate plausible explanations, considering linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociocultural issues; and to seek additional factors when an established explanatory framework cannot be completely extended to another language or situation. |
|---|
| oncancel | Adresse inhabituelle |
|---|
| responsibles | Aroui |
|---|
| |
|