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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 a nice semantics for [[adverbial|type I adverbial adjuncts]] | 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''. | ||
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 == | == Neo-Davidsonian event semantics == | ||
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. |
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