Event: Difference between revisions
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When we use human language, we're not just stating abstract mathematical truths. More often, we're describing events that exist in the world around us. | When we use human language, we're not just stating abstract mathematical truths. More often, we're describing events that exist in the world around us. | ||
Toaq follows '''Davidsonian event semantics'''<ref>Donald Davidson (1967) — ''The logical form of action sentences.''</ref>: we model a claim like {{t| | Toaq follows '''Davidsonian event semantics'''<ref>Donald Davidson (1967) — ''The logical form of action sentences.''</ref>: we model a claim like {{t|Nuo jí}} as meaning <math>\exists e: \textsf{sleep}_w(e, \textsf{me})</math> (in world ''w'', there is an event ''e'' in which I sleep). | ||
== Davidsonian event semantics == | == Davidsonian event semantics == | ||
The Davidsonian idea is to give predicates like {{t|nuo}} an implicit slot for the sleeping-event, and for declarative sentences to claim the existence of such events. | The Davidsonian idea is to give predicates like {{t|nuo}} an implicit slot for the sleeping-event, and for declarative sentences to claim the existence of such events. | ||
This gives rise to a nice semantics for [[adverbial|type I adverbial adjuncts]] (which is called '''Predicate Modification''' by Toaqists): {{Example| | This gives rise to a nice semantics for [[adverbial|type I adverbial adjuncts]] (which is called '''Predicate Modification''' by Toaqists): {{Example|Nuo jí {{green|nîe kúa}}|<math>\exists e: \textsf{sleep}_w(e, \textsf{me}) \color{green}\wedge \textsf{inside}_w(e, \textsf{room})</math>}} | ||
So, our model of adverbials is that they give us a way to make claims about the implicit event variable ''e''. | So, our model of adverbials is that they give us a way to make claims about the implicit event variable ''e''. | ||
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The "neo-" idea is due to Parsons (1990)<ref>Terence Parsons (1990) — ''Events in the Semantics of English: A Study in Subatomic Semantics.''</ref>: we further break up predicate statement claims into claims about [[thematic role]] participation. | The "neo-" idea is due to Parsons (1990)<ref>Terence Parsons (1990) — ''Events in the Semantics of English: A Study in Subatomic Semantics.''</ref>: we further break up predicate statement claims into claims about [[thematic role]] participation. | ||
{{Example| | {{Example|Noaq jí kúe nîe kúa|Davidsonian: <math>\exists e: \textsf{read}_w(e, \textsf{me}, \textsf{book}) \wedge \textsf{inside}_w(e, \textsf{room})</math><br>Neo-Davidsonian: <math>\exists e: \textsf{read}_w(e) \wedge \textbf{Actor}(e, \textsf{me}) \wedge \textbf{Theme}(e, \textsf{book}) \wedge \textbf{Location}(e, \textsf{room})</math>}} | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [https://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/courses/incsem-12/neodavidsonian.pdf Neo-Davidsonian semantics: A systematic exploration of the ways Brutus can do violence to Caesar], some slides that nicely introduce event semantics. | * [https://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/courses/incsem-12/neodavidsonian.pdf Neo-Davidsonian semantics: A systematic exploration of the ways Brutus can do violence to Caesar], some slides that nicely introduce event semantics. | ||
Latest revision as of 19:23, 11 March 2024
An event is something that happens at a certain time and place, in a certain possible world.
When we use human language, we're not just stating abstract mathematical truths. More often, we're describing events that exist in the world around us.
Toaq follows Davidsonian event semantics[1]: we model a claim like Nuo jí as meaning (in world w, there is an event e in which I sleep).
Davidsonian event semantics
The Davidsonian idea is to give predicates like nuo an implicit slot for the sleeping-event, and for declarative sentences to claim the existence of such events.
This gives rise to a nice semantics for type I adverbial adjuncts (which is called Predicate Modification by Toaqists):
Nuo jí nîe kúa
So, our model of adverbials is that they give us a way to make claims about the implicit event variable e.
We think of "I sleep in the room" as stating: there is an event e, such that e is an event of me sleeping, and e (as a spatio-temporal entity) is inside the room.
Neo-Davidsonian event semantics
The "neo-" idea is due to Parsons (1990)[2]: we further break up predicate statement claims into claims about thematic role participation.
Noaq jí kúe nîe kúa
Davidsonian:
Neo-Davidsonian:
See also
- Neo-Davidsonian semantics: A systematic exploration of the ways Brutus can do violence to Caesar, some slides that nicely introduce event semantics.