Secondary Predication Research Articles

Natural-Language Predicates as Relations of the Relational Model of Data

In this paper I review the Neo-Davidsonian semantics of prepositional phrases and secondary predication. I argue that certain types of examples pose challenge to this semantics. I present an alternative to the Neo-Davidsonian analysis which successfully deals with the problematic examples. The core idea lies in representing theta-roles not as functions from events to their participants, but rather as argument-labels encoding the role of each argument in a given verb. As a result, natural-language predicates can now be treated in the manner in which relations are treated in the relational model of data, that is, as naming sets of tuples in which every object is given together with its role named by a corresponding attribute (a theta-role). Such a representation allows the employment of relational algebra operators to calculate the extensions of complex predicates (predicates built out of atomic predicates and/or atomic predicates and prepositions). I lay out the foundations of a relational FOL appropriate for the representation of natural-language predicates and present solutions to the problematic examples. From a practical perspective, the expressions of a relational FOL can be translated to a relational algebra or SQL, which makes it possible to operate with these three languages on the same relational model of data. From a philosophical perspective, a relational FOL permits a return to ‘property-based’ semantics, one in which properties named by predicates are those of individuals, and not of events.

A Comparative Analysis of Depictive Secondary Predicates between English and Korean

A Comparative Analysis of Depictive Secondary Predicates between English and Korean

Talmy’s typology in serializing languages: Variations on a VP

Two types of resultative constructions that are unevenly distributed across languages (Talmy 2000) can be identified based on the lexicalization of manner and result meaning in the verbal main predicate: resultative secondary predication lexicalizes the manner component, while so called means constructions lexicalize the result component instead. However, this typology has been based primarily on non-serializing languages such as English and certain Romance varieties, in which the secondary manner or result predicate is necessarily non-verbal. This contrasts with resultatives in serializing languages, in which both the manner and result component are realized by verbal predicates, making it difficult to determine the underlying syntactic status of the respective predicates. By investigating the morphosyntactic and semantic properties of resultative serial verb constructions (RSVCs) in two serializing languages, Mandarin and Samoan, I argue that RSVCs are neither a uniform nor special phenomenon (contra Larson 1991; Slobin 2004), but show the same split observed in non-serializing languages. This observation has further implications on a unified configurational analysis of manner and result meaning within a syntactic account of event and argument structure building.

Event-related states in secondary predication

Analyses of secondary predication based on the aspectual properties of predicative complements are almost standard today. This paper shows that these approaches are not restrictive enough and make a large number of incorrect predictions. It also shows that the meaning of the main (or primary) predicate is essential to restrict the secondary one. Throughout the text, a pragmatically based analysis of the necessary restrictions is compared with one grounded on semantic paradigms, and several examples are proposed of how the latter may be articulated and developed. Event-related states in secondary predication are shown to be necessary, and are claimed to follow from a series if fine-grained semantic notions crucially related to the meaning of the primary verb.

Valency-based and non-valency based conjugability of verbs to perform / have performed in musical texts

The article examines the valency of the verbs ‘to perform / have performed’ as the basis of their conjugability with other words in musical texts. The four-component valency frame of these verbs is substantiated, communicative and pragmatic factors affecting the verbalization of various sets of non-predicate nouns are defined. The semantic content and morphological expression of valency-based and non-valency-based components are clarified. A conclusion was made about the mandatory expression of valency-predicted subject and object components in musical texts and about limited conjugability with instrumental and address components. Typical secondary predicate syntaxes used in simple non-elementary sentences with these verbs are established. Keywords: verbs to perform / have performed, valency, conjugability, valency-conditioned com-ponents, valency-free components, non-predicate nouns, secondary predicate syntaxeme

VARIANTS OF COMPLICATION OF A SIMPLE SENTENCE BY SEMI-PREDICATIVE TERMS (on the material of English-language fiction)

This study examines the characteristic features of the functioning of separate members in the structure of a simple sentence, reveals their syntactic connections with the word being defined and the additional meaning that indicates secondary predication in a simple sentence. The material of the research was about one thousand examples, including separate members of various filling, extracted from 15 works of English and American authors, mainly of the 20th century, with a total volume of about 6000 pages. The study of factual material is carried out through the context-semantic, transformational and oppositional methods. The relevance of the research topic is based on the fact that isolated minor members were identified by A.M. Peshkovsky in 1914 and since then they have been repeatedly described in general and special studies. However, many issues related to segregation still remain unresolved. In the work, separate definitions are characterized as members that reveal the actual syntactic aspect of the so-called semi-predicativeness of a simple sentence and allow qualifying semi-predicativeness as a special way of spreading a simple sentence, and semi-predicative relations as special syntactic relations.

