Morphologicalconstruc0ons:Ananalysisof–ernominals
inEnglishKlaus-UwePanther&LindaL.Thornburg
Na0onalWorkshoponCogni0veLinguis0csandLanguagesoftheNortheastTezpurUniversityFebruary4–5,2017
Content
1. Introduc0on2. Problemsandpuzzles3. Theanalysis
1. Par0cipantlevel2. Eventlevel
4. Testyourself!5. Homonymyorpolysemy?
2
1.Introduc0on
3
English-ernominals
Whateveryoneknows:
Verbac0on/ac0vity+-er=‘onewhodoesV’
teach+-er=teacher
4
English-ernominals
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker, broiler… • downer, season opener… • owner, Beijinger, believer… How many problems can you find?
5
Spellingofsuffix
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker, broiler… • downer, season opener… • owner, Beijinger, believer…
6
Non-verbalbase
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker, broiler… • downer, season opener… • owner, Beijinger, believer…
7
Verbalbasesthatdonotdenoteac0ons
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker, broiler… • downer, season opener… • owner, Nanjinger, believer…
8
Verbalbasesthatdonotdenoteac0ons
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker, broiler… • downer, season opener… • owner, Beijinger, believer… Any other problems you can find?
9
Non-agents
• teacher, farmer, actor, trucker… • educator, philosopher, liar… • baker (baking apple), broiler (chicken for broiling) • downer, season opener… • owner, Beijinger, believer…
10
2.Problemsandpuzzles
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Problem1
• Theorthographicproblem:-er,-or,and-ar.Thesearetreatedasonesuffixwiththepronuncia0on[ər].
12
Problem2
• Thederiva3onalruleproblem:TherearehundredsofEnglish-erwordsthatare“excep0ons”totherule:Vact+-er=N‘onewhoperformstheac0ondenotedbytheverb’
13
Problem2(cont’d)
• Non-ac3onverbbases:owner,possessor,receiver,undergoer,believer….
• Non-verbalbases:foreigner,downer,NewYorker,Beijinger….
• Phrasalbases:no-brainer,out-of-towner,fast-tracker,back-to-the-lander,up-and-comer,do-it-yourselfer,fixer-upper….
14
Problem3
• Thedenota3onalproblem:Manykindsofdenotata:people,animals,plants,objects(concreteandabstract),eventsofallsortsincludingweatherevents,e.g.gully-washer,soaker,etc.
Widerangeofseman3croles:Agent,Causer,PaDent,Instrument,LocaDon,Time,etc.
15
Problem4
• Thepolysemyvs.homonymyproblem.Many-erforma0onshavemul0plesenses,e.g.:sleeperdenotes‘onewhosleeps’,‘atraincarforsleeping’,‘ababy’ssleepwear’,‘sleepingpill’,‘boringevent’,‘inac0vespy’,‘somethingorsomeonethathasadelayedorunexpectedsuccess’,‘undergroundrailroad0e’.
Areallofthesesensesconceptuallyrelated?16
Problem5
• The“look-alike”problem:Manywordslooklike-erwordsbutdonotseemtobe“deriva0ons”intheconven0onalsense.Theseformsmayhavenoiden0fiablebasetowhichthe-ersuffixisafached.Wecancallthem-ergestalts.
Examples:miser‘avariciousperson’,humdinger‘someoneorsomethingexcellent’,hammer‘toolforhammeringnails’…
17
Problem6
• Thecomposi3onalproblem:RelatedtoProblem5:Themeaningofan-erwordisojennotcomposi0onal,i.e.notpredictablefromthebaseandthe-ersuffix,e.g.corker‘alivelyperson/event’andmudder‘racehorsethatcanrunfastinmud’.
18
Problem7
• The“constraints”problem:Although-erisundoubtedlyoneofthemostproduc0vederiva0onalsuffixesinEnglish,itscrea0vepoten0alisnotwithoutlimits:e.g.happener,existerareunlikelyforma0ons.Why?
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Problems1–7
• Somanyexcep0onstothe“rule”!• Howtohandlethischao0cmessof-erwordsinEnglish?
