Object complements and verbs of perception

Citation
D. Willems et B. Defrancq, Object complements and verbs of perception, LANG FRAN, (127), 2000, pp. 6-20
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Language & Linguistics
Journal title
LANGUE FRANCAISE
ISSN journal
00238368 → ACNP
Issue
127
Year of publication
2000
Pages
6 - 20
Database
ISI
SICI code
0023-8368(200009):127<6:OCAVOP>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
Verbs expressing perceptual processes can take different types of object co mplement. Since perception verbs are known to be highly polysemous there co uld be a correlation between complement type and verb meaning. In the case of voir one of the relevant factors appears to be the grammatical category of the object complement: verbal complements tend to confine themselves to perceptual meaning; nominal complements, on the other hand, tend to express opinion. This correlation confirms and extends earlier analyses of adjecti val complements. Furthermore, there seems to be a certain correlation with the form of the object complement, nominal complements preferring to be int roduced by prepositions and the like (comme). These correlations are found not only in the case of voir, but also in the case of other perception verb s, which opens interesting perspectives for further research into the seman tics of these verbs.