ІНФІНІТИВИ У ФУНКЦІЇ ВТОРИННОГО ПРЕДИКАТА У ТЕКСТІ БІОГРАФІЇ АРТАКСЕРКСА ПЛУТАРХА: ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВІДТВОРЕННЯ У ПЕРЕКЛАДІ НОВОГРЕЦЬКОЮ МОВОЮ

In the article, infi nitives in the function of the secondary predicate, in particular, in the syntactic constructions Accusativus cum infi nitivo, Nominativus cum infi nitivo and in subordinate clauses with the conjunctions ὥστε and πρίν in the text of the biography of Artaxerxes by Plutarch are considered. In accordance with the purpose of the study, the descriptive method (for inventory, classifi cation and grammatical interpretation of infi nitives) and comparative analysis (for identifi cation of grammatical transformations of the ancient Greek infi nitive in New Greek translation and for assessment of their compliance with the original forms) were used. Elements of quantitative analysis have also been involved (to determine the main transformational means of translating infi nitives). The analysis has shown that the infi nitive as an non-fi nite form of the verb is rendered as a fi nite one, the most typical variant of translating the infi nitive in the construction Accusativus cum infi nitivo, in subordinate temporal clauses with the conjunction πρίν, and in the majority of clauses of result with the conjunction ώστε being conditional mood with the particle να (60 %). Infi nitives in the construction Nominativus cum infi nitivо and partly in subordinate clauses with the conjunction ώστε are usually translated by indicatives (35 %); in some cases the infi nitive is reproduced by descriptive expressions (5 %). Grammatical transformations are combined with lexical ones. In the translation, the same verb (15 %) as in Old Greek can be used, or it can be replaced by a synonymous verb (85 %) of New Greek due to the limited use of the corresponding Old Greek words in New Greek or their disappearance. Therefore, the absence of infi nitives in New Greek is represented in translation by other means and techniques, which have an equivalent semantic load and can adequately reproduce the meaning of a sentence with an infi nitive construction, and thus to render Plutarch’s literary passion for multifaceted action and information capacity of the text. Key words: Accusativus cum infi nitivo, Nominativus cum infi nitivo, subordinate clauses with conjunctions ὥστε and πρίν, translation, conditional mood with particle να, indicative mood, descriptive expression.

Focus affinity in Spanish. An experimental study

The notion focus affinity refers to the likelihood that a grammatical role (e.g., subject, object) is the narrow focus of a sentence. There is evidence that such differences exist at the level of distributional data. For example, subjects are less often focal and more often topical as compared to direct objects. However, it is not obvious whether focus affinity is genuinely related to grammatical roles. Focus affinity could be an epiphenomenon of various other linguistic and pragmatic processes or their interactions (e.g., direct objects are more often indefinite, less often animate, more often new than subjects). In our controlled experimental study, we investigate the focus affinity of three adjunct types (instruments, locatives, depictive secondary predicates) in Spanish and provide evidence that these grammatical roles indeed differ with respect to focus affinity. Depictives show the highest degree of focus affinity, followed by instruments and finally locatives. These effects are robust and stable even if we account for a number of possible alternative explanations. Thus, we suggest that focus affinity is a property sufficiently closely associated with grammatical roles to justify more attention both in theoretical linguistic and psycholinguistic literature.

