Variation in N-V compound verbs in Japanese

Abstract

This paper shows that in Japanese there is a compounding of a verb with its argument that results in a verbal compound (VC) with a [+V] feature, contrary to the prediction made by Sugioka (2002). Based on the hypothesis of modularity in word formation (cf. Kageyama, 1993). Sugioka (2002) shows that there are two types of N-V compounds in Japanese: N-V compounds with a [−V] feature, which are formed through the incorporation of the internal argument of the verb, while those involving an adjunct are formed at the level of LCS and can be regarded as complex predicates with a [+V] feature. In this paper, I argue that the motivation of forming another type of N-V compounds, namely the VC with a [+V] feature involving the argument, is different from either of these types and lies in the foregrounding of a certain participant in the event. I propose an analysis for N-V compounding in the framework of Generative Lexicon, which assumes that the qualia structure of the nonhead can provide the compound with an argument which is not selected by the head verb. This supports the assumption that the qualia structure should be taken as a reservoir of semantic information which can contribute to determining the lexical semantic feature of the coinage.