Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar

Georgios Babiniotis

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar

Georgios Babiniotis

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 10, Issue 3)

Received: 1 April 2022 Accepted: 15 April 2022 Published: 10 May 2022

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Abstract

The theoretical linguistic proposal that I call “a theory of specification based on a verb grammar” relies on the thesis that human language logically, cognitively, semantically and above all syntactically is built around a do-verb, constituting what I call “action trinity”: source of the action – ACTION – recipient of the action (which in terms of syntax corresponds to: SUBJECT – do-VERB – OBJECT [for transitive verbs]). The same structure applies to the predicative (be-verbs) syntax, which denotes “identification” (SUBJECT + be-VERB + PREDICATE). Reconsidering the view that the sentence (S) consists essentially of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP), we argue that what more efficiently describes its nature is to consider it as a verb phrase (VP) specified by the other components of an action trinity: (obligatorily) the noun phrase (NP) “subject”, functioning normally as the “actuator” of the verb, and (optionally) the complements of the verb, functioning either as objects (NP1 and/ or NP2) or as predicates. All the other linguistic components (adjective, adverb, article, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, etc.) are actually specific components that surround and refine semantically and syntactically this “action trinity”. Such a verb-based view of the sentence is consistent with a theory that the process of constructing meaning is a constant course from coral elements to more specific ones, leading thus to the creation of larger grammatical, syntactic and lexical structures. This article is the result of long personal research, which began with a joint publication on the subject together with my colleague Christos Clairis back in 2002 and has since continued with a view to publishing a book I have been working on. My contribution could be considered a “challenge” to think over the role of the verbs in sentences in a way I have found very promising in mother tongue teaching strategies.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11
Page(s)	176-180
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Specification, Action Trinity, Subject, Predicate, Sentence, Complement, Verb Grammar

References

[1]	Babiniotis G. & Clairis Chr. 2002: ‘The function of specification in language’ [in Greek], in Chr. Clairis (ed.) 2002: Recherches en linguistique grecque. Actes du 5^e Colloque international de linguistique grecque. Sorbonne, 13-15 septembre 2001, (L’Harmattan), p. 83-86.
[2]	Babiniotis G. 2019: Greek Language – Grammar – Syntax. A Contemporary School Grammar [in Greek]. Athens: Lexicology Centre.
[3]	Bach E. & R. T. Harms (eds.) 1968: Universals in Linguistic Theory. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
[4]	Cook V. J. & M. Newson 1996²: Chomsky’s Universal Grammar. An Introduction. London: Blackwell.
[5]	Crystal David 1997⁴: Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. London: Blackwell.
[6]	Harris J., 1751: Hermes, or a philosophical enquiry concerning language and universal grammar. London: Woodfall.
[7]	Jespersen O., 1992 (1924): The Philosophy of Grammar (With an Introduction and Index by James D. McCawley). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
[8]	Quirk R., Greenbaum S., Leech G. & J. Svartvik, 1972: Grammar of Contemporary English. London: Longman.
[9]	Robins R., 1967⁴: General Linguistics. An Introductory Survey. London: Routledge.
[10]	Robins R., 1990³: A Short History of Linguistics. London: Longman [Greek translation of the 2^nd edition, Athens: Nepheli 1989].
[11]	Verhagen P., 1994-2001: A history of Sanskrit grammatical literature in Tibet, vol. 1-2. Leiden & Boston: Brill (Chap. ‘Syntax and Case Grammar’).
[12]	Vrashabh P. J., 1997: ‘Towards the Verb Grammar’, Nagoya Studies in Indian Culture and Buddhism: Saṃbhāṣā 18, p. 125-131. Nagoya: University of Nagoya, Department of Indian Studies.

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Georgios Babiniotis. (2022). Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 10(3), 176-180. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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Georgios Babiniotis. Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2022, 10(3), 176-180. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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Georgios Babiniotis. Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. Int J Lang Linguist. 2022;10(3):176-180. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11,
  author = {Georgios Babiniotis},
  title = {Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {176-180},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20221003.11},
  abstract = {The theoretical linguistic proposal that I call “a theory of specification based on a verb grammar” relies on the thesis that human language logically, cognitively, semantically and above all syntactically is built around a do-verb, constituting what I call “action trinity”: source of the action – ACTION – recipient of the action (which in terms of syntax corresponds to: SUBJECT – do-VERB – OBJECT [for transitive verbs]). The same structure applies to the predicative (be-verbs) syntax, which denotes “identification” (SUBJECT + be-VERB + PREDICATE). Reconsidering the view that the sentence (S) consists essentially of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP), we argue that what more efficiently describes its nature is to consider it as a verb phrase (VP) specified by the other components of an action trinity: (obligatorily) the noun phrase (NP) “subject”, functioning normally as the “actuator” of the verb, and (optionally) the complements of the verb, functioning either as objects (NP1 and/ or NP2) or as predicates. All the other linguistic components (adjective, adverb, article, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, etc.) are actually specific components that surround and refine semantically and syntactically this “action trinity”. Such a verb-based view of the sentence is consistent with a theory that the process of constructing meaning is a constant course from coral elements to more specific ones, leading thus to the creation of larger grammatical, syntactic and lexical structures. This article is the result of long personal research, which began with a joint publication on the subject together with my colleague Christos Clairis back in 2002 and has since continued with a view to publishing a book I have been working on. My contribution could be considered a “challenge” to think over the role of the verbs in sentences in a way I have found very promising in mother tongue teaching strategies.},
 year = {2022}
}

