Image schemas and (point)-to-point event model for the macro-event
The macro-event is a fundamental concept in Talmyan motion event typology. A large literature has been documented concerning the status of a particular language in the two-way typology that he proposes, but relatively little literature focusing on the morphosyntactic dimension of the macro-event per se, let alone on the cognitive motivation of the macro-event. This article analyzes the types of macro-events expressed by directional complement constructions in Mandarin, and argues that the macro-events are image-schema-based. The simple image schemas give rise to a more complex three-event-semantic-model, termed (point)-to-point , or to be more particular, (point a)-to-point b, in which to represents the affecting or intervening event, point a represents the original state of point b, point b is the resulting event. point a is usually implied, not explicitly expressed, so it is put in brackets. This model has advantages over Talmy’s main event and co-event structure in that it can largely predict the meaning-form mapping, and explain more constructions. The findings have some implications for cognitive semantics: In grammar, languages generally prioritize the third event; the complex event model might be motivated by simple image schemas.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The structure of a macro-event
- 3.Characterizing the image schemas
- 3.1Definition
- 3.2Function as a bridge
- 3.3An inventory
- 3.4The preservation of the image schemas
- 3.5Summary
- 4.Image schema as the core schema of a macro-event
- 4.1Image schema as the core schema
- 4.2Directional complements as image schemas in Mandarin
- 5.(point)-to-point as an event model for macro-events
- 5.1The (point)-to-point of the motion event
- 5.2The (point)-to-point of the event of temporal contouring
- 5.3The (point)-to-point of the event of state change
- 5.4The (point)-to-point of the event of action correlating
- 5.5The (point)-to-point of the event of realization
- 6.Discussion and extension
- 6.1Macro-event is image-schema-motivated
- 6.2(point)-to-point as metaphysics of complex event
- 6.3Sentences with adjectives as complements or predicates
- 6.4(point)-to-point as a model for general conceptualization
- 7.Concluding remarks
- Acknowledgements
- Data availability statements
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References