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Event structure, conceptual spaces and the semantics of verbs

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Author

Summary, in English

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.

Department/s

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

159-193

Publication/Series

Theoretical Linguistics

Volume

38

Issue

3-4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

De Gruyter

Topic

  • General Language Studies and Linguistics
  • Learning

Keywords

  • actions
  • events
  • conceptual spaces
  • similarity
  • force vector
  • result
  • vector
  • manner/result complementarity
  • aspect

Status

Published

Project

  • Thinking in Time: Cognition, Communication and Learning

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1613-4060