Javier E. Díaz Vera

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha

A FUNCTIONAL-LEXEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF OLD ENGLISH VERBS OF VISION

In this paper I analyze the internal structure of the OE verbal predicates that form the lexical dimension of vision, as well as their extensions to other lexical domains. My starting point will be the semantic classification of these predicates given in the Thesaurus of Old English (Roberts and Kay 1995: 71-74). This taxonomy, based on componential analysis (Kay and Samuels 1975), is implemented here by the introduction of Coseriu's (1977) distinction between semes and classemes. In order to do so, I propose: (1) a semantic definition of each verb in relation with the other units; (2) a reconstruction and analysis of all the combinatory possibilities of each lexical items (based on material from Venezky and Healey 1980 and Venezky and Butler 1985); (3) a semantic classification of each NP (based on TOE). Finally, different connections with other lexical fields (especially COGNITION) will be established, being this the first step towards the creation of a semantic macronet for Old English.

REFERENCES

Coseriu, Eugenio. 1977. Principios de semántica estructural. Madrid: Gredos.

Kay, Christian J., and M. L. Samuels. 1975. "Componential Analysis in Semantics: Its Validity and Applications." Transactions of the Philological Society 1975: 49-81.

Roberts, Jane, and Christian J. Kay with Lynne Grundy. 1995. A Thesaurus of Old English. 2 vols. (King's College London Medieval Studies 11.) London: Centre for Late Antique and Medieval Studies.

Venezky, Richard L., and Antonette diPaolo Healey. 1980. A Microfiche Concordance to Old English (PDOE 1). Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.

Venezky, Richard L., and Sharon Butler. 1985. A Microfiche Concordance to Old English: The High-Frequency Words (PDOE 2). Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.