Loading...
6 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
- Causative eventive chains and selection of affixes in Portuguese nominalisationsPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra SoaresIn Portuguese, different suffixes are used to construct event deverbal nouns from the same base verb. In this paper, we focus on deverbal nouns constructed from causative verbs. Being event nouns, the meanings of the derivatives of these suffixes differ slightly. We aim to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in semantic rivalry between affixes, specifically with regard to the knowledge of the semantic features of the verbal base that are sensitive to the semantics of each affix. We propose that the semantic features of the affix must be semantically compatible with semantic features of the lexical-semantic structure of the base verb. Because of a coindexation mechanism (Lieber 2004), the semantic features of the affix will coindex with the semantic features of the verb that are most compatible with its own features (Rodrigues & Rio-Torto 2013; Rodrigues 2008). Our hypothesis permits us to explain why there are so many verbs with different deverbal nouns, with different affixes. The affixes in those situations are not acting as rivals, since they are not competing with each other to exclude each other.
- Semantic coindexation: evidence from Portuguese derivation and compoundingPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra Soares; Rio-Torto, GraçaThis paper tries to shed light on the questions: How do words formed by word formation get their meaning? What are the factors involved and what is the balance between them? According to Jackendoff’s Parallel Architecture (2002), a word is an interface between Phonology, Syntax and Semantics, and formation of word meaning is independent of syntax. The PA permits us to solve some problems that come to light by adopting other perspectives (syntactically guided: Rappaport Hovav & Levin 1992; Beard 1995; Lieber 2004; or cognitively guided: Barker 1998; Ryder 1999; Panther & Thornburg 2002). We propose to analyse Portuguese word formation of deverbal nouns and adjectives and of compounds, in order to test if these two genolexical mechanisms behave similarly respecting the semantic structure of their constituents. Empirical data show that word formation mechanisms align semantic structuring independently of syntactic structuring. Only semantic features are responsible for the meaning of the coined word.
- What affixes reveal about interfaces in word formationPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra SoaresThe word formation domain is a linguistic field where interfaces between different structures of language are activated. The construction of lexemes depends on the semantic, syntactic and phonological features of the bases and affixes involved in the process. Derivation, as a kind of word formation process, obeys selectional restrictions (Plag 1999, 2004) that intertwine in interfaces (Rodrigues 2008). Inside those semantic, syntactic and phonological features, many substructures or tiers become involved in the choice between bases and affixes. As is well known, there are different affixes that operate in the same word formation rule (henceforth WFR) by adjoining the same syntactic bases and producing the same categorial and semantic derivatives. For instance, in Portuguese there are many affixes that attach to verbs and create deverbal event nouns. Amongst those affixes are, for example, -ção, -mento, -aria, -dura, -ão, -nça. However, it is not possible to attach all of these affixes to every verb base (Rodrigues 2008). Morphological, phonological, semantic and processing constraints intervene in the choice of the affix. Selectional restrictions are, thus, in interface with each other and with the processing conditions (Hay 2002, Hay and Plag 2004, Plag and Baayen 2009, Rodrigues 2008, 2009). The problem of selectional restrictions arises when the same affix operates in more than one WFR. Depending on the WFR it is working on, the affix imposes different selectional restrictions on the bases. This is the case of the affix -ão, which operates in Portuguese agent and event deverbal formations. The behaviour of this affix raises problems for the conceptualisation of WFRs, of the affixes’ roles, and even of the status of selectional restrictions. To solve those problems, we have proposed a new model on word formation. This model is called ‘WFRs in interfaces’ (WFRIM) (Rodrigues 2008). According to this model, affixes should be considered neither as a simple phonological spell-out of WFRs, as proposed by separationist process-oriented approaches (e.g. Beard 1995), nor as being totally responsible for the construction of derivatives, without the alignment of a WFR, as defended by output-oriented models (e.g. Plag 1999). In addition, selectional restrictions and processing conditions are not the only constraints responsible for the grammatical and ungrammatical attachments of affixes to bases. The maximal semantic compatibility between the features of the affix, those of the base and of the WFR, will determine which interfaces will occur between affix and base. In this way, some meanings will be achieved whilst others will not, in one WFR, and the opposite will happen in another WFR.
- Phonotactic conditions and morphotactic transparency in Mirandese word formationPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra SoaresThis paper first describes the prefixation and circumfixation processes of Mirandese word formation and determines the general conditions of phonotactic correspondence between Portuguese and Mirandese. It then analyses the permeability of Mirandese to Portuguese in word formation, specifically concerning these affixation processes, and goes on to identify the specific phonological conditions that concern the allomorphy of each affix while quantifying their morphotactic transparency. Using Natural Morphology as a framework, data from this analysis demonstrate a relationship between morphotactic transparency and the actualisation of either specific allomorphic conditions or the general conditions of phonotactic correspondence.
- What psych verbs and other verbs disclose about the role of Semantic Prominence and Thematic Hierarchy in affixal selectionPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra SoaresThis paper analyses the construction of deverbal adjectives in European Portuguese, focusing on the interface between morphology and semantics, specifically on the role of Thematic Hierarchy and Semantic Prominence on affixal selection. Supported by paradigmatic morphology, the paper shows that suffixes that work in macroparadigms of deverbal adjectives establish a relationship with specific semantic features of the lexical-semantic structure of the base verb in order to construct the derivative. The analysis concludes that suffixes are sensitive to thematic hierarchy, which is based on the semantic prominence of features of the verbs’ theta-roles at work in the paradigm. Data from psych verbs is highly relevant to this finding. The paper is dedicated to Professor Ana Maria Brito, who has always been keenly aware that scientific knowledge is not confined to a specific theory.
- Semantic coindexation: evidence from Portuguese derivation and compoundingPublication . Rodrigues, Alexandra Soares; Rio-Torto, GraçaIn this work we try to answer the following questions:How do words formed by derivation and compounding get their meaning? What are the factors involved and what is the balance between them? Are compounding and derivation rules sensitive to the semantic of their bases in the same manner? The analysis is focused on Portuguese deverbal nouns and adjectives (2.) as well as on nominal compounds (3.) formed by noun-noun [NN]N and noun-adjective [NA]N. We believe that the formation of meaning in the word is independent of syntax. We state that the responsible for the meaning construction in word formation is semantic coindexation. Coindexation operates between features of the constituents (affix and base or compound bases) and of the maximal semantic frame associated with them. Coindexation is ruled by the maximal conciliability principle. This principle prevents the chaotic linking between the features, because it only allows the linkage of those that semantically better fit with each other.