ON THE MOTIVES OF THE INNOVATIVE USE OF VERBS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MARKING

Abstract

The paper is based on the assumption that constructions as independent argument structures are generalised from specific classes of verbs (Goldberg 1999: 209; Goldberg 2010: 52). In that regard the characteristic Construction of Marking is investigated.
First, we try to determine which verb classes the construction is based on, and after that we investigate the motives and modes of its extension to other verb classes. To this end we introduce a descriptive model which is methodologically based on the frame theory by way of the concepts of profile and base (Goldberg 2010) and on the theory of conceptual blending (Fauconnier and Turner 2003). The key point of the paper is that the encyclopaedic knowledge inherent to the bases of semantic frames of verbs is crucial for explaining their innovative integration within the Construction of Marking. We show this on selected examples of judgment verbs and verbs of communication. The fundamental aim of the paper is to contribute to the identification of factors that motivate innovative verb use at the level of simple sentences.