The Subject Of A Qualitative Device In The Sentence Acts As A Secondary Predicate Object In Uzbek Language

Adjectives are one of the three characteristic forms of a verb, and this form imposes a second set of functions and properties on its verb function and properties. This situation requires special attention and special research on quality. An adjective can express itself in the text because it has its own subject, object, etc., that is, it can form its own syntactic device - predicate. He himself remains the predicate of this predicate. It is part of another simple sentence with the adjective and the predicate of this content. That is why we have chosen to dwell on the syntactic function and semantic side of the adjective, which is the adjective of the part of the adjectives in the Uzbek language. Accordingly, this paper examines the arrival and semantic-syntactic properties of the owner of a qualitative device as an object of secondary predication.

A Hybrid Approach to Depictive Secondary Predicates in Korean

A Hybrid Approach to Depictive Secondary Predicates in Korean

The Syntax of Hoo‐Resultatives in Taiwanese Southern Min*

AbstractThis article investigates the hoo‐resultative construction in Taiwanese Southern Min from the syntactic perspective. Specifically, it is argued that the morpheme hoo in hoo‐resultatives is responsible for causativizing an otherwise non‐unaccusative secondary predicate in resultative formation. The restriction with respect to the occurrence of object pronouns in the sentence‐final position is argued to result from prosodic considerations that ban two consecutive weak constituents from surfacing on the right edge. It is also suggested that the counterpart of this particular hoo in resultatives of Mandarin Chinese is covert and has no phonetic content. This view offers a systematic way to capture several cross‐linguistic contrasts with respect to resultatives between Taiwanese Southern Min and Mandarin Chinese.

Науково-теоретичні засади дослідження ономасіологічних параметрів ад’єктивів як частиномовного класу слів

The article focuses on the study of the phenomenon of syntactic complication of a simple sentence structure by semi-predicative adjectival components (traditionally known as detached participle and verbal adverb phrases) with the inherent potential predicativeness. The scientific relevance of the investigation is predetermined by a general tendency of modern linguistic studies towards the problems of semantic syntax, and by the attempt to elaborate a semantic theory of a sentence with regard to the central place of syntax in grammar, asymmetry of a language sign, deep categories of sentence. Therefore, the analysis of simple sentences complicated by semi-predicative adjectival components (SАC) is predefined foremost by their ability to distinguish priorities of a personality in his/her act of communication during which a speaker differentiates their propositions as dynamic or static, full-sentenced or elliptical. Semi-predicativeness is defined as a syntactic category of a simple (mono-predicative) complicated sentence, that has acquired formal features, namely, its structuring according to a certain grammatical pattern, where the participle, the verbal adverb, the adjective or the noun with an appositive function take a central position; its intonation of detachment; its syntactic autonomy and disjunction. In this respect, SAC is interpreted as embodied through the detachment of mono- or multi-lexeme syntactic formations appearing as a result of shortening of a simple elementary sentence into a non-sentence proposition. A central position in it is occupied by a secondary attributive syntaxeme represented by an adjective, that is grammatically and semantically related to a basic part of a simple complicated sentence and it illustrates secondary predicative-attributive relations (sometimes bearing adverbial features). The scientific novelty of the research results consists in the definition of SAC based on its formally-grammatical, semantic-syntactical and functional features; the determination of outer syntagmatic efficiency of the adjective in the structure of a simple complicated sentence; the highlighting of models that underline valency potential of adjectives within the limits of a semi-predicative construction, and also their distribution through valency-not-predefined components. The article explores and contains theoretical principles of the research of the adjective as a separate part of speech. Detachment and semi-predicativeness have been characterized as formally-syntactic categories of a simple sentence complicated by SAC; secondary predication has been analysed as a marker of semantic complication of simple sentences with SAC. Functional potential of semi-predicative adjectival components in the structure of a simple sentence has been described.

Rethinking Depictive Secondary Predicates A Pair- Merge approach and the Adjunct Condition

In this article I will propose a new analysis of depictive secondary predication structures. Previous studies of these structures are framed within different approaches: C-command / categorial approaches (Williams 1980, Rothstein 1983, 2001, Demonte 1988, Mallén 1991, Bowers 1993, among others), C-command and Multiple Agree approaches (McNulty 1988, Irimia 2012), linearization after ‘Lateral Movement’ and attachment of identical eventive heads (Gallar 2017), or Parallel-Merge approaches (Irimia 2012, You 2016). Following Chomsky (2019) and Bošković (2020), among others, I will claim here, first, that adjunct depictive secondary predicates start as members of a Pair-MERGE(d) conjunction/ adjunction structure which is unlabeled. There are as many members of these pair merged phrases as modifiers in a sentence, and they are unbounded and unstructured. Pair merged structures are in principle opaque and non-sensible to syntactic operations. However, since they are semantically and syntactically conjoined phrases they have each a Link element. This Link merges at the edge of the phase at which the modifier is conjoined thus allowing extraction out of the opaque domain. I will suggest that perhaps Tagalog expresses overtly these links. I will previously present a detailed description of the properties of DPS in Spanish

