What does language do?
“Harry walked to the cafe.” “Harry walked into the cafe.”
A sentence can evoke an imagined scene and resulting inferences:
CAFE CAFE
– Goal of action = at cafe– Source = away from cafe– cafe = point-like location
– Goal of action = inside cafe– Source = outside cafe– cafe = containing location
Language understanding
Interpretation
(Utterance, Situation)
Linguistic knowledge
Conceptual knowledge
Analysis
Language understanding: analysis & simulation
“Harry walked to the cafe.”
Schema Trajector Goalwalk Harry cafe
Cafe
Lexicon
Constructicon
General Knowledge
Belief State
Analysis Process
SemanticSpecification
Utterance
Simulation
Interpretation: x-schema simulation
Constructions can• specify which
schemas and entities are involved in an event, and how they are related
• profile particular stages of an event
• set parameters of an event
energy
walker at goal
walker=Harry goal=home
Harry is walking home.
Phonetics
Semantics
Pragmatics
Morphology
Syntax
Traditional Levels of Analysis
Phonetics
Semantics
Pragmatics
Morphology
Syntax
“Harry walked into the cafe.”
Utterance
Construction Grammar
to
block
walk
Form Meaning
A construction is a form-meaning pair whose properties may not be strictly predictable from other constructions.
(Construction Grammar, Goldberg 1995)
Source
Path
GoalTrajector
Form-meaning mappings for language
Formphonological
cuesword orderintonationinflection
Meaningevent structure
sensorimotor control
attention/perspective
social goals...
Linguistic knowledge consists of form-meaning mappings:
Cafe
Constructions as maps between relations
Mover + Motion + Directionbefore(Motion, Direction)before(Mover, Motion)
“is” + Action + “ing”before(“is”, Action)suffix(Action, “ing”)
Mover + Motionbefore(Mover, Motion)
Form Meaning
ProgressiveActionaspect(Action, ongoing)
MotionEventmover(Motion, Mover)
DirectedMotionEventdirection(Motion, Direction)mover(Motion, Mover)
Complex constructions are mappings between relations in form and relations in meaning.
Embodied Construction Grammar
• Embodied representations– active perceptual and motor schemas
– situational and discourse context
• Construction Grammar– Linguistic units relate form and meaning/function.
– Both constituency and (lexical) dependencies allowed.
• Constraint-based (Unification)– based on feature structures (as in HPSG)
– Diverse factors can flexibly interact.
schema Containerroles
interiorexteriorportalboundary
Representing image schemas
Interior
Exterior
Boundary
PortalSource
Path
GoalTrajector
These are abstractions over sensorimotor experiences.
schema Source-Path-Goalroles
sourcepathgoaltrajector
schema name
role name
Inference and Conceptual Schemas
• Hypothesis: – Linguistic input is converted into a mental simulation based on bodily-
grounded structures.
• Components:– Semantic schemas
• image schemas and executing schemas are abstractions over neurally grounded perceptual and motor representations
– Linguistic units • lexical and phrasal construction representations invoke schemas, in part
through metaphor
• Inference links these structures and provides parameters for a simulation engine
Embodied Construction GrammarECG
(Formalizing Cognitive Linguisitcs)
1. Linguistic Analysis
2. Computational Implementationa. Test Grammars
b. Applied Projects – Question Answering
3. Map to Connectionist Models, Brain
4. Models of Grammar Acquisition
ECG Structures
• Schemas– image schemas, force-dynamic schemas, executing
schemas, frames…
• Constructions– lexical, grammatical, morphological, gestural…
• Maps– metaphor, metonymy, mental space maps…
• Spaces– discourse, hypothetical, counterfactual…
ECG Schemas
schema <name> subcase of <schema> evokes <schema> as
<local name> roles < local role >: <role restriction> constraints <role> ↔ <role> <role> <value> <predicate>
schema Hypotenuse subcase of Line-Segment
evokes Right-Tri as rt
roles
{lower-left: Point}
{upper-right: Point}
constraints
self ↔ rt.long-side
