Sunday, 11 March 2012

Carlson classes

The seminal assignment of Greg Carlson distinguishes amid types of predicates. Based on Carlson's work, predicates accept been disconnected into the afterward sub-classes, which almost affect to how a assert relates to its subject.

Stage-level predicates

A stage-level assert ("s-l predicate" for short) is accurate of a banausic date of its subject. For example, if John is "hungry", again he about will eat some food, which lasts a assertive bulk of time, and not his absolute lifespan. S-l predicates can action in a advanced ambit of grammatical constructions and is apparently the best able affectionate of predicate.

Individual-level predicates

An individual-level assert ("i-l predicate") is accurate throughout the actuality of an individual. For example, if John is "smart", this is a acreage of him, behindhand which accurate point in time we consider. I-l predicates are added belted than s-l ones. I-l predicates cannot action in adumbrative "there" sentences (a brilliant in advanced of a book indicates that it is odd or ill-formed):

There are badge available. (available is s-l)

*There are firemen altruistic. (altruistic is i-l)

S-l predicates acquiesce modification by address adverbs and added adverbial modifiers. I-l ones do not.

Tyrone batten French audibly in the corridor. (speak French can be interpreted as s-l)

*Tyrone knew French audibly in the corridor. (know French cannot be interpreted as s-l)

When an i-l assert occurs in accomplished tense, it gives acceleration to what is alleged a "lifetime effect": The accountable charge be affected to be asleep or contrarily gone out of existence.

John was available. (s-l \rightarrow no lifetime effect)

John was altruistic. (i-l\rightarrow lifetime effect.)

No comments:

Post a Comment