Depictive secondary predicates in Turkish

This paper provides an overview of depictive secondary predicates within the Turkish language, particularly surrounding the small clause phenomenon. These constructions function as adjuncts in the matrix clause. However, it may be difficult to distinguish between depictives and adverbial adjuncts in Turkish because of their morphosyntactic shape. Primarily, I will address the distinction between depictives and adverbial adjuncts based on studies founded by Schultze-Berndt & Himmelmann (2004) and Himmelmann & Schultze-Berndt (2006) based on a description of the depictive secondary predicates in Turkish. Furthermore, I will specifically focus on the adjectivals as a depictive secondary predicate. These establish a predicative relationship with their controllers, which are the subject or object of the main clause. In this context, I will also analyze this predicative relationship at a semantical, syntactical and morphosyntactical level. I will then analyze the difficulties faced when referring to these structures as constituents in an analysis of the complex sentence as a whole.

Polskie quasi-narzędniki w przekładzie w świetle uniwersaliów przekładowych

The aim of the analysis is to prove the hypothesis about the differences between original and translated texts in the same language (so-called translation universals). A bidirectional parallel corpus representing the language of 30 authors and 37 translators made it possible to analyze German translational equivalents of Polish formal instrumental phrases (e.g. donośnym glosem, spokojnym tonem): a standard prepositional phrase (mit _ Stimme, im _ Ton), an adverb, a nominal phrase, a verb, a phrase or a sentence. The qualitative and quantitative comparison of over 800 bitexts (translations into Polish and from Polish) allowed the author to perceive some features of translation – it could be observed that translators tend to resort to standard solutions, which can be interpreted as levellig out – one of translation universals. While translating into Polish, they tend to use the formal instrumental as an equivalent of not only German prepositional phrases or adverbs, but also nominal phrases, verbs or sentences, which is not determined by different language structures in most cases. When translating into German, “second authors” use mainly prepositional phrases and only seldom adverbs. It could also be observed that only some translators try to change the source-text imagery (e.g. the described point of view). Moreover, the translational analysis helped to show the preference for the formal instrumental phrase to serve as a secondary predicate in the sentence – on the surface it describes what can be perceived with hearing; however, in fact it can also provide information about the agent’s emotions or attitudes.

A corpus study ofkasama‘companion’ in Tagalog

AbstractThis paper presents a corpus-based study of a number of different types of previously undescribed constructions formed with the Tagalog nounkasama‘companion’. Apart from independent and attributive uses,kasamafrequently occurs as the predicate of an adjunct clause that can introduce a comitative participant, a semantically depictive secondary predicate, an event-oriented adjunct, or a predicative complement. The study analyses the frequency ofkasamain all of these types of constructions and looks into their specific properties. This includes: the semantic distinction between additive and inclusory constructions withkasama; animacy agreement between arguments ofkasamain additive constructions; variation in case marking of arguments ofkasama; the preponderance of the absence of linkers – commonly known to introduce adverbial clauses in Tagalog – which are used to attach thekasamaclause to the main clause; attested controllers of thekasamaclause; positions available for thekasamaclause in the sentence. Variation in case marking and compatibility with linkers suggests a classification of Tagalog adjunct clauses similar to that of Tagalog adverbials and prepositions. There is also some evidence to believe thatkasamais being grammaticalized as a preposition. Comitative and semantically depictive constructions withkasama, which account for a quarter of the corpus sample, have never been studied before, despite the fact that Tagalog is included in several typological studies on comitative and depictive constructions.

