Degree achievements and maximalization: a cross-linguistic perspective

Abstract

This paper discusses degree achievements cross-linguistically, focusing on the maximalization possibilities reported in the literature. I introduce a four-way typology where languages differ regarding whether they overtly mark (with lexical items) degree maximalization (i.e., the scale of the degree achievement is bounded in an event) and/or event maximalization (i.e., there is a unique maximal event in the denotation of the predicate), and account for the variation. The four types are represented by English, which does not overtly mark degree or event maximalization; Southern Aymara, which overtly marks degree but not event maximalization; Polish, which overtly marks event maximalization only; and Hungarian, which overtly marks event maximalization with an additional requirement regarding the presence of lexical maxima (if available). I provide tests to distinguish degree vs. event maximalization. My proposal is implemented in Beavers’s (2011, 2012) Figure/Path Relation model, making use of a restricted set of lexical items to account for the variation. I suggest that the typology examined is exhaustive, and discuss the variation in telicity contrasts that arise as a result of different maximalization possibilities.

Theme maximalization through modifiers: A case of Mandarin verbal classifier <i>bian</i>

“…Although there have been debates on whether telicity is determined morphosyntactically (cf. Borer 2005a,b) or by the lexical semantics of verbs (Filip 2008), it is generally agreed that the locus of the maximalization operation is a verb or a verbal phrase, and that languages may parametrically differ in how to convey the ordering on events, for example, by a theme argument, a PP, or a verb itself (Zucchi & White 2001;Filip & Rothstein 2005;Filip 2008;Martínez Vera 2021;a.o.). This study offers a novel observation that, in addition to verbs and arguments, the semantics of elements inside an adjunct position in the verbal domain can also introduce maximalization, as illustrated by the verbal classifier bian in Mandarin Chinese.…”

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Maximalization strategies and their syntactic representations are at the centre of a long debate (Filip & Rothstein 2005;Filip 2008;Martínez Vera 2021; a.o.). Semantically, events can be maximalized with respect to theme, path, degree, etc., thus featuring several types of maximalization.

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“…Telicity via maximalization on events demonstrates explanatory power. It has been observed that several strategies of introducing event maximalization are available in different languages (Beavers 2011;Martínez Vera 2021;a.o.). Events can be measured with respect to not only themes, but also paths and degrees, as (3) illustrates.…”

Aspectual se and Telicity in Heritage Spanish Bilinguals: The Effects of Lexical Access, Dominance, Age of Acquisition, and Patterns of Language Use

“…We define telicity building on Beavers's (2011) Figure/Path Relation (FPR) as implemented by Martínez Vera (2022) (see also Martínez Vera 2021). 1 The FPR combines three aspects to account for aspectual classes.…”