Abstract
Languages
differ in the way
they encode motion (e.g. Talmy, 2000). When considering on building a
semantic
typology for motion encoding several elicitation tests are available
(Levinson
& Wilkins, 2006). For example, the Frog
Story test makes it possible to determine how manner, path, and
path roles
– such as goal and source - are cross-linguistically encoded (Berman
&
Slobin, 1994). However, current tests make it difficult to
systematically
investigate particular motion components (e.g., only manner, or only
path roles).
We
have developed
a test, based on Qualitative Trajectory Calculus (Van de Weghe, 2004),
which
allows us to construct a semantic typology relating to only path roles
(Bogaert
et al, 2008; Van der Zee et al, submitted a, b). The Path
Role test makes it possible to consider both language
production and language comprehension. So far we have collected data
from English,
Finnish, Dutch, Bulgarian and Norwegian. We are planning to extend our
research
(1) to include a larger set of languages, (2) to include a more diverse
set of
stimuli allowing us to study more parameters impacting on path role
use, and
(3) to consider distinctions in other areas of qualitative reasoning to
enrich the
current approach.
Bogaert, Peter, van der Zee,
Emile, Maddens,
Ruben, van de Weghe, Nico & De Maeyer, Philippe (2008). Cognitive and Linguistic
Adequacy of the
Qualitative Trajectory Calculus. In N. van der Weghe, R.
Billen, B. Kuijpers, & P. Bogaert (Eds.), Proceedings
of the International Workshop “Moving
Objects: From
Natural to Formal Language” (in cooperation with GIScience 2008), Park City, Utah.
Van der Zee, Emile, Bogaert,
Peter, Martinez,
Liliana, Eshuis, Rik, Vulchanova, Mila, Saarinen, Leena, Niemi, Jussi,
Nikanne,
Urpo, Maddens, Ruben & Van de Weghe, Nico (submitted). Spatial
features in
path descriptions: a comparison between English, Dutch, Finnish, and
Norwegian.
Manuscript.
Van der Zee, Emile, Maddens,
Ruben and van de Weghe, Nico (submitted). The
two-way street of qualitative information representation and natural
language
research. Manuscript.
Van de Weghe, N., (2004).
Representing and Reasoning about Moving Objects: A Qualitative Approach,
Ghent, Belgium, University Ghent, Faculty of Sciences, Department of
Geography.