Beth Levin
Biographic Data
| ID | 3842452 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Beth Levin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Beth |
| FAMILY NAME | Levin |
| SIGNATURE | LEVIN B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Stanford University |
| ORCID | 0009-0009-8952-3097 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 135 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1987 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
The door pushed open: An English intransitive resultative construction with transitive-only verbs
Variable agentivity: Polysemy or underspecification
Many English verbs typically used agentively allow non-agentive uses. Some recent approaches assume such verbs are unspecified for agentivity, although in principle, polysemy is also an option. We demonstrate the complexity of variable agentivity through an in-depth examination of the English verb sweep, which shows variable agentivity due to both underspecification and motivated polysemy. Drawing on corpus data, we identify two senses for sweep,…
Systematicity in the semantics of noun compounds: The role of artifacts vs. natural kinds
The nature of the relationship between the head and modifier in English noun compounds has long posed a challenge to semantic theories. We argue that the type of head-modifier relation in an English endocentric noun-headed compound depends on how its referent is categorized: specifically, on whether the referent is conceptualized as an artifact , made by humans for a purpose; or as a natural kind , existing independently of humans. We propose the…
Morphology and Lexical Semantics
The relation between lexical semantics and morphology has not been the subject of much study. This may seem surprising, since a morpheme is often viewed as a minimal Saussurean sign relating form and meaning: it is a concept with a phonologically composed name. On this view, morphology has both a semantic side and a structural side, the latter sometimes called “morphological realization” (Aronoff 1994, Zwicky 1986b). Since morphology is the study…
Semantics and Pragmatics of Argument Alternations
After setting out the challenges posed by argument alternations for linguistic theory, this article reviews the development of accounts of argument alternations over the past 50 years, documenting a shift from accounts that are primarily syntactic in nature to accounts with semantic and pragmatic components. The remainder of this review consists of case studies of the developing understanding of the semantics and pragmatics of the dative alternat…
The typology of motion expressions revisited
This paper provides a new perspective on the options available to languages for encoding directed motion events. Talmy (2000) introduces an influential two-way typology, proposing that languages adopt either verb- or satellite-framed encoding of motion events. This typology is augmented by Slobin (2004b) and Zlatev & Yangklang (2004) with a third class of equipollently-framed languages. We propose that the observed options can instead be attribut…
Measure of change: The adjectival core of degree achievements
Current theories of aspect acknowledge the pervasiveness of verbs of variable telicity, and are designed to account both for why these verbs show such variability and for the complex conditions that give rise to telic and atelic interpretations. Previous work has identified several sets of such verbs, including incremental theme verbs, such as eat and destruy; degree achievements, such as cool and widen; and (a)telic directed motion verbs, such a…
The English dative alternation: The case for verb sensitivity
We challenge the predominant view of the English dative alternation, which takes all alternating verbs to have two meanings: a caused possession meaning realized by the double object variant and a caused motion meaning realized by the to variant. Instead, we argue that verbs like give and sell only have a caused possession meaning, while verbs like throw and send have both caused motion and caused possession meanings. We show that the caused poss…
Argument Realization
The relationship between verbs and their arguments is a widely debated topic in linguistics. This comprehensive 2005 survey provides an overview of this important area of research, exploring theories of how a verb's semantics can determine the morphosyntactic realization of its arguments. Assuming a close connection between verb meaning and syntactic structure, it provides a bridge between lexical-semantic and syntactic research, synthesizing the…
Change of State Verbs: Implications for Theories of Argument Projection
Recent work in argument expression has focused on verbs showing multiple argument projection options, often with concomitant shifts in aspectual classification or assignment of so-called "aspectual roles" (e.g., measure or incremental theme). Theories of argument projection generally adopt one or both of the following hypotheses: (1) argument projection is aspectually determined; (2) argument expression is not lexically determined. Although much …
An Event Structure Account of English Resultatives
Current syntactic accounts of English resultatives are based on the assumption that result XPs are predicated of underlying direct objects. This assumption has helped to explain the presence of reflexive pronouns with some intransitive verbs but not others and the apparent lack of result XPs predicated of subjects of transitive verbs. We present problems for and counterexamples to some of the basic assumptions of the syntactic approach, which und…
Aspect, Lexical Semantic Properties, and Argument Expression
Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Aspect (2000)
Scalar Structure Underlies Telicity in "Degree Achievements"
No abstract.