• Istheresomekindofunderlyingorderorsystemforallthese-erforms?
20
3.Theanalysis
21
3.1.Par0cipantlevel
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Par0cipantLevelSchema(ObjectLevel)
23
Human Agent teacher, runner,
tinner, loner, all-nighter, back-seater Quasi-Instrument
waders, pedal-pushers, top-siders
Instrument dryer, wire-cutter, steaker, breader
Metaphorical Agent
gas-guzzler, sky-scraper
Purpose Location
sleeper, diner, crapper
True Patient scrambler,
beater
Purpose Patient
broiler, reader, toothpicker
Valued Patient keeper, holder
HowtoaccountforformsandmeaningsofallEnglish-ernominals
Conceptualtoolsneeded:• Ac0onscenario(i.e.aprototypicaltransiDvescene)
• Extendedsensescomeaboutthroughmetonymicandmetaphoricextensionsthatactonboththebaseandthe-ersuffix.
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Prototypicaltransi0vescene(basedonHopper&Thompson1980)
• Thereisaseong,i.e.aplaceandaDme,inwhichaneventtakesplace.
• Therearetwodis0nctparDcipantsthatareinanasymmetricalinterac0on.
• Onepar0cipantisanintenDonallyacDnghuman.Theotherisdirectlyaffected/effectedbytheac0on.
• Devia0onsinprototypicalityresultinlessprototypical-ernominals.
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26
!
!
Mary%
Prototypical!transitive!scene!
...!
first*graders%!%%
Place!Time!
AGENT! PATIENT!
teaches'
FlexibilityoftheTransi0veScenario
• Par0cipantscanvaryinnumber:e.g.giver(3par0cipants),runner(1par0cipant)
• Par0cipantscanvaryintheirdegreesofagenthoodandaffectedness:e.g.exterminator(potentAGENT,highlyaffectedPATIENT);owner(lowdegreeofAgen0vity;lowdegreeofPa0enthood)
• Theac0ons/ac0vi0esdenotedbytheVERBvaryinaspectualandmodalproper0es:e.g.exterminator(accomplishment);jogger(ac0vity).
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PrototypicalAgen0ve-ernominal
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teacher‘personprofessionallyinvolvedinteaching’
[HABITUALACTION(teaching)] [AGENT] teach -er
Otherexx.:baker,brewer,governor,manager,etc.
LessprototypicalAgen0ve-ernominalI
haJer‘professionalhat-maker’
Howdoesthisonecomeabout?WhyishaJer“lessprototypical”?
29
30
!
!
John%
Prototypical!transitive!scene!!
...!
hats%!%%
Place!Time!
AGENT! PATIENT!
makes%
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!
!
John%
Prototypical!transitive!scene!!
...!
hats%!%%
Place!Time!
AGENT! PATIENT'
makes%
MetonymicallyderivedAgen0veI
32
hatter!‘person!professionally!involved!in!hat2making!
!
! [ACTIVITY!(making!hats)]!
!
! [EFFECTED!OBJECT]! ! [PROFESSIONAL!HUMAN!AGENT]!
! ! hat! ! ! 2er!!
! metonymy!
LessprototypicalAgen0ve-ernominalII
WallStreeter‘personemployedonWallStreet’
Howdoesthisonecomeabout?
HowisWallStreeter“lessprototypical”?
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34
!
!
Harry%
Less!prototypical!transitive!scene!
...!
Place&Time!
AGENT!
works%on%Wall%Street%
MetonymicallyderivedAgen0veII
35
Wall$Streeter!! ! ‘person!professionally!employed!on!Wall!Street’!
!
! [ACTIVITY!(financial)]!
!
! [INSTITUTION!(financial)]!
!
! ! [PLACE]! ! [PROFESSIONAL!HUMAN!AGENT]!
! ! Wall!Street! ! ! Jer!metonymy!
Lessprototypical-ernominal:Experiencer
goner‘persondoomedtodie’
Howdoesthisonecomeabout?Howisgoner“lessprototypical”?
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37
!
!
Bob!
Less!prototypical!transitive!scene!
...!
Place!Time!
