Contextually-dependent lexical semantics
This thesis is an investigation of phenomena at the interface between syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, with the aim of arguing for a view of semantic interpretation as lexically driven yet contextually dependent. I examine regular, generative processes which operate over the lexicon to induce verbal sense shifts, and discuss the interaction of these processes with the linguistic or discourse context. I concentrate on phenomena where only an interaction between all three linguistic knowledge sources can explain the constraints on verb use: conventionalised lexical semantic knowledge constrains productive syntactic processes, while pragmatic reasoning is both constrained by and constrains the potential interpretations given to certain verbs. The phenomena which are closely examined are the behaviour of PP sentential modifiers (specifically dative and directional PPs) with respect to the lexical semantic representation of the verb phrases they modify, resultative constructions, and logical metonymy. The analysis is couched in terms of a lexical semantic representation drawing on Davis (1995), Jackendoff (1983, 1990), and Pustejovsky (1991, 1995) which aims to capture âlinguistically relevantâ components
Verspoor, Cornelia M.
syntax ; semantics ; pragmatics ; semantic knowledge
Contextually-dependent lexical semantics. This thesis is an investigation of phenomena at the interface between syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, with the aim of arguing for a view of semantic interpretation as lexically driven yet contextually dependent. I examine regular, generative processes which operate over the lexicon to induce verbal sense shifts, and discuss the interaction of these processes with the linguistic or discourse context. I concentrate on phenomena where only an interaction between all three linguistic knowledge sources can explain the constraints on verb use: conventionalised lexical semantic knowledge constrains productive syntactic processes, while pragmatic reasoning is both constrained by and constrains the potential interpretations given to certain verbs. The phenomena which are closely examined are the behaviour of PP sentential modifiers (specifically dative and directional PPs) with respect to the lexical semantic representation of the verb phrases they modify, resultative constructions, and logical metonymy. The analysis is couched in terms of a lexical semantic representation drawing on Davis (1995), Jackendoff (1983, 1990), and Pustejovsky (1991, 1995) which aims to capture âlinguistically relevantâ components
contextually dependent lexical_semantics investigation phenomenon interface syntax_semantics pragmatic aim argue view semantic_interpretation lexically drive yet contextually dependent examine regular generative process_operate lexicon induce verbal sense shift discuss interaction process linguistic discourse context concentrate phenomenon interaction linguistic_knowledge source explain constraint verb use lexical_semantic knowledge constrains productive syntactic process pragmatic reasoning constrain constrains potential interpretation give certain verb phenomenon closely_examine behaviour sentential modifier specifically dative directional pps respect lexical_semantic representation verb_phrase modify resultative construction logical metonymy analysis couch term lexical_semantic representation draw jackendoff aim_capture linguistically relevant component