Structuring Events: A Study in the Semantics of Lexical Aspect: 11 (Explorations in Semantics) - Softcover

Rothstein, Susan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405106689 ISBN 13: 9781405106689

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2004

Synopsis

Structuring Events presents a novel semantic theory of lexical aspect for anyone interested in the study of verb meanings. * Provides an introduction to aspectual classes and aspectual distinctions. * Utilizes case studies to present a novel semantic theory of lexical aspect and compare it with alternative theories. * Useful for students and scholars in semantics and syntax as well as the neighboring fields of pragmatics and philosophy of language.

About this title

Review

"This is the most important book on lexical aspect since David Dowty's seminal Word Meaning and Montague Grammar." Angelika Kratzer, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

"As well as providing a clear introduction to the subject, this excellent book extends our knowledge of the lexical aspectual properties of verbs and verb phrases in new and original directions. Rothstein's careful exploitation of the flexibility of event-based semantics in providing a solid foundation for the interpretation of verbal aspect establishes the theory as central to any explanation of this often difficult - but ever fascinating - topic." Ronnie Cann, University of Edinburgh

"This outstanding book represents a new breakthrough in the general theory of lexical aspect. The discussions of the previous research are distinguished by clarity as well as new challenges and insights. In a highly engaging way Rothstein also advances new solutions to some of the most thorny issues - including aspectual shifts, progressive achievements, and resultative predication - which will shape the future research in lexical aspect." Hana Filip, Stanford University

"Rothstein's book contains many observations, deep intuitions and exciting analyses which will doubtless be very influential in a variety of areas. Empirically, the book contains a treasure trove of interesting data that will no doubt be mulled over for years to come." Lingua

From the Back Cover

Structuring Events presents a novel semantic theory of lexical aspect. The first chapter provides an introduction to aspectual classes and aspectual distinctions such as quantization and cumulativity, stages and changes, and telicity and atelicity. Two in-depth case studies of progressive achievements and resultative predication form the basis of a new account of the lexical semantics of accomplishments; this theory is then used in a new analysis of the telic/atelic distinction. Throughout, the emerging theory of aspect is extensively compared with alternative theories, and the book concludes with general reflections on the semantic structure of the lexical aspectual classes.

Written accessibly, Structuring Events is an invaluable resource for semanticists or syntacticians interested in the study of verb meanings, as well as for people in the neighboring fields of pragmatics and philosophy of language.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1405106689
• ISBN 13: 9781405106689
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 220