Meaning Construal Of Behavioral Verbs At The Microscopic Level

Traditional approaches to lexical semantics, represented by componential analysis and semantic field theory, fail to give a satisfactory account of word meaning for they take word meaning as a stable and inherent attribute. Componential analysis divides a word's meaning into several semantic features, but they may not be what we really grasp at the moment of using the word. Semantic field theory derives word meaning from relations among the members of the same semantic field, which also goes far from meaning of word in use.Based on cognitive semantics, dynamic construal approach brings insight into word meanings to a relatively more subtle degree of comprehensiveness. In comprehending word meanings, we come across meanings at the microscopic level, which come much nearer to word meaning in use. Previous studies proved that dynamic construal approach is applicable to nouns and adjectives, but is it applicable to verbs? In the assumption that it is applicable to verbs, the present study aims at extending the application of dynamic construal approach to other type of lexical category, say behavioral verbs, with the expectation of finding out some regularities in construing their meanings at the microscopic level. The present study answers two questions: what are the aspects of behavioral verbs in exhibiting meanings at the microscopic level and what are the possible stages in the construing process. Eight frequently used behavioral verbs, run, swim, walk, jump, take, throw, eat and drink, are chosen as tentative objects for the study.After analyzing and comparing a large number of sentences including the verbs with the methods of observation, comparison and deduction, the following two results are reached. Firstly, behavioral verbs exhibit their meanings at the microscopic level mainly in three aspects: temporality, participant and ways-of-happening, which are suitable only to verbs. Secondly, in the process of construing a behavioral verb meaning at the microscopic level, there may be three distinct stages: the first stage involves a mapping onto purport of the verb, which offers meaning potentials for further construal; the second of which is pre-meaning collection; the third of which is the integration of all pre-meanings in the second stage, in which pre-meanings, temporality, participant and ways-of-happening, are combined to form final interpretations of the verb. Based on the case analysis of run and take, a conclusion is drawn that dynamic construal approach can be applied to the category of verbs.