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Universal 1377: verb (in FGD of semantic specificity n) ⇒ verb (in FGD of semantic specificity n-1)

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1377: verb (in FGD of semantic specificity n) ⇒ verb (in FGD of semantic specificity n-1)

Original
Bridging Verb Hierarchy:
If a bridging verb or verb complex V of semantic specificity n is grammatical in an FGD, then all verbs or verb complexes V´ with less semantic specificity than V will also grammatical.
Standardized
Bridging Verb Hierarchy:
IF a bridging verb or verb complex V of semantic specificity n is grammatical in an FGD, THEN all verbs or verb complexes V´ with less semantic specificity than V will also grammatical.
Keywords
filler, gap, bridging verb, specificity
Domain
syntax, semantics
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
English, German, Norwegian (all Germanic, Indo-European), and many other languages from Kiparsky & Kiparsky 1970 and Hukari & Levine 1995
Source
Hawkins 1999: 272
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    1. The terms “filler” and “gap” are used for the moved element and its trace respectively.2. Filler-Gap Domain [FGD]: An FGD consists of the smallest terminal and non-terminal nodes dominated by the mother of a filler and on a connected path that must be accessed for gap identification and processing; for subcategorized gaps the path connects the filler to the gap’s subcategorizor and includes, or is extended to include, the gap’s dependent and disambiguating arguments (if any); for non-subcategorized gaps the path connects the filler to the gap site; all constituency relations and co-occurrence requirements holding between these nodes belong to the description of the FGD.3. This hierarchy is exemplified in (i) (where > means ‘better than’):(i) a. How angry did Mary say that John was? > b. How angry did Mary say softly that John was? = c. How angry did Mary whisper that John was?4. Hawkins (1999: 271) claims that this hierarchy be derived from the following processing preference: Reduced FGDs Semantically: The human processor prefers to minimize the amount of semantic information that needs to be processed in an FGD.

    1. May 2020

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