UNDERGOER!
is!nearly!“gone”!(i.e.!dead)!!
Humanexperiencer/undergoer
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goner!! ! ! ! ! ! !'person!doomed!to!die'!!! ! [PROCESS!(dying)]!!!! ! ! !! ! [RESULTANT!STATE!(dead)]!!!! ! [RESULTANT!STATE!(gone)]! ! ! ! [HUMAN!EXPERIENCER]!! ! !!!!!!!!!gone! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!Cer!! ! ! !
metonymy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!metaphor!
InstrumentsI:MetonymicInterpreta0on
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! ! ! dishwasher!! ! ‘machine!for!washing!dishes’!!!! ! ! ! ! [INSTRUMENT]!!! [ACTION]! ! ! [HUMAN!AGENT]!! dishwash! ! ! ! !*er!!! ! metonymy!
InstrumentsII:MetaphoricInterpreta0on
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! ! ! dishwasher!! ‘agent(like!machine!for!washing!dishes’!!!! ! ! ! ! [INSTRUMENT]!!!! [ACTION]! ! ! [HUMAN!AGENT]!! dishwash! ! ! !!!!!!!!!*er!!! ! metaphor!
InstrumentsIII:Metaphor&metonymy
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! ! ! ! upper!! ! ! ‘anti'depressant!pill’!!! [CAUSE!OF!HAPPINESS]!!! [HAPPY]!!! [UP]! ! ! ! ! [INSTRUMENT]!! up! ! ! ! ! ! %er&
PurposePa0ent
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! ! ! ! poster!! ! ‘printed!picture!posted!on!the!wall’!!! ! ! ! ! ! [PURP!PAT]!! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! [INSTR]! !!! [ACTION]! ! ! ! [AGENT]!! post! ! ! ! ! 'er(
Par0cipantLevelSchemaI
43
!! Human'like! ! Human!! ! Purpose'! !!!!!!!True'patient!! Plant! ! ! Experiencer! ! location! ! !!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!Valued'patient!! Human'like! ! Professional!! Animal! ! Human.Agent!!!!!!!!!!!!Instrument! !!!!!!!Purpose'patient!! !! Human'like!!!!!!!!!!Human! ! ! Quasi'!! Object! ! Possessor! ! instrument!
!!
!! ! metonymic!extension!! ! metaphoric!extension!(PERSONIFICATION)
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!
!
WORLDVIEW:!green%earther)!!
PURPOSE!
LOC:!diner)
PURPOSE!
PAT:!poster)!))
ANIMAL:!retriever)
:!teacher)
INSTR:!dishwasher!)
QUASI4INSTR:!loafer)
PLANT:!(late))bloomer)
OBJECT:!gas%guzzler))
POSS:!owner)
Participant!level!4er!nominals!HUMAN&
...!VALUED!
PAT:!keeper)!))
PAT:!beater)!))
POT!AG:!sleeper)!
metonymic!extension!
metaphoric!extension!(PERSONIFICATION)!
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Agent/Causer,event,
thriller,(bummer,(stunner,(groaner,((eye2opener(…(
Valued1patient,event,,
keeper,(forgetter(…(
!
Event!level!(er!nominals!
no2brainer,(rear2ender,(kegger,(tailgaiter,(sundowner,(rager,(actioner,(in2the2parker,(bender…(
Base,names,salient,event,component,(
Instrument,event,
mixer,(updater,(season2opener,(fundraiser(…(
Base,names,action,/,process,
Reification:,Events,are,Objects,
3.2.Eventlevel
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47
[movie]
Prototypicaltransitivescene
...
viewerss
PlaceTimeAGENTEVENT
PATIENT
thrills
Eventlevel:Agentevent
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! ! ! ! ! thriller!!! ! ‘movie/event!that!thrills!the!experiencer’!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! [AGENT!EVENT]!!! [ACTION]! ! ! ! ! [AGENT]!!! thrill! ! ! ! ! ! (er!
Eventlevel:Causerevent
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! ! ! ! ! groaner!! ! ‘event!that!causes!a!person!to!groan’!!! [CAUSE!OF!ACTIVITY!(bad!joke)]! [CAUSER!EVENT]!!! [ACTIVITY]! ! ! ! ! [AGENT]!! groan! ! ! ! ! (er!
