[Lexicog] Basic Question about Determining Semantics of Adpositions....

[Ken Litkowski]

Following up on Ron's point, the book /The Oxford Guide to Practical 
Lexicography/, by Sue Atkins and Michael Rundell, contains a detailed 
description of how to gather together *constructions* for each of the 
major parts of speech. Sue also has been a long-time collaborator of 
Chuck Fillmore on FrameNet, and the book provides some discussion of an 
appropriate perspective on linguistic theory, including frame semantics.

Ronald Moe wrote:
>
>
> Hi Heather,
>
> I would recommend that you look at the FrameNet 
> (http://framenet.icsi.berkeley.edu/) website. It lists a variety of 
> lexical sets that share a common set of semantic case roles. Each case 
> role is marked in the grammar by a variety of surface forms (word 
> order, affixes, or adpositions). The study of adpositions is 
> essentially noting which semantic case roles are marked by each 
> adposition. The meaning of an adposition is specific to each verb, 
> noun, or adjective that it is used with. For instance "We drove **by** 
> your house but didn't stop." (movement past a point) "I'll send the 
> document **by** fax." (the means of sending something) "The window is 
> two feet **by** three feet." (dimensions/measurement) "A book **by** 
> Agatha Christy." (creator/author) "This job is difficult **by** any 
> standard." (scale used to rank attributes)
>
>  
>
> Your dictionary (ideally) should indicate the frame of each verb and 
> how each case is marked grammatically. You can do this in the 
> definition or using example sentences. For instance:
>
>  
>
> drain v. (1) For a liquid (such as water) to empty **out of/from** a 
> container (by flowing through a hole or exit point). 'The water 
> drained **from** the sink.' (2) For a container to empty (that is, to 
> have a hole or exit point through which a liquid flows). 'The sink is 
> draining slowly.' (3) For a hole or exit point to provide a way for 
> liquid to flow from a container. 'This pipe drains the sink.' (4) For 
> someone to empty a liquid **out of/from** a container liquid (by 
> causing it to flow out of a hole or exit point). 'The plumber drained 
> the water **from** the sink.' (5) For someone to empty a container 
> **of** a liquid (by causing it to flow out of a hole or exit point). 
> 'The plumber drained the sink **of** water.'
>
>  
>
> It is often difficult to indicate the case frame of a verb in the 
> definition. So it is almost always necessary to indicate it in an 
> example sentence. Otherwise the definition becomes long or requires 
> unnatural wording.
>
>  
>
> In a bilingual dictionary you can often insert an adposition into the 
> definition. In the following definition (from my Greek dictionary) the 
> "para or Dative" indicates that "someone" is marked by the preposition 
> "para" or the Dative case:
>
>  
>
> adunateo v. (For something) to be impossible for (para or Dative) someone.
>
>  
>
> I realize this is deep linguistic theory. I hope it is sufficiently clear.
>
> Ron Moe
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Heather Souter
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 06, 2009 2:21 PM
> *To:* lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
> *Subject:* [Lexicog] Basic Question about Determining Semantics of 
> Adpositions....
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Taanshi, hello,
>
>  
>
> I am interested in where I could find information (preferably 
> accessible online) on what questions to keep in mind when looking at 
> sentences containing adpositions in an underdocumented language.  
> I have some ideas about what to look for by looking and comparing 
> collocations, but I would like to be systematic and do work that 
> would be considered at least "decent" work by a professional 
> linguist.    I am working on my own heritage language but have done no 
> linguistics courses(yet!) in either semantics or lexicography....  
> Your help would be appreciated.
>
>  
>
> Kihci-marsii!  Thank-you very much!
>
>  
>
> Eekoshi pitamaa. That is it for now!
>
> Heather Souter
>
> Camperville, MB, Canada
>
>
>
> 
>
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-- 
Ken Litkowski                     TEL.: 301-482-0237
CL Research                       EMAIL: ken at clres.com
9208 Gue Road                     Home Page: http://www.clres.com
Damascus, MD 20872-1025 USA       Blog: http://www.clres.com/blog

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