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Event structure, force dynamics and verb semantics

Gärdenfors, Peter LU (2024) In Language Sciences 102.
Abstract

This article presents a cognitive model of event structure that can be used to explain several features of the semantics of verbs. The model consists of four basic components: agent, patient, force vector and result vector. Each component is described in terms of the theory of conceptual spaces. The force vector is the cause of the result vector. Unlike other event models both the cause and the effect are included in the representation of a single event. The model is used for two central topics. Firstly, to provide a force dynamic representation of causation. Secondly, to give a unified analysis of Aktionsart in terms of different forms of vectors, using force diagrams that are extensions of those used by Croft and others. It is then... (More)

This article presents a cognitive model of event structure that can be used to explain several features of the semantics of verbs. The model consists of four basic components: agent, patient, force vector and result vector. Each component is described in terms of the theory of conceptual spaces. The force vector is the cause of the result vector. Unlike other event models both the cause and the effect are included in the representation of a single event. The model is used for two central topics. Firstly, to provide a force dynamic representation of causation. Secondly, to give a unified analysis of Aktionsart in terms of different forms of vectors, using force diagrams that are extensions of those used by Croft and others. It is then shown that the event model can be used to derive a variety of semantic features of verbs. In particular, I analyze manner-result complementarity, the ambiguity of the passive participle, and the role of goals (telicity).

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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Aktionsart, Causation, Event structure, Force dynamics, Manner-result complementarity, Passive participle, Verb semantics
in
Language Sciences
volume
102
article number
101610
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85183360956
ISSN
0388-0001
DOI
10.1016/j.langsci.2023.101610
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9ce6d0c7-cef8-4537-ba0b-54c6845dbffa
date added to LUP
2024-02-19 13:17:13
date last changed
2024-02-19 13:18:15
@article{9ce6d0c7-cef8-4537-ba0b-54c6845dbffa,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article presents a cognitive model of event structure that can be used to explain several features of the semantics of verbs. The model consists of four basic components: agent, patient, force vector and result vector. Each component is described in terms of the theory of conceptual spaces. The force vector is the cause of the result vector. Unlike other event models both the cause and the effect are included in the representation of a single event. The model is used for two central topics. Firstly, to provide a force dynamic representation of causation. Secondly, to give a unified analysis of Aktionsart in terms of different forms of vectors, using force diagrams that are extensions of those used by Croft and others. It is then shown that the event model can be used to derive a variety of semantic features of verbs. In particular, I analyze manner-result complementarity, the ambiguity of the passive participle, and the role of goals (telicity).</p>}},
  author       = {{Gärdenfors, Peter}},
  issn         = {{0388-0001}},
  keywords     = {{Aktionsart; Causation; Event structure; Force dynamics; Manner-result complementarity; Passive participle; Verb semantics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Language Sciences}},
  title        = {{Event structure, force dynamics and verb semantics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.langsci.2023.101610}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.langsci.2023.101610}},
  volume       = {{102}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}