Space and events : spatial PPs and motion VPs
This thesis studies the internal syntax and semantics of spatial PPs, i.e. phrases headed by words such as (in English) in, on, at, above, in front of, from, out of, through, around, etc. as well as their role and contribution in motion events when combined with different motion verbs. I argue that these adpositions as used in spatial relationships are Relators. They relate entities, positions or events to specific entities or positions. For example, in/on/at relate a Figure to specific Spaces with reference to a Ground. Thus I refer to them as Place Relators. As to the elements to/from/through, I refer to them as Path Relators. They relate the Figure to specific points in a path domain. Based on the way I view these elements, the minimum P projection I propose is [RelPATHP [RelPLACEP]]. Furthermore, adapting ideas of Svenonius (2010), I decompose RelPLACEP into [RelPLACEP [AxPartP [KP]]]. The scope of the materials is extended to analyse equivalent elements in Kurdish and Arabic for which no full descriptions are available. The P projection proposed provides a better understanding of spatial adpositions in these languages. On the one hand, it helps distinguish the elements that belong to the P category in
Saeed, Sameerah Tawfweeq
Space and events : spatial PPs and motion VPs. This thesis studies the internal syntax and semantics of spatial PPs, i.e. phrases headed by words such as (in English) in, on, at, above, in front of, from, out of, through, around, etc. as well as their role and contribution in motion events when combined with different motion verbs. I argue that these adpositions as used in spatial relationships are Relators. They relate entities, positions or events to specific entities or positions. For example, in/on/at relate a Figure to specific Spaces with reference to a Ground. Thus I refer to them as Place Relators. As to the elements to/from/through, I refer to them as Path Relators. They relate the Figure to specific points in a path domain. Based on the way I view these elements, the minimum P projection I propose is [RelPATHP [RelPLACEP]]. Furthermore, adapting ideas of Svenonius (2010), I decompose RelPLACEP into [RelPLACEP [AxPartP [KP]]]. The scope of the materials is extended to analyse equivalent elements in Kurdish and Arabic for which no full descriptions are available. The P projection proposed provides a better understanding of spatial adpositions in these languages. On the one hand, it helps distinguish the elements that belong to the P category in
space event spatial pps motion study internal syntax_semantics spatial pps phrase head word english front around etc well role motion_event combine different motion verb argue use spatial_relationship relate entity position event specific entity position example relate figure specific reference ground thus refer place elements from through refer path relate figure specific point path domain based way view element minimum projection propose furthermore adapt idea decompose scope material extend analyse equivalent element kurdish arabic full_description available projection propose provide well spatial language one_hand help distinguish element belong category