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…

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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….

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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’…

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Problem6

•  Thecomposi3onalproblem:RelatedtoProblem5:Themeaningofan-erwordisojennotcomposi0onal,i.e.notpredictablefromthebaseandthe-ersuffix,e.g.corker‘alivelyperson/event’andmudder‘racehorsethatcanrunfastinmud’.

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Problem7

•  The“constraints”problem:Although-erisundoubtedlyoneofthemostproduc0vederiva0onalsuffixesinEnglish,itscrea0vepoten0alisnotwithoutlimits:e.g.happener,existerareunlikelyforma0ons.Why?

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Problems1–7

•  Somanyexcep0onstothe“rule”!•  Howtohandlethischao0cmessof-erwordsinEnglish?

•  Istheresomekindofunderlyingorderorsystemforallthese-erforms?

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3.Theanalysis

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3.1.Par0cipantlevel

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Par0cipantLevelSchema(ObjectLevel)

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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”?

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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

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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

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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

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!! 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?

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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

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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?

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RecallProblem4

•  Thepolysemyvs.homonymyproblem.Many-erforma0onshavemul0plesenses,e.g.thewordsleeper.

Herearepicturesofseveralthingsthewordsleepermaydenote.

Lookatthemandaskyourself:Areallofthesesensesconceptuallyrelated?Ornot?

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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