Making Sense of Corpus Data: A Case Study of Verbs of Sound
This paper demonstrates the essential role of corpus data in the development of a theory that explains and predicts word behavior. We make this point through a case study of verbs of sound, drawing our evidence primarily from the British National Corpus. We begin by considering pretheoretic notions of the verbs of sound as presented in corpus-based dictionaries and then contrast them with the predictions made by a theory of syntax, as represented…
Building on a corpus: A linguistic and lexicographical look at some near-synonyms
This paper considers the lexicographical problem of descriptive coherence throughout a semantic field, using examples drawn from a large electronic corpus. A brief study summarizes the approach of three leading dictionaries of English as a foreign language to seven verbs which share many components of meanings and syntactic properties, and concludes that there is little attempt at systematicity within the individual accounts. Recent research in t…
English Verb Classes and Alternations: A Preliminary Investigation
bibliography and index) is therefore something like a dictionary, and accordingly difficult to review exhaustively. Some clarification of the book's contents may be in order. After an introduction, which sets out the theoretical perspective of the book, and which we shall discuss below, the first part deals with various essentially syntactic alternations that verbs are subject to. Beginning with transitivity alternations, such as the well-known m…
Lexical & Conceptual Semantics
Parts and boundaries, Ray Jackendoff the syntax of event structure, James Pustejovsky learning to express motion events in English and Korean - the influence of language-specific lexicanization patterns, Soonja Choi and Melissa Bowerman wiping the slate clean - a lexical semantic exploration, Beth Levin and Malka Rappaport Horav affectedness and direct objects - the role of lexical semantics in the acquisition of Vero argument structure, Jean Gro…
A preliminary analysis of causative verbs in English
Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics
Journal Article Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics Get access Beth Levin Beth Levin Department of Linguistics, Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL 60208 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 4, Issue 3, Autumn 1991, Pages 205–226, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/4.3.205 Published: 01 October 1991
Anatomy of a Verb Entry: From Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice
Journal Article Anatomy of a Verb Entry: from Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice* Get access Beryl T. Atkins, Beryl T. Atkins 1Atkins, Collins Publishers Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Judy Kegl, Judy Kegl 2Princeton University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Beth Levin Beth Levin 3Northwestern University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Nonevent -er nominals: A Probe Into Argument Structure
L'auteur montre certains deverbaux en -er en anglais conservent la structure argumentale du verbe dont ils sont derives, et distingue semantiquement ces deux types de deverbaux
The middle construction and ergativity
The typology of motion expressions revisited
This paper provides a new perspective on the options available to languages for encoding directed motion events. Talmy (2000) introduces an influential two-way typology, proposing that languages adopt either verb- or satellite-framed encoding of motion events. This typology is augmented by Slobin (2004b) and Zlatev & Yangklang (2004) with a third class of equipollently-framed languages. We propose that the observed options can instead be attribut…
The English dative alternation: The case for verb sensitivity
We challenge the predominant view of the English dative alternation, which takes all alternating verbs to have two meanings: a caused possession meaning realized by the double object variant and a caused motion meaning realized by the to variant. Instead, we argue that verbs like give and sell only have a caused possession meaning, while verbs like throw and send have both caused motion and caused possession meanings. We show that the caused poss…
An Event Structure Account of English Resultatives
Current syntactic accounts of English resultatives are based on the assumption that result XPs are predicated of underlying direct objects. This assumption has helped to explain the presence of reflexive pronouns with some intransitive verbs but not others and the apparent lack of result XPs predicated of subjects of transitive verbs. We present problems for and counterexamples to some of the basic assumptions of the syntactic approach, which und…
A preliminary analysis of causative verbs in English
Nonevent -er nominals: A Probe Into Argument Structure
L'auteur montre certains deverbaux en -er en anglais conservent la structure argumentale du verbe dont ils sont derives, et distingue semantiquement ces deux types de deverbaux
Making Sense of Corpus Data: A Case Study of Verbs of Sound
