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Argument Realisation in Complex Predicates and Complex Events: Verb-verb constructions at the syntax-semantic interface
Edited by Brian Nolan and Elke Diedrichsen
[Studies in Language Companion Series 180] 2017
► pp. 414–448

Chapter 14
Concept structuring in Persian PP-centric complex predicates

| Shahrood University of Technology, Iran
| Al-Zahra University, Iran

Prepositions contribute to the schematic meanings in Persian complex predicates. Based on the Concept Structuring System (Talmy 2000), we argue that since the light verb and preverbal noun belong to different subsystems, they fulfill distinctive conceptual dimensions of the semantic representation. The preverbal noun, belonging to the open class system provides the content meaning, while the light verb, belonging to the closed class system, determines the schematic meanings of complex predicates. Analyzing some Persian data, we see (a) how the light verb and preposition are so well connected to each other and to the noun by their configuration (b) how they provide different schematic meanings for different complex predicates and (c) how the same noun can combine with a different light verb and a preposition to elicit a different meaning for the complex predicate.

Keywords: concept structuring system, schematic systems, complex predicate, light verb, preposition
Article outline
  • 1.Complex Predicates
  • 2.The status of LV and NV in Persian CPs: A recap
  • 3.Concept Structuring System
    • 3.1Configurational system
    • 3.2Perspectival system
    • 3.3Attentional system
    • 3.4Force dynamics
  • 4.Analysis
    • 4.1be næzær amædæn /æz næzær gozærandæn/ dær næzær gereftæn / dær næzær daštæn
    • 4.2be donya amædæn / az donya ræftæn
    • 4.3be sugvari nešæstæn/ be nezaʔ bærxastæn
    • 4.4 dær xætær oftadæn/ be xætær oftadæn/ dær xætær ændaxtæn/ be xætær ændaxtæn
    • 4.5be dæst aværdæn/ be dæst amædæn/ be dæst gereftæn/ æz dæst dadæn/ æz dæst ræftæn
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 26 January 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.180.14moe
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