Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>]

On 27/07/2005 13:04, Ken Penner wrote:

>  
>
> > > 3) Verbs where the characteristic cannot be blotted out by 
> > >      
> > the context.
> >    
>
>  
>
> > However, I remain sceptical that there are any verbs or other 
> > words in 
> > group 3, in any language. 
> >    
>
> It seems to me that Rolf's example "sing" always has the characteristic of
> dynamicity. It is not a state.
> Similarly, "sing" and "continue" always have durativity. They can never be
> instantaneous.
> And "create" has telicity. There is an inherent end to the activity.
> It seems to me that these "lexical aspects" are uncancellable.
>
>  
"All singing, all dancing" as a description of a product (e.g. 
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=13356)?

"'Is that true?" he asked. 'No', he continued"? (OK, it takes a finite 
time to utter even the short word "No", but very few of even the most 
punctiliar verbs are actually strictly instantaneous.)

"She is always creating a fuss"?

Such colloquial usages often bend these kinds of Aktionsart rules.


--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/



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