An extensive number of studies deal with perception verbs and their complementation in English or in German but so far no study found, analyses the two languages with respect to perception verbs contrastively. This paper shall provide the basis for a contrastive analysis of perception verbs and their complements in English and German. The goal is to contribute to the comparative typological study of the two languages as well as to the typological study of perception verbs and perception verb complements cross-linguistically.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. PERCEPTION VERBS
2.1 THREE TYPES OF PERCEPTION VERBS
2.1.1 Cognitive verbs
2.1.2 Active verbs
2.1.3 Descriptive verbs
2.2 SUMMARY
3. PERCEPTION VERB COMPLEMENTS
3.1 FINITE CLAUSE
3.1.1 Declarative
3.1.2 Interrogative
3.1.3 Adverbial
3.2 NON-FINITE VERBAL
3.2.1 Full infinitive
3.2.2 Bare infinitive
3.2.3 Present participle
3.2.4 Past participle
3.3 NON-VERBAL
3.3.1 Adjective phrase
3.3.2 Prepositional phrase
3.3.3 Noun phrase
3.4 NOMINALIZED
3.5 SUMMARY
4. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to conduct a contrastive analysis of perception verbs and their corresponding complements in English and German. The study aims to contribute to comparative typological research by identifying which types of perception verbs are lexicalized in both languages and exploring the syntactic differences in how these verbs take complements.
- Categorization of perception verbs into cognitive, active, and descriptive types.
- Examination of various complement types, including finite clauses and non-finite verbal constructions.
- Contrastive analysis of lexicalization patterns across the five sensory modalities.
- Investigation into the syntactic constraints and differences regarding complementation in English versus German.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.2 Bare infinitive
Perception verb complements with bare infinitive consist of an accusatively marked logical subject, followed by the verb in its infinitive form and an accusative direct object. This is also called accusativus-cum-infinitio (AcI). In contemporary German the perception verbs that occur with a bare infinitive PVC are few in number. According to Hyvärinen (1984:14) most grammars list only sehen, hören, fühlen and spüren, although Behrman (1998:14 and 23) deems also sentences with riechen and schmecken grammatical. In German only the cognitive perception verbs can be used in AcI constructions. In contrast to that, bare infinitive PVCs are much more frequent in English. Additionally, not only the basic cognitive perception verbs but also basic active perception verbs (to look at, to listen to) occur in this construction (Behrman, 1998:18).
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the goal of providing a contrastive study of perception verbs and their complements in English and German.
2. PERCEPTION VERBS: Identifies and analyzes the three main types of physical perception verbs: cognitive, active, and descriptive.
3. PERCEPTION VERB COMPLEMENTS: Examines eleven types of complement structures used with perception verbs across the two languages.
4. CONCLUDING REMARKS: Summarizes the findings and notes that English permits a wider range of non-finite complement structures than German.
Keywords
Perception verbs, contrastive analysis, English, German, complementation, cognitive verbs, active verbs, descriptive verbs, finite clauses, non-finite verbal, bare infinitive, present participle, typology, sensory modalities, syntax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
This paper focuses on a contrastive linguistic analysis of perception verbs and their syntactic complementation in English and German.
What are the primary categories of perception verbs identified?
The study classifies perception verbs into three types: cognitive, active, and descriptive verbs.
What is the main goal of the comparative study?
The goal is to provide a typological contribution by mapping how these two languages lexicalize perception verbs and manage their respective complements.
Which linguistic methodology is employed in the study?
The paper uses a contrastive analysis approach, comparing syntactic structures and lexical usage across five sensory modalities in both languages.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the basic types of perception verbs and then details eleven distinct types of perception verb complements (PVCs).
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include perception verbs, contrastive analysis, English, German, complementation, and syntax.
Why are full infinitive and present participle complements significant in this analysis?
They are highlighted because they represent specific areas where English allows constructions that are ungrammatical or impossible in German, despite German having the corresponding morphological forms.
What is the difference between cognitive and active perception verbs?
Cognitive perception verbs refer to passive, non-intentional noticing, whereas active perception verbs imply a conscious, deliberate involvement of the subject.
- Citar trabajo
- Philipp Helle (Autor), 2006, A contrastive analysis of perception verbs in English and German, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56260
