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The role of root semantics in determining argument alternations
1Department of Linguistics, The University of Texas at Austin, Patton Hall, 305 E 23rd St Suite 4.304, Austin, TX 78712 USA.
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory
|August 6, 2026
Summary
Roots significantly influence verb meaning and grammatical properties in argument alternations. A root semantic approach, applied to Kinyarwanda, explains these root-specific effects in verbal meaning.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Semantics
- Grammar
Background:
- Argument alternations reveal verb meaning and grammatical links.
- Event structures decompose verb meaning into templates and roots.
- Roots, not just templates, impact alternations and interpretations.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the 'root semantic' approach for verb meaning.
- Expand empirical scope to Kinyarwanda argument alternations.
- Analyze the role of idiosyncratic verbal meaning in alternations.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed Kinyarwanda argument alternations using the applicative morpheme -ir.
- Applied the 'root semantic' approach to explain root-specific effects.
- Examined compositional interactions between root and template meanings.
Main Results:
- The root semantic approach effectively captures diverse root-specific effects in Kinyarwanda.
- Demonstrated how roots introduce templatic information.
- Showcased the broad productivity of the -ir morpheme.
Conclusions:
- Root semantics is crucial for a general theory of argument alternations.
- A multifactorate understanding requires integrating root semantics with other approaches.
- Further research needs to incorporate syntactified constraints and allosemic variation.
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