The lexical representation of English verbs of action. Complex predicates and structures

Abstract

This article aims at proposing a lexical representation for a set of English verbs of action. The analysis is carried out on the grounds of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) and includes aspects like Aktionsart type, macrorole and syntactic function assignment, linking, as well as nexus and juncture. Against this background, the meaning components of the verbs in question are analysed, in such a way that a logical structure based on a lexical representation is defined for each verbal class. Conclusions fall on both the descriptive and the theoretical side. From the descriptive point of view, Fail and Try verbs constitute a unified verbal class as regards their meaning components and grammatical behaviour and, thus, they are represented by means of a unified logical structure. Conversely, Prevent verbs and Forbid verbs require different logical structures that account for their divergent grammatical behaviour, corresponding to the Causative Activity and Causative Achievement Aktionsart types respectively. On the theoretical side, the logical structures of End verbs, Fail verbs, Try verbs and Prevent verbs stick to the canonical representations of RRG, while those of Hinder verbs and Refrain verbs require complex predicates and complex logical structures which allow to incorporate extra meaning components and to combine different Aktionsart types.

Keywords

• Lexical Representation
• Logical Structures
• Verb Classes
• Role and Reference Grammar