This paper demonstrates the essential role of corpus data in the development of a theory that explains and predicts word behavior. We make this point through a case study of verbs of sound, drawing our evidence primarily from the British National Corpus. We begin by considering pretheoretic notions of the verbs of sound as presented in corpus-based dictionaries and then contrast them with the predictions made by a theory of syntax, as represented…
Building on a corpus: A linguistic and lexicographical look at some near-synonyms
This paper considers the lexicographical problem of descriptive coherence throughout a semantic field, using examples drawn from a large electronic corpus. A brief study summarizes the approach of three leading dictionaries of English as a foreign language to seven verbs which share many components of meanings and syntactic properties, and concludes that there is little attempt at systematicity within the individual accounts. Recent research in t…
Anatomy of a Verb Entry: From Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice
Journal Article Anatomy of a Verb Entry: from Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice* Get access Beryl T. Atkins, Beryl T. Atkins 1Atkins, Collins Publishers Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Judy Kegl, Judy Kegl 2Princeton University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Beth Levin Beth Levin 3Northwestern University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics
Journal Article Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics Get access Beth Levin Beth Levin Department of Linguistics, Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL 60208 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 4, Issue 3, Autumn 1991, Pages 205–226, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/4.3.205 Published: 01 October 1991
The middle construction and ergativity
The middle construction and ergativity
Anatomy of a Verb Entry: From Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice
Journal Article Anatomy of a Verb Entry: from Linguistic Theory to Lexicographic Practice* Get access Beryl T. Atkins, Beryl T. Atkins 1Atkins, Collins Publishers Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Judy Kegl, Judy Kegl 2Princeton University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Beth Levin Beth Levin 3Northwestern University Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Ac…
Nonevent -er nominals: A Probe Into Argument Structure
L'auteur montre certains deverbaux en -er en anglais conservent la structure argumentale du verbe dont ils sont derives, et distingue semantiquement ces deux types de deverbaux
Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics
Journal Article Building a Lexicon: The Contribution of Linguistics Get access Beth Levin Beth Levin Department of Linguistics, Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL 60208 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 4, Issue 3, Autumn 1991, Pages 205–226, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijl/4.3.205 Published: 01 October 1991
Lexical & Conceptual Semantics
Parts and boundaries, Ray Jackendoff the syntax of event structure, James Pustejovsky learning to express motion events in English and Korean - the influence of language-specific lexicanization patterns, Soonja Choi and Melissa Bowerman wiping the slate clean - a lexical semantic exploration, Beth Levin and Malka Rappaport Horav affectedness and direct objects - the role of lexical semantics in the acquisition of Vero argument structure, Jean Gro…
A preliminary analysis of causative verbs in English
Building on a corpus: A linguistic and lexicographical look at some near-synonyms
This paper considers the lexicographical problem of descriptive coherence throughout a semantic field, using examples drawn from a large electronic corpus. A brief study summarizes the approach of three leading dictionaries of English as a foreign language to seven verbs which share many components of meanings and syntactic properties, and concludes that there is little attempt at systematicity within the individual accounts. Recent research in t…
English Verb Classes and Alternations: A Preliminary Investigation
bibliography and index) is therefore something like a dictionary, and accordingly difficult to review exhaustively. Some clarification of the book's contents may be in order. After an introduction, which sets out the theoretical perspective of the book, and which we shall discuss below, the first part deals with various essentially syntactic alternations that verbs are subject to. Beginning with transitivity alternations, such as the well-known m…
Making Sense of Corpus Data: A Case Study of Verbs of Sound
This paper demonstrates the essential role of corpus data in the development of a theory that explains and predicts word behavior. We make this point through a case study of verbs of sound, drawing our evidence primarily from the British National Corpus. We begin by considering pretheoretic notions of the verbs of sound as presented in corpus-based dictionaries and then contrast them with the predictions made by a theory of syntax, as represented…
Scalar Structure Underlies Telicity in "Degree Achievements"
No abstract.