Partículas verbais e aspecto nas complex particle constructions

O objetivo deste trabalho é abordar a contribuição para a estrutura de evento da partícula verbal em complex particle constructions, notadamente um subgrupo das construções que apresenta um predicado secundário com leitura de estado resultante sobre um sintagma acusativo juntamente com a presença de uma partícula verbal, conforme se observam nos exemplos seguintes: John grilled the onions up dry e The farmer painted the barn up red. A argumentação é de que a contribuição da partícula é de natureza aspectual, mais especificamente com o sentido de completude e ou totalidade, e não telicidade propriamente.

"L'aglio mettilo tagliato": definire il participio passato predicativo attraverso la lingua della cucina

The 'predicative' function of Italian past participles is dealt with in this article, a function that has not yet been taken into account in Italian grammars. More precisely, we analyse constructions like l’aglio mettilo tagliato (‘add the sliced garlic’). As some constituency tests clearly show, such participles neither fall under the definition of «attributive» participles, nor under the «circumstantial» function: they rather behave as modifiers of the verbal phrase. Within the frame of secondary predication studies, the participles under consideration can be counted among the «depictives». Depictive predicative participles recur very often in the language of cookbooks and recipes: therefore we use such texts as a source for our purpose.

Adjetivos stage-level e individual-level em construções depictivas

Neste trabalho, revejo a proposta de análise apresentada em Ferreira (2017) para construções de predicação secundária depictiva, como O João leu a carta cansado. Mais especificamente, rejeito a hipótese de Ferreira (2017) de que, em tais sentenças, nas quais ocorreria adjunção de uma small clause aspectual à oração matriz, uma categoria funcional Asp atribuiria a propriedade stage-level a um adjetivo como cansado. Neste artigo, defendo que a relação entre Asp e o adjetivo não seja de atribuição de propriedade, mas de compatibilidade de traços semânticos na seleção, e que o adjetivo entraria na derivação carregando a informação de que veicula uma propriedade transitória ou permanente. Nesse sentido, suponho que essas construções de predicação secundária possam apresentar um dos dois tipos de Asp: um que entra na derivação com um subconjunto de traços semânticos [+pers], que denota persistência temporal e seleciona adjetivos individual-level, ou um que entra na derivação com o subconjunto [–pers], que denota eventualidade temporária e seleciona adjetivos stage-level. Em minha argumentação, recorro a McNally (1993) e a Cinque (2010): a primeira, para tratar de predicações secundárias com predicados individual-level e da influência da pragmática nesses contextos; o último, para tratar brevemente de adjetivos stage-level e individual-level no âmbito do DP.

FEATURES OF FUNCTIONING OF SEMIPREDICATIVE ADJECTIVAL COMPONENTS IN A SIMPLE SENTENCE STRUCTURE

The research focuses on the study of the phenomenon of syntactic complication of a simple sentence structure by semipredicative adjectival components (traditionally known as detached participle and verbal adverb phrases) with the inherent potential predicativeness. The article explores the analysis of simple sentences complicated by semipredicative adjectival components is predefined foremost by their ability to distinguish priorities of a personality in his/her act of communication during which a speaker differentiates his/her propostions as dynamic or static, full-sentenced or shortened. The scientific relevance of the investigation is predetermined by a general tendency of modern linguistic studies towards the problems of semantic syntax, and by the attempt to elaborate a semantic theory of a sentence with regard to the central place of syntax in grammar, asymmetry of a language sign, deep categories of sentence. Detachment and semipredicativeness have been characterized as formally-syntactic categories of a simple sentence complicated by semipredicative adjectival components; secondary predication has been analysed as a marker of semantic complication of simple sentences with semipredicative adjectival components. Functional potential of semipredicative adjectival components in the structure of a simple sentence has been described. On the basis of six criteria a structural-semantical typology of semipredicative adjectival components has been elaborated. Basic types of realization of semantic-syntactical relations between the proposition represented by a sentence and the shortened proposition have been characterized. The following methods are used in the article: structural, semantic, distributive, transformational and functional analyses of simple sentences with adjectival components as units that are monopredicative (a formally-syntactic feature), poly-situational, polypropositional, poly-predicative, mono- / poly-subjective (semantic-syntactical features), polyinformative and are formed according to the law of language economy (a functional feature).