A typology of denominal verb formation

2007

This dissertation explores the factors that influence the creation and interpretation of novel denominal verbs in English. Of particular focus is the potential influence of one factor, termed here the Semantic Category Distribution Effect. The Semantic Category Distribution Effect involves the type frequency distribution of existing forms of a given denominal verb formation process (e.g. conversion, -ize, -ify, -ate) across semantic categories (e.g., ORNATIVE, RESULTATIVE, LOCATIVE, INSTRUMENTAL), and the impact of this distribution upon the probability of application of that process upon a novel verb. The central hypothesis of this dissertation is that native English speakers are sensitive to and make use of this kind of type frequency distribution information when creating or interpreting novel denominal verbs.

Language and Linguistics Compass, 2024

This article aims to fill a gap in the typological literature by discussing the typology of overt denominal verb formation strategies, i.e., morphosyntactic strategies other than conversion/zeroderivation that are used to derive a verb from a nominal base. We analyze the morphological, syntactic and semantic properties of these strategies in a variety sample of 222 languages. These properties include the morphological status, the productivity, and the semantic effects of the overt verbalizer, as well as the features of the nominal base and the polysemy patterns that characterize verbalizers across languages. The typological survey is complemented by a section on the diachronic typology of overt denominal verb formation strategies, in which we identify the most common diachronic sources of overt verbalizers and discuss the diachronic dynamics that involve them in relation to other denominal verb formation strategies such as conversion/zero-derivation.

International Journal of American Linguistics, 2008

This paper is a general and brief introduction to the phenomena explored in this issue-denominal verbs and allied constructions. We outline their morphological, syntactic, and semantic properties and contrast them with other similar phenomena such as noun incorporation and noun stripping. As seen in the papers herein, these properties may differ substantially from language to language, but the various constructions are profitably compared under a common rubric. Thus, these papers give a glimpse of the linguistic variety that is found in languages of North America, while contributing to our typological knowledge of denominal verb constructions, which heretofore have received little attention.

2008

This paper is a general and brief introduction to the phenomena explored in this issue—denominal verbs and allied constructions. We outline their morphological, syntactic, and semantic properties and contrast them with other similar phenomena such as noun incorporation and noun stripping. As seen in the papers herein, these properties may differ substantially from language to language, but the various constructions are profitably compared under a common rubric. Thus, these papers give a glimpse of the linguistic variety that is found in languages of North America, while contributing to our typological knowledge of denominal verb constructions, which heretofore have received little attention.

Advances in the theory of the lexicon, 2006

Texas Linguistic Society IX: The Morphosyntax …, 2007

Studies in Language, 2005

2016

Studia Neophilologica, 2015

The traditional English verb classifi cation based upon their grammatical meaning is a certain matrix according to which new units are grouped. The present investigation is aimed at integral describing the verbs of the ‘give’ type in the model “to give a smile”. The analysis of its constituents does not give any new information, however, its analysis as an integral unit in the sentence and discourse can reveal it as a structural-semantic unity, wherein a redistribution of the lexical meaning takes place. Since Otto Jespersen defi ned them as “light verbs" they have been in the focus of research of grammarians, semanticists, discourse experts, and cognitologists. In the framework of our research the referred verbs in the given model are presented as the result of grammaticalization and lexicalization — major factors of the English language development.