Project description
Checking the verbal valency code in Germanic
Understanding the structure of language relies heavily on grasping verbal valency, the number of core arguments a verb can take. Yet, mapping and analysing these valency patterns across Germanic languages poses a significant challenge. Diverse valency frames range from zero-valent to trivalent verbs. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the VALGER project aims to comprehensively map and analyse the valency patterns of Germanic languages. Specifically, it will examine languages like Gothic, English, German and others. It will digitise data and analyse historical and contemporary valency patterns as well as reconstruct prehistoric ones. Its outcomes include a valuable resource for researchers, advancements in diachronic morphosyntax, expansion of the Pavia Verbs Database and the establishment of standardised tools.
Objective
Verbal valency is the number of core arguments a verb can take, hence instantiating a particular valency frame. There are for instance zero-valent verbs e.g. to rain (Eng. it rains); monovalent verbs e.g. to sleep (Eng. I sleep); bivalent verbs e.g. to kiss (Eng. the girl kisses the boy); trivalent verbs e.g. to give (Eng. the boy gives a present to the girl); etc.
The present projects overarching aim is to map out and analyze the valency patterns of Germanic. This is done by selecting a number of representative language varieties within Germanic (= Gmc), and by tracing the evolution and variation of valency patterns for a selection of verb meanings, following the methodological golden standard set out by the ValPaL project. The to-be-researched languages are: Gothic (East Gmc); English, German, Dutch, and Frisian (West Gmc); Icelandic and Swedish (North Gmc).
The present project contributes to advancing that methodology and it is inscribed in the research activity carried out by the Pavia Linguistics Team within the Pavia Verbs Database project (PaVeDa).
The overarching aim of my project is made up of the following objectives: 1) gather all elicited data in a digital resource; 2) pursue a diachronic analysis of valency patterns within the history of single languages; 3) carry out a synchronic analysis of valency patterns in the Germanic languages at different language stages; and hence 4) reconstruct valency patterns of Germanic in prehistoric times.
The most relevant direct outcomes of the project are: 1) make the data available to other researchers; 2) contribute to the actual research in diachronic morphosyntax; 3) expand the PaVeDa database with diachronic data for Germanic; and hence 4) establish a well-defined benchmark within the addressed research area, by implementing a standard tool designed at the host institution.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
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Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
27100 Pavia
Italy