Structuring Events
A Study in the Semantics of Aspect
Published on 8. May 2008
216 pages
978-0-470-75910-3 (ISBN)
Description
Structuring Events presents a novel semantic theory oflexical aspect for anyone interested in the study of verb meanings.
* * Provides an introduction to aspectual classes and aspectualdistinctions.
* Utilizes case studies to present a novel semantic theory oflexical aspect and compare it with alternative theories.
* Useful for students and scholars in semantics and syntax aswell as the neighboring fields of pragmatics and philosophy oflanguage.
Reviews / Votes
"This is the most important book on lexical aspect since DavidDowty's seminal Word Meaning and Montague Grammar."Angelika Kratzer, University of Massachusetts-Amherst "As well as providing a clear introduction to the subject, thisexcellent book extends our knowledge of the lexical aspectualproperties of verbs and verb phrases in new and originaldirections. Rothstein's careful exploitation of the flexibility ofevent-based semantics in providing a solid foundation for theinterpretation of verbal aspect establishes the theory as centralto any explanation of this often difficult - but everfascinating - topic." Ronnie Cann, University ofEdinburgh "This outstanding book represents a new breakthrough in thegeneral theory of lexical aspect. The discussions of the previousresearch are distinguished by clarity as well as new challenges andinsights. In a highly engaging way Rothstein also advances newsolutions to some of the most thorny issues - includingaspectual shifts, progressive achievements, and resultativepredication - which will shape the future research in lexicalaspect." Hana Filip, Stanford University "Rothstein's book contains many observations, deepintuitions and exciting analyses which will doubtless be veryinfluential in a variety of areas. Empirically, the book contains atreasure trove of interesting data that will no doubt be mulledover for years to come." LinguaMore details
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Person
Susan Rothstein is Professor of Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University. She has published widely on such issues as syntax, semantics, and the syntax-semantics interface. She is author of Predicates and Their Subjects (2000), and editor of Events and Grammar (1998) and Perspectives on Phrase Structure: Heads and Licensing (1991).
Content
Preface.
1. Verb Classes and Aspectual Classification:.
Introduction.
Aspectual Classes of Verbs.
The four aspectual classes.
Testing for temporal constitution.
Semelfactives.
Can verbs, as opposed to VPs be aspectually categorized?.
2. Progressive Achievements:.
Introduction.
Progressive achievements and the imperfective paradox.
Achievements are not accomplishments.
Temporal Modification.
Progressive achievements are different from progressiveaccomplishments.
Deriving Progressive Achievements.
Explanations.
3. Resultative Predication:.
Introduction.
The syntax of secondary predication - a fast review.
The semantic interpretation of secondary predication.
Secondary predication as a summing operation.
Semantic constraints on the secondary predication operation.
The semantic interpretation of depictive predication.
Object-oriented depictive predication.
Subject oriented secondary predication.
The semantics of resultatives.
The interpretation of simple resultatives.
The direct object restriction.
Non-accomplishment resultatives.
Type shifting in non-accomplishment resultatives.
The rest of the questions.
Dethematicised resultatives.
Why do resultatives not occur with achievements or states?.
Fake reflexives.
Subject-oriented resultatives.
Conclusions and the next set of questions.
4. The Structure of Accomplishments:.
Incremental Themes and the notion of 'extent'.
Introduction.
'Measuring out' and incrementality.
Krifka's theory of quantization.
A Theory of Accomplishments.
What Are Incremental Themes?.
Culminations.
Incremental processes and incremental relations.
Answering Some Questions about Accomplishments.
Aspectual ambiguity with wipe and read.
The incremental role of the incremental theme.
Kennedy and Levin: Telicity in terms of degree measurements.
5. The Interpretation of DerivedAccomplishments:.
Aspectual Shift in Resultatives.
Transitive Accomplishments.
Intransitive resultatives.
Why do resultatives have a 'result' meaning?.
PPs as paths and PPs as results.
Aspectual Shift in Progressive Achievements.
The structure of the shift operation.
The content of the activity and BECOME events.
6. Quantization, Telicity and Change:.
Quantization.
Krifka's theory of quantization.
Telicity and Change.
7. Telicity and Atomicity:.
Telicity and atomicity.
Events have their denotation in the count domain.
Homogeneity and S-cumulativity in the domain of individuals.
Defining sets of atoms.
Atomic structure in the domain of events.
Atomicty and BECOME events.
A note on degree predicates.
For a time and in atime.
8. Event Structure and Aspectual Classification:.
What are semelfactives?.
Why does S-cumulativity characterise states and activities?.
Why do we have the lexical aspectual classes that we do?.
The general picture: lexical aspect and the structure of thedomain of events.
References.
Index