Aspect, Lexical Semantic Properties, and Argument Expression
Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Aspect (2000)
An Event Structure Account of English Resultatives
Current syntactic accounts of English resultatives are based on the assumption that result XPs are predicated of underlying direct objects. This assumption has helped to explain the presence of reflexive pronouns with some intransitive verbs but not others and the apparent lack of result XPs predicated of subjects of transitive verbs. We present problems for and counterexamples to some of the basic assumptions of the syntactic approach, which und…
Change of State Verbs: Implications for Theories of Argument Projection
Recent work in argument expression has focused on verbs showing multiple argument projection options, often with concomitant shifts in aspectual classification or assignment of so-called "aspectual roles" (e.g., measure or incremental theme). Theories of argument projection generally adopt one or both of the following hypotheses: (1) argument projection is aspectually determined; (2) argument expression is not lexically determined. Although much …
Argument Realization
The relationship between verbs and their arguments is a widely debated topic in linguistics. This comprehensive 2005 survey provides an overview of this important area of research, exploring theories of how a verb's semantics can determine the morphosyntactic realization of its arguments. Assuming a close connection between verb meaning and syntactic structure, it provides a bridge between lexical-semantic and syntactic research, synthesizing the…
Measure of change: The adjectival core of degree achievements
Current theories of aspect acknowledge the pervasiveness of verbs of variable telicity, and are designed to account both for why these verbs show such variability and for the complex conditions that give rise to telic and atelic interpretations. Previous work has identified several sets of such verbs, including incremental theme verbs, such as eat and destruy; degree achievements, such as cool and widen; and (a)telic directed motion verbs, such a…
The English dative alternation: The case for verb sensitivity
We challenge the predominant view of the English dative alternation, which takes all alternating verbs to have two meanings: a caused possession meaning realized by the double object variant and a caused motion meaning realized by the to variant. Instead, we argue that verbs like give and sell only have a caused possession meaning, while verbs like throw and send have both caused motion and caused possession meanings. We show that the caused poss…
The typology of motion expressions revisited
This paper provides a new perspective on the options available to languages for encoding directed motion events. Talmy (2000) introduces an influential two-way typology, proposing that languages adopt either verb- or satellite-framed encoding of motion events. This typology is augmented by Slobin (2004b) and Zlatev & Yangklang (2004) with a third class of equipollently-framed languages. We propose that the observed options can instead be attribut…
Semantics and Pragmatics of Argument Alternations
After setting out the challenges posed by argument alternations for linguistic theory, this article reviews the development of accounts of argument alternations over the past 50 years, documenting a shift from accounts that are primarily syntactic in nature to accounts with semantic and pragmatic components. The remainder of this review consists of case studies of the developing understanding of the semantics and pragmatics of the dative alternat…
Morphology and Lexical Semantics
The relation between lexical semantics and morphology has not been the subject of much study. This may seem surprising, since a morpheme is often viewed as a minimal Saussurean sign relating form and meaning: it is a concept with a phonologically composed name. On this view, morphology has both a semantic side and a structural side, the latter sometimes called “morphological realization” (Aronoff 1994, Zwicky 1986b). Since morphology is the study…
Systematicity in the semantics of noun compounds: The role of artifacts vs. natural kinds
The nature of the relationship between the head and modifier in English noun compounds has long posed a challenge to semantic theories. We argue that the type of head-modifier relation in an English endocentric noun-headed compound depends on how its referent is categorized: specifically, on whether the referent is conceptualized as an artifact , made by humans for a purpose; or as a natural kind , existing independently of humans. We propose the…
Variable agentivity: Polysemy or underspecification
Many English verbs typically used agentively allow non-agentive uses. Some recent approaches assume such verbs are unspecified for agentivity, although in principle, polysemy is also an option. We demonstrate the complexity of variable agentivity through an in-depth examination of the English verb sweep, which shows variable agentivity due to both underspecification and motivated polysemy. Drawing on corpus data, we identify two senses for sweep,…
The door pushed open: An English intransitive resultative construction with transitive-only verbs
Linguistics (20 works) · Philosophy (16 works) · Computer Science (15 works) · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation (15 works) · Mathematics (11 works) · Natural language processing (9 works) · Philosophy (8 works) · Verb (8 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition (6 works)