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Modularity in Thematic versus Aspectual Licensing: Paths and Moved Objects in Motion Verbs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Carol L. Tenny
Carol L. Tenny*
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
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Abstract

This article investigates the nature of argumenthood and adjuncthood, through an examination of the behaviour of the internal arguments of two classes of motion verbs in English. A highly modular view is put forth, in which three separate distinctions influencing argument-like or adjunct- like behaviour must be recognized: aspectual versus thematic licensing, structural versus inherent case assignment, and referentiality versus non-referentiality. Of these three, only referentiality is a graded rather than a binary distinction. The distinction between aspectual and thematic licensing is developed and elucidated. A picture emerges in which aspectual structure may itself be thematically licensed by a verb, and this aspectual structure may have its own arguments, which are then indirectly licensed by the verb. Cognate objects and Romance measure phrases are also discussed in light of these theoretical conclusions.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article examine la nature du statut d’argument et de celui d’adjoint à travers une étude du comportement des arguments internes de deux classes de verbes de déplacement de l’anglais. Une approche hautement modulaire est proposée, qui reconnaît trois distinctions indépendantes influençant le comportement de type argumentai ou d’adjoint: la légitimation aspectuelle versus thématique, l’assignation de cas structural versus inhérent, et la référentialité versus la non-référentialité. De ces trois distinctions, seule celle portant sur la référentialité est une distinction graduée plutôt que binaire. La distinction entre la légitimation aspectuelle et la légitimation thématique est développée et reçoit une explication. Un tableau émerge dans lequel la structure aspectuelle peut elle-même être légitimée thématiquementpar un verbe; et cette structure aspectuelle peut avoir ses propres arguments, qui sont alors indirectement légitimés par le verbe. Les objets internes (cognate objects) et les syntagmes de mesure de langues romanes comme le français sont également examinés à la lumière de ces conclusions théoriques.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , June 1995 , pp. 201 - 234
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 1995

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