Source-Path-Goal; Container
schema SPG
subcase of TrajLandmark
roles
source: Place
path: Directed–Curve
goal: Place
{trajector: Entity}
{landmark: Bounded-
Region}
schema Container
roles
interior: Bounded-Region boundary: Curve portal: Bounded-Region
Referent Descriptor Schemas
schema RD
roles
category
gender
count
specificty
resolved Ref
modifications
schema RD5 // Eve
roles
HumanSchema
Female
one
Known
Eve Sweetser
none
ECG Constructions
construction <name> subcase of <construction> constituents <name>:<construction> form constraints <name> before/meets
<name> meaning: constraints // same as for schemas
construction SpatialPP constituents prep: SpatialPreposition lm: NP form constraints prep meets lm meaning:
TrajectorLandmark constraints
selfm ↔ prep landmark ↔ lm.category
Into and The CXNsconstruction Into subcase
of SpatialPreposition
form: WordForm constraints
orth "into"
meaning: SPG
evokes Container as c constraints
landmark ↔ c
goal ↔ c.interior
construction The subcase of Determiner form:WordForm
constraints
orth "the"
meaning
evokes RD as rd
constraints rd.specificity “known”
Two Grammatical CXNsconstruction DetNoun
subcase of NP constituents
d:Determiner
n:Noun
form constraints
d before n
meaning constraints
selfm ↔ d.rd
category ↔ n
construction NPVP subcase of S constituents
subj: NP
vp: VP
form constraints
subj before vp
meaning constraints
profiled-participant ↔
subj
construction ActiveSelfMotionPath subcase of ActiveMotionPath constituents
{v: verb}
{pp:SpatialPP}
form constraints
{v before pp}
meaning:SelfMotionPathEvent
constraints {spg ↔ pp} {profiled-participant ↔ mover} {profiled-process ↔ motion} {profiled-process ↔ v}
Construction WalkedVerb
subcase of PastPerfectiveVerb form constraints orth "walked" meaning:WalkAction
Combined score determines best-fit
• Syntactic Fit:– Constituency relations– Combine with preferences on non-local elements– Conditioned on syntactic context
• Antecedent Fit:– Ability to find referents in the context– Conditioned on syntax match, feature agreement
• Semantic Fit:– Semantic bindings for frame roles– Frame roles’ fillers are scored
0Eve1walked2into3the4house5
Constructs--------------NPVP[0] (0,5)Eve[3] (0,1)ActiveSelfMotionPath
[2] (1,5)WalkedVerb[57] (1,2)SpatialPP[56] (2,5)Into[174] (2,3)DetNoun[173] (3,5)The[204] (3,4)House[205] (4,5)
Schema Instances
-------------------
SelfMotionPathEvent[1]
HouseSchema[66]
WalkAction[60]
Person[4]
SPG[58]
RD[177] ~ house
RD[5]~ Eve
Unification chains and their fillers
SelfMotionPathEvent[1].mover
SPG[58].trajector
WalkAction[60].walker
RD[5].resolved-ref
RD[5].category
Filler: Person4
SpatialPP[56].m
Into[174].m
SelfMotionPathEvent[1].spg
Filler: SPG58
SelfMotionPathEvent[1]
.landmark
House[205].m
RD[177].category
SPG[58].landmark
Filler:HouseSchema66
WalkedVerb[57].m
WalkAction[60].routine
WalkAction[60].gait
SelfMotionPathEvent[1]
.motion
Filler:WalkAction60
Summary: ECG
• Linguistic constructions are tied to a model of simulated action and perception
• Embedded in a theory of language processing– Constrains theory to be usable– Frees structures to be just structures, used in processing
• Precise, computationally usable formalism– Practical computational applications, like MT and NLU– Testing of functionality, e.g. language learning
• A shared theory and formalism for different cognitive mechanisms– Constructions, metaphor, mental spaces, etc.
Questions
• What is the nature of compositionality in the Neural Theory of Language?
• How can it be best represented using Embodied Construction Grammar?
Examples
• He bit the apple
• He was bitten (by a toddler)
• He bit into the apple
• His white teeth bit into the apple.
• He shattered the window
• The window was shattered
• The window shattered
Compositionality
• Put the parts together to create the meaning of the whole.
• Questions:– what is the nature of the parts?– How and why do they combine with one another?– What meaning is associated with this composition?
