Linguistic structure and conceptual structure: a scalar reading of causal subevent

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1984-8412.2017v14n1p1735

This paper proposes a research on the symmetric behavior observed between direction of motion verbs and change of state verbs. The study will consider  'causativity' as a central linguistic element which is responsible for the participation of these two verbal classes in alternation process, like causative alternation. Furthermore we will propose that there is a causal operator which is primarily connected with the basic idea of change (of state or of spatial location) and also connected with the scalar distribution of the change. This assumption will require a place to this causal operator in the lexical semantics representation of both classes – change of state and direction of motion verbs – which share the structural semantic property of ‘causativity’. This schema is opposite to the one we can observe in the case of manner of motion verbs.