Lexicon and Grammar of Feelings (Causatives)

• Published in: Études de linguistique appliquée 1976-04, Vol.22 (Apr-June), p.7-23
• Main Author: Debyser, F
• Format: Article
• Language: fre
• ISSN: 0071-190X

Fr Vs used to denote psychological states are semantically & syntactically analyzed in a way conducive to pedagogical use. Psychological Vs form a homogeneous natural semantic class, using the matrix from que pronoun V N which can be transformed to a number of other surface structures. These Vs allow the following constructions: (1) complete subject--qu'il pleuve irrite Paul 'that it is raining irritates Paul', (2) infinitive subject--partir ennuie Paul 'leaving bores Paul', (3) group nominal subject (abstract, animated, concrete)--l'attitude de Marie enerve Paul 'Mary's attitude enervates Paul', (4) human complement--la fumee irrite la gorge 'smoking irritates the throat', (5) active adjectival construction--que Marie fasse cela est irritant pour Paul 'that Mary does that is irritating to Paul', (6) adjectival past participal--Pierre est tres irrite 'Peter is very irritated', (7) adjectival constructions--Paul est content de partir 'Paul is content to leave', (8) par-passives with unrestricted subjects--Paul est amuse de cette idee de Marie 'Paul is amused by that idea of Mary's', (9) pronominal constructions--Paul s'irrite de l'attitude de Marie 'Paul is irritated by Mary's attitude', & (10) nominal constructions-- cette nouvelle cause l'etonnement de Paul 'that news caused Paul's surprise'. A list of Vs functioning verbally & adjectivally as causatives of sentiment is provided. T. Lamb