Short answers
• Parts = constructions, schemas
• Combination = binding, unification
• Meaning of the whole = simulation of unified parts
Simulation parameters
• Constructions unify to create semantic specification that supports a simulation
• Two types of simulation parameters for event descriptions:– Event content– Event construal
Summary
• Parts = constructions, schemas
• Combination = binding, unification
• Meaning of the whole = simulation of the combined parts
First example
• He bit the apple.
schema MotorControl subcase of Process roles Actor ↔ Protagonist
Effector Effort
Routine constraints Actor ← animate
Schemas
schema ForceApplication subcase of MotorControl evokes ForceTransfer as FT roles
Actor ↔ FT.Supplier ↔ Protagonist Acted Upon↔ FT.Recipient Effector
Routine Effort ↔ FT.Force.amount
schema ForceTransfer evokes Conact as C roles
Supplier ↔ C.entity1 Recipient ↔ C.entity2 Force
schema MotorControl subcase of Process roles Actor ↔ Protagonist
Effector Effort
Routine constraints Actor ← animate
schema Contact subcase of SpatialRelation roles Entity1: entity Entity2: entity
Schema networks
MotorControl
Motion
SPG
EffectorMotion
EffectorMotionPath
ForceTransfer
ForceApplication
ContactSpatiallyDirectedAction
CauseEffect
Contact
Agentive Impact
SelfMotion
SelfMotionPath
MotionPath
Construction BITE1 subcase of Verb form: bite meaning: ForceApplication constraints: Effector ← teeth Routine ← bite // close mouth
Verb Constructions
schema ForceApplication subcase of MotorControl evokes ForceTransfer as FT roles Actor ↔ FT.Supplier ↔ Protagonist Acted Upon ↔ FT.Recipient Effector Routine Effort ↔ FT.Force.amount
Verb Constructions
schema ForceApplication subcase of MotorControl
schema Agentive Impact subcase of ForceApplication
cxn BITE meaning: ForceApplication
schema MotorControl
cxn GRASP meaning: ForceApplicationcxn PUSH meaning: ForceApplicationcxn SLAP meaning: AgentiveImpactcxn KICK meaning: AgentiveImpactcxn HIT meaning: AgentiveImpact
Argument Structure Construction
construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Affected ↔ NPm
Argument Structure Construction
construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Affected ↔ NPm
CauseEffect schema
schema CauseEffect subcase of ForceApplication; Process roles
Causer ↔ Actor Affected ↔ ActedUpon ↔ Process.Protagonist Instrument ↔ Effector
MotorControl
Motion
SPG
EffectorMotion
EffectorMotionPath
ForceTransfer
ForceApplication
ContactSpatiallyDirectedAction
CauseEffect
Contact
SelfMotion
SelfMotionPath
MotionPath
Agentive Impact
Process
Schema Network
Argument Structure Construction
construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes: EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Affected ↔ NPm
MotorControl
Motion
SPG
EffectorMotion
EffectorMotionPath
ForceTransfer
ForceApplication
ContactSpatiallyDirectedAction
CauseEffect
Contact
SelfMotion
SelfMotionPath
MotionPath
Agentive Impact
Process
Schema Network
Important points
Compositionality does not require that each component contain different information.
Shared semantic structure is not viewed as an undesirable redundancy
Argument Structure Construction
construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Affected ↔ NPm
schema EventDescriptor
roles
EventType: Process
ProfiledProcess: Process
ProfiledParticipant: Entity
ProfiledState(s): State
SpatialSetting
TemporalSetting
Event Descriptor schema
Argument Structure Construction
Construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Affected ↔ NPm
construction NPVP1 constituents: Subj: NP VP : VPform Constraints Subj f before VPf
meaning: EventDescriptor ProfiledParticipant ↔ Subjm
Bindings with other cxnsconstruction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V ; NP form: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
Affected ↔ NPm
Construction NPVP1 constituents: Subj: NP VP : VPform constraints Subj f before VPf
meaning: EventDescriptor ProfiledParticipant ↔ Subjm
Bindings with other cxnsconstruction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V ; NP form: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
Affected ↔ NPm
schema EventDescriptor roles EventType ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant ProfiledState(s) SpatialSetting TemporalSetting
Bindings with other cxns
schema EventDescriptor roles EventType ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant ProfiledState(s) SpatialSetting TemporalSetting
construction NPVP1 constituents: Subj: NP VP : VPform Constraints Subj f before VPf
meaning: EventDescriptor ProfiledParticipant ↔ Subjm
construction ActiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V ; NP form: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes; EventDescriptor as ED constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
Affected ↔ NPm
Unification
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon
