Semantically charged syntax and the construction of meaning

Kristin M. Eide and Tor A. Afarli


Abstract

Bowers (1993) proposes that the subject-predicate relation is formed by a
predication operator heading an independent functional predication
projection. In our paper we first show, mainly using data from Norwegian,
that the predication operator is possibly lexicalized by several types of
element (the predication particle som, copular verbs, prepositional
predication particles, main verbs). Next, we investigate how a given
projection is determined as to its syntactico-semantic content in a
situation where a semantically uniform operator like the predication
operator is variously lexicalized by different visible elements
(multifunctionality), concluding that the visible element often vastly
underdetermines the functional projection it heads. Last, we propose that
syntactic representations should be construed as structured objects
essentially consisting of functional operators that are made visible by
various types of element by insertion and movement, thus suggesting the
outlines of a program for a semantically driven syntax.


Key words

generative syntax, grammar semantics, predication, functional projections