Identifier

etd-06092010-183224

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Linguistics (Interdepartmental Program)

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Abstract The main purpose of this thesis is to study the aspectual complements of the aspectualizers begin and start. Aspectualizers are verbs that give aspectual readings to the sentence. I started with a summary of Freed’s (1978) analysis. In this summary, semantic differences among seven aspectualizers that take to V and V-ing complements were explained. The semantic distinction between to V and V-ing was also discussed. Following the summary, a brief research on aspectual complements was conducted. Based on Freed’s analysis, I first examined the difference in meaning and in frequency of occurrence between the to V and the V-ing complement of the two aspectualizers. My research revealed some interesting problems that Freed failed to address. These problems blur the difference between the to V and the V-ing complement of begin and start that Freed claims. Through the research, however, I failed to pinpoint the significant difference, too. More research on this issue should be done in the future.

Date

2010

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Hegarty, Michael

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1589

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