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Event structure, conceptual spaces and the semantics of verbs

Warglien, Massimo ; Gärdenfors, Peter LU and Westera, Matthijs (2012) In Theoretical Linguistics 38(3-4). p.159-193
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to integrate spatial cognition with lexical semantics. We develop cognitive models of actions and events based on conceptual spaces and vectors on them. The models are then used to present a semantic theory of verbs. We propose a two-vector model of events including a force vector and a result vector. We argue that our framework provides a unified account for a multiplicity of linguistic phenomena related to verbs. Among other things it provides a cognitive explanation for the lexico-semantic constraint regarding manner vs. result and for polysemy caused by intentionality. It also generates a unified definition of aspect.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
actions, events, conceptual spaces, similarity, force vector, result, vector, manner/result complementarity, aspect
in
Theoretical Linguistics
volume
38
issue
3-4
pages
159 - 193
publisher
De Gruyter
external identifiers
  • wos:000310697700001
  • scopus:84877969131
ISSN
1613-4060
DOI
10.1515/tl-2012-0010
project
Thinking in Time: Cognition, Communication and Learning
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8631b808-c898-4b07-815e-c1dae33315cb (old id 3276271)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:29:06
date last changed
2022-04-14 18:01:07
@article{8631b808-c898-4b07-815e-c1dae33315cb,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this paper is to integrate spatial cognition with lexical semantics. We develop cognitive models of actions and events based on conceptual spaces and vectors on them. The models are then used to present a semantic theory of verbs. We propose a two-vector model of events including a force vector and a result vector. We argue that our framework provides a unified account for a multiplicity of linguistic phenomena related to verbs. Among other things it provides a cognitive explanation for the lexico-semantic constraint regarding manner vs. result and for polysemy caused by intentionality. It also generates a unified definition of aspect.}},
  author       = {{Warglien, Massimo and Gärdenfors, Peter and Westera, Matthijs}},
  issn         = {{1613-4060}},
  keywords     = {{actions; events; conceptual spaces; similarity; force vector; result; vector; manner/result complementarity; aspect}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3-4}},
  pages        = {{159--193}},
  publisher    = {{De Gruyter}},
  series       = {{Theoretical Linguistics}},
  title        = {{Event structure, conceptual spaces and the semantics of verbs}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/tl-2012-0010}},
  doi          = {{10.1515/tl-2012-0010}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}