EventDescriptor EventType ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
BITE
TransitiveAction2
HE
NP1
NPVP1
THE APPLE
NP2ReferentDescriptor
ReferentDescriptor
Meaning Constructions
Unification
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon
EventDescriptor EventType ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
BITE
TransitiveAction2
HE
NP1
NPVP1
THE APPLE
NP2ReferentDescriptor
ReferentDescriptor resolved referent
Meaning Constructions
Unification
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
BITE
TransitiveAction2 Verb
HE
NP1
NPVP1
THE APPLE
NP2ReferentDescriptor
ReferentDescriptor resolved referent
Meaning Constructions
Unification
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
BITE
TransitiveAction2
HE
NP1
NPVP1 subj
THE APPLE
NP2ReferentDescriptor
ReferentDescriptor
Meaning Constructions
Unification
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
BITE
TransitiveAction2 NP
HE
NP1
NPVP1
THE APPLE
NP2ReferentDescriptor
ReferentDescriptor
Meaning Constructions
Semantic SpecificationHe bit the apple
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon routine bite effector teeth
RD55category
Person
Apple
RD27category
Process
Simulation - He bit the apple
CauseEffect
ForceApplication
Protagonist = Causer ↔ Actor
Protagonist = Affected ↔ ActedUpon
Process
Simulation - He bit the apple
CauseEffect
ForceApplication
Protagonist = Causer ↔ Actor
Protagonist = Affected ↔ ActedUpon
Passive voice
He was bitten (by a toddler)
Argument Structure ConstructionHe was bitten (by a toddler)
construction PassiveTransitiveAction2 subcase of VP constituents: V : PassiveVerb (PP: agentivePP) form constraints: VF before PPF
meaning: CauseEffectAction evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Affected ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Causer ↔ FA.Actor Affected ↔ FA.ActedUpon Causer ↔ PP.NPm
Semantic SpecificationHe was bitten (by a toddler)
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
CauseEffect causer affected
ForceApplication actor actedupon routine bite effector teeth
RD48category
Person
Person
RD27category
Effect = Process
Simulation - He was bitten (by a toddler)
CauseEffect
Action = BiteProtagonist = Causer ↔ Actor
Protagonist = Affected ↔ ActedUpon
Variations on a theme
• He shattered the window
• The window was shattered
• The window shattered
Construction SHATTER1 subcase of Verb form: shatter meaning: StateChange constraints: Initial :: Undergoer.state ← whole Final :: Undergoer.state ← shards
Verb Construction -- shatter
schema StateChange subcase of Process roles Undergoer ↔ Protagonist
Argument Structure ConstructionHe shattered the window
construction ActiveTransitiveAction3 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb NP: NP form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes: EventDescriptor as ED; StateChange as SC constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Causer ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
SC ↔ Vm
Affected ↔ SC.Undergoer Affected ↔ NPm
Semantic SpecificationHe shattered the window
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
CauseEffect causer affected
StateChange Undergoer state “wholeness”
RD189category
Person
Window
RD27category
Process
Simulation - He shattered the window
CauseEffect
Action Protagonist = Causer
Protagonist = Affected ↔ Undergoer
Argument Structure ConstructionThe window was shattered
construction PassiveTransitiveAction3 subcase of VP constituents: V : PassiveVerb (PP: agentivePP) form constraints: VF before NPF
meaning: CauseEffect evokes: EventDescriptor as ED; StateChange as SC constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Affected ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
SC ↔ Vm
Affected ↔ SC.Undergoer Causer ↔ PP.NPm
Semantic SpecificationThe window was shattered
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
CauseEffect causer affected
StateChange Undergoer state “wholeness”
RD175category
Window
Process
Simulation - The window was shattered
CauseEffect
Action Protagonist = Causer
Protagonist = Affected ↔ Undergoer
Argument Structure ConstructionThe window shattered
construction ActiveIntransitiveAction1 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb form meaning: Process evokes: EventDescriptor as ED; StateChange as SC constraints: {Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Protagonist ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant
SC ↔ Vm
Protagonist ↔ SC.Undergoer
Semantic SpecificationThe window shattered
EventDescriptor eventtype ProfiledProcess ProfiledParticipant
Process protagonist
StateChange Undergoer state “wholeness”
RD177categoryWindow
Process
Simulation - The window shattered
Process
Protagonist = Undergoer
Some more variations on a theme
• He bit the apple
• He bit into the apple
• His white teeth bit into the apple.