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T1  - Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar
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N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11
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T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
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AB  - The theoretical linguistic proposal that I call “a theory of specification based on a verb grammar” relies on the thesis that human language logically, cognitively, semantically and above all syntactically is built around a do-verb, constituting what I call “action trinity”: source of the action – ACTION – recipient of the action (which in terms of syntax corresponds to: SUBJECT – do-VERB – OBJECT [for transitive verbs]). The same structure applies to the predicative (be-verbs) syntax, which denotes “identification” (SUBJECT + be-VERB + PREDICATE). Reconsidering the view that the sentence (S) consists essentially of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP), we argue that what more efficiently describes its nature is to consider it as a verb phrase (VP) specified by the other components of an action trinity: (obligatorily) the noun phrase (NP) “subject”, functioning normally as the “actuator” of the verb, and (optionally) the complements of the verb, functioning either as objects (NP1 and/ or NP2) or as predicates. All the other linguistic components (adjective, adverb, article, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, etc.) are actually specific components that surround and refine semantically and syntactically this “action trinity”. Such a verb-based view of the sentence is consistent with a theory that the process of constructing meaning is a constant course from coral elements to more specific ones, leading thus to the creation of larger grammatical, syntactic and lexical structures. This article is the result of long personal research, which began with a joint publication on the subject together with my colleague Christos Clairis back in 2002 and has since continued with a view to publishing a book I have been working on. My contribution could be considered a “challenge” to think over the role of the verbs in sentences in a way I have found very promising in mother tongue teaching strategies.
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Author Information

Georgios Babiniotis

Department of Linguistics, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

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Georgios Babiniotis. (2022). Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 10(3), 176-180. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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ACS Style

Georgios Babiniotis. Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2022, 10(3), 176-180. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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AMA Style

Georgios Babiniotis. Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar. Int J Lang Linguist. 2022;10(3):176-180. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11,
  author = {Georgios Babiniotis},
  title = {Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {176-180},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20221003.11},
  abstract = {The theoretical linguistic proposal that I call “a theory of specification based on a verb grammar” relies on the thesis that human language logically, cognitively, semantically and above all syntactically is built around a do-verb, constituting what I call “action trinity”: source of the action – ACTION – recipient of the action (which in terms of syntax corresponds to: SUBJECT – do-VERB – OBJECT [for transitive verbs]). The same structure applies to the predicative (be-verbs) syntax, which denotes “identification” (SUBJECT + be-VERB + PREDICATE). Reconsidering the view that the sentence (S) consists essentially of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP), we argue that what more efficiently describes its nature is to consider it as a verb phrase (VP) specified by the other components of an action trinity: (obligatorily) the noun phrase (NP) “subject”, functioning normally as the “actuator” of the verb, and (optionally) the complements of the verb, functioning either as objects (NP1 and/ or NP2) or as predicates. All the other linguistic components (adjective, adverb, article, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, etc.) are actually specific components that surround and refine semantically and syntactically this “action trinity”. Such a verb-based view of the sentence is consistent with a theory that the process of constructing meaning is a constant course from coral elements to more specific ones, leading thus to the creation of larger grammatical, syntactic and lexical structures. This article is the result of long personal research, which began with a joint publication on the subject together with my colleague Christos Clairis back in 2002 and has since continued with a view to publishing a book I have been working on. My contribution could be considered a “challenge” to think over the role of the verbs in sentences in a way I have found very promising in mother tongue teaching strategies.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Towards a Linguistic Theory of Specification Based on a Verb Grammar
AU  - Georgios Babiniotis
Y1  - 2022/05/10
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 176
EP  - 180
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20221003.11
AB  - The theoretical linguistic proposal that I call “a theory of specification based on a verb grammar” relies on the thesis that human language logically, cognitively, semantically and above all syntactically is built around a do-verb, constituting what I call “action trinity”: source of the action – ACTION – recipient of the action (which in terms of syntax corresponds to: SUBJECT – do-VERB – OBJECT [for transitive verbs]). The same structure applies to the predicative (be-verbs) syntax, which denotes “identification” (SUBJECT + be-VERB + PREDICATE). Reconsidering the view that the sentence (S) consists essentially of a noun phrase (NP) and a verb phrase (VP), we argue that what more efficiently describes its nature is to consider it as a verb phrase (VP) specified by the other components of an action trinity: (obligatorily) the noun phrase (NP) “subject”, functioning normally as the “actuator” of the verb, and (optionally) the complements of the verb, functioning either as objects (NP1 and/ or NP2) or as predicates. All the other linguistic components (adjective, adverb, article, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, etc.) are actually specific components that surround and refine semantically and syntactically this “action trinity”. Such a verb-based view of the sentence is consistent with a theory that the process of constructing meaning is a constant course from coral elements to more specific ones, leading thus to the creation of larger grammatical, syntactic and lexical structures. This article is the result of long personal research, which began with a joint publication on the subject together with my colleague Christos Clairis back in 2002 and has since continued with a view to publishing a book I have been working on. My contribution could be considered a “challenge” to think over the role of the verbs in sentences in a way I have found very promising in mother tongue teaching strategies.
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

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