InstrumentalEvent
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! ! ! ! season!opener!! ! ‘first!game!of!the!season’!!! ! ! ! ! ! [INSTR!EVENT]!!! ! ! ! ! ! !!!![INSTR]!!! [EVENT]! ! ! ! !!![AGENT]!!!!!!season!open! ! ! ! !!!!)er!
Testyourself!
Howwouldyouanalyze/accountforthefollowingexamplesusingtheconceptualtoolsdemonstratedtoday?
51
eye-opener
52
International*Herald*Tribune!(April!28,!1999)!Book!review:!The*New*Yorker*at*Midcentury*by*Mary*F.*Corey*
The!ambiguities!Corey!finds!in!the!New!Yorker's![magazine]!presentation!of!blacks!and!ethnic!Americans!will!come!as!no!surprise,!nor!does!her!interpretation!of!its!attitudes!toward!McCarthyism!and!the!Cold!War.!But!her!chapter!on!its!treatment!of!women!is!an!eye;opener.!
lovenester
53
Headline(from(a(movie(summary:!
Accused!Love!Nester!on!Trial!Today!(
The(1949(movie,(Adam's!Rib,(stars(Spencer(Tracy(and(Katherine(Hepburn,(who(play(two(lawyers(on(opposite(sides(of(a(headline?making(attempted(murder(case.(Amanda((Hepburn)(defends(a(wife(accused(of(shooting(her(philandering(husband(and(his(mistress.(Adam((Tracy)(defends(the(philandering(husband.((
young-earthersandold-agers
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Harper's(Magazine!(November!1996)( ![From!an!article!on!creation!“science”]!!
Young1earthers!read!the!Bible!as!a!scientific!source!document!and!labor!to!find!evidence!of!a!world!created!by!God!in!six!days!about!6,000!years!ago.!All!other!creationists,!closer!to!the!mainstream,!are!known!as!old1agers—those!who!accept!most!current!scientific!thinking!(including!the!fact!that!the!universe!is!billions!of!years!old)!...!
fender-bender
ChicagoSunTimesApril12,2002Moviereviewbyfilmcri0cROGEREBERT“ChangingLanes”
…Thestoryinvolvestwoflawedmen,bothpreytoanger,whogetinvolvedinafender-benderthatbringsoutalloftheirworstquali0es.Andtheirbest.…
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fender-bender
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! ! ! fender'bender!! ‘minor!car!accident!that!causes!bent!fenders’!!!CAUSE!OF!ACTIVITY!(collision)]! ! [CAUSER!EVENT]!!!!! [ACTIVITY]! ! ! !!! !!!!!![AGENT]!! fender'bend! ! ! !!!!!!!!!'er!
metonymy!metaphor!
Metaphor:EVENTSARETHINGSMetonymy:EFFECTFORCAUSE
4.Homonymyorpolysemy?
57
RecallProblem4
• Thepolysemyvs.homonymyproblem.Many-erforma0onshavemul0plesenses,e.g.thewordsleeper.
Herearepicturesofseveralthingsthewordsleepermaydenote.
Lookatthemandaskyourself:Areallofthesesensesconceptuallyrelated?Ornot?
58
sleeperdenotata
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sleeperdenotata• ‘onewhosleeps’• ‘ababy’ssleepwear’• ‘atraincarforsleeping’• ‘sleepingpill’• ‘somethingorsomeonethathasadelayedorunexpectedsuccess’
• ‘inac0vespy’• ‘undergroundrailroad0e’Arethesesensesconceptuallyrelated?
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YES?
OR
NO?
• Howmanythink:YES
• Howmanythink:NO
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Polysemyofsleeper
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PHONOLOGICAL POLE CONCEPTUAL POLE 'child's sleepwear' 'train car for sleeping'
'sleeping pil l'
/sli:p +ə r/ 'ONE WHO SLEEPS'
'so/sth that has an unexpected success'
' inactive spy' motivated relations: 'underground RR tie' metonymic extensions metaphoric extensions