Abstract
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;" lang="EN-GB">This article examines to what extent perception verbs occurring in a syntactically transitive scheme are also semantically transitive. Indeed, since the perception process represents a mental rather than a physical contact between the perceiver/subject and the stimulus/object, it should be distinguished from the prototypical transfer of energy. It is shown that the semantic and conceptual differences between the perception modalities influence on the linguistic behaviour of Spanish perception verbs. In this perspective, the verbs <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ver</em> (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to see</em>), <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">o&iacute;r </em>(<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to hear</em>), <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mirar </em>(<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to look at</em>) and <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">escuchar </em>(<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to listen to</em>) are ranged on a scale of transitivity. The validity of the elaborated hierarchy of transitivity is verified by means of empirical data. Based on a large corpus of infinitive constructions, it will be examined to what extent the position of a perception verb on the scale of transitivity correlates with the preferred case markings of its stimulus/object. A specific morphosyntactic phenomenon is studied, namely the special marking of the DO by the prepositional accusative.</span> <!--[endif] -->
Highlights
In most languages, the semantic nature of the perception verbs (PVs) varies according to two parameters, namely the agentivity of the perceiver and the modality of perception
As to the degree of agentivity of the perceiver, one can distinguish between involuntary PVs and voluntary PVs: voluntary PVs have a perceiver/subject who actively searches for information whereas the subject of involuntary PVs assimilates the perception process that catches him by surprise
The semantics of each verb changes according to the modality of perception: visual, auditory, gustative, tactile or olfactory
Summary
The semantic nature of the perception verbs (PVs) varies according to two parameters, namely the agentivity of the perceiver and the modality of perception. The semantics of each verb changes according to the modality of perception: visual, auditory, gustative, tactile or olfactory. This article will concentrate on the PVs of the two main modalities, namely the visual PVs ver (to see) and mirar (to look at) and the auditory PVs oír (to hear) and escuchar (to listen to).
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