Argument Structure ConstructionHe bit into the apple
construction ActiveEffectorMotionPath2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb PP: Spatial-PP form constraints:
VF before PPF
meaning: EffectorMotionPath evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints:
{Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Actor ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Actor ↔ FA.ActorEffector ↔ FA.Effector // INITarget ↔ FA.ActedUpon SPG ↔ PPm
Target ↔ PPm .Prep.LM
Schema
schema EffectorMotionPath subcase of EffectorMotion subcase of SPG // or evokes SPG roles Actor ↔ MotorControl.protagonist
Effector ↔ SPG.Tr ↔ M.Mover ↔ Motion.protagonistTarget ↔ SPG.Lm
MotorControl
Motion
SPG
EffectorMotion
EffectorMotionPath
ForceTransfer
ForceApplication
ContactSpatiallyDirectedAction
CauseEffect
Contact
SelfMotion
SelfMotionPath
MotionPath
Agentive Impact
Process
Schema Network
Argument Structure Construction He bit into the apple
construction ActiveEffectorMotionPath2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb PP: Spatial-PP form constraints:
VF before PPF
meaning: EffectorMotionPath evokes: EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints:
{Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Actor ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Actor ↔ FA.ActorEffector ↔ FA.Effector // INITarget ↔ FA.ActedUpon SPG ↔ PPm
Target ↔ PPm .Prep.LM
EffectorMotionPath
Action
Source
Path Goal
Effector Motion
Protagonist = Actor
Protagonist = Effector
Argument Structure Construction He bit into the apple
construction ActiveEffectorMotionPath2 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb PP: Spatial-PP form constraints:
VF before PPF
meaning: EffectorMotionPath evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints:
{Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Actor ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Actor ↔ FA.ActorEffector ↔ FA.Effector // INITarget ↔ FA.ActedUpon SPG ↔ PPm
Target ↔ PPm .Prep.LM
Simulation: He bit into the apple
Action
Source
Path Goal
Effector Motion
Protagonist = Actor
Protagonist = Effector
Argument Structure ConstructionHis white teeth bit into the apple
construction ActiveEffectorMotionPath3 subcase of VP constituents: V : verb PP: Spatial-PP form constraints:
VF before PPF
meaning: EffectorMotionPath evokes; EventDescriptor as ED; ForceApplication as FA constraints:
{Selfm ↔ ED.EventType}
{Vm ↔ ED.ProfiledProcess}
Effector ↔ ED.ProfiledParticipant FA ↔ Vm
Actor ↔ FA.Actor // INIEffector ↔ FA.EffectorTarget ↔ FA.ActedUpon SPG ↔ PPm
Target ↔ PPm .Prep.LM
Simulation: His white teeth bit into the apple
Action
Source
Path Goal
Effector Motion
Protagonist = Actor
Protagonist = Effector
Non-agentive biting
• He landed on his feet, hitting the narrow pavement outside the yard with such jarring impact that his teeth bit into the edge of his tongue. [BNC]
• The studs bit into Trent's hand. [BNC]
• His chest burned savagely as the ropes bit into his skin. [BNC]
MotorControl
Motion
SPG
EffectorMotion
EffectorMotionPath
ForceTransfer
ForceApplication
ContactSpatiallyDirectedAction
CauseEffect
Contact
SelfMotion
SelfMotionPath
MotionPath
Agentive Impact
Process
Schema Network
Simulation: His teeth bit his tongue
Source
Path Goal
MotionProtagonist = Mover
Summary
• Small set of constructions and schemas
• Composed in different ways
• Unification produces specification of parameters of simulation
• Sentence understanding is simulation
• Different meanings = different simulations
Concluding Remarks
• Complexity
• Simulation
Concluding Remarks
• Complexity• Simulation• Language understanding is simulation• Simulation involves activation of
conceptual structures• Simulation specifications should include:
– which conceptual structures to activate– how these structures should be activated
Extra slides follow:
Prototypes and extensions?
CauseMotion Path:
• He threw the ball across the room
• He kicked the ball over the table
• He sneezed the napkin off the table
• [He coughed the water out of his lungs]
Key points
• In prototypical verb-argument structure construction combinations, verb meaning is very similar to argument structure meaning.
• Verbs whose meaning partially overlaps that of a given argument structure constructions may also co-occur with that argument structure construction
• These less prototypical combinations may motivate extensions to the central argument structure constructions