A Constructional Approach to Resultatives

By Hans C. Boas

Book Overview

Providing a unified solution within the frameworks of Construction Grammar and Frame Semantics, Hans Boas develops an account of resultative constructions in English by grouping them in two classes: conventionalized and non-conventionalized. The usage-based model used here proposes that each particular sense of a verb constitutes a conventionalized mini-construction, which is crucial information for the licensing of arguments. In contrast, verbs in non-conventionalized resultative constructions can acquire a novel meaning and thereby a new syntactic frame. English and German resultatives are compared to illustrate the distinct lexical polysemy networks of English and German verbs.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157586407X
• ISBN13: 9781575864075
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Center for the Study of Language and Informat
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.5"