On Event Structures : A Typological Study

On Event Structures : A Typological Study

This study investigated the typological difference between English and Korean in terms of lexicalization patterns of motion verbs in a motion event and arrangement of event structures in a complex sentence. It is argued that each language employs different characteristic lexicalization patterns for word meanings of motion verbs. English is a typical [CO-EVENT] language, in which the concept of [MOTION] is conflated with [MANER/CAUSE] in the verb root. In contrast, typical Korean motion verbs show the conflation pattern of [MOTION + PATH] in the verb root, (hence called a [PATH] language type), which is often preceded by additional [MANNER] and [PATH] verbs. English is lacking this pattern. Applying the concepts of [FIGURE] and [GROUND] of a motion event to complex sentences, the author argues that English is flexible in arranging the main clause, i.e., the FIGURE event, and the subordinate clause, i.e., the GROUND event, whereas Korean regulates the precedence of the subordinate clause, i.e. the GROUND event, over the main clause, i.e., the FIGURE event.