Chapter 18 Lexical Functions: Description of Lexical Relations in a ...

—Chapter 18. Lexical Functions— 54
43. Oper i [Lat. operāri (do, carry out)] = support verb with L as 1st Object
The DSyntA I of an Oper i verb = L ´(and its SSynt-Subject) is the phrase that is described
in the Government Pattern of L as the i-th DSyntA(L), and Oper i’s DSyntA II (= its main S(urf-
ace)Synt-Object is L itself. 15 Further DSyntAs of an Oper i , if any, are the phrases described in
the GP of L as further DSyntAs of L.
Examples
Oper 1(blowN) = deal, strike [NY ART ~] Oper 2(blowN) = receive, take [ART ~ from NX]
Oper 1(supportN) = give, lend, offer [~ to NY] Oper 2(supportN) = receive [~ from NX]
Oper 1 (orderN) = give [ART ~ to NZ] Oper 3 (orderN) = receive [ART ~ from NX]
Oper 1(resistance) = put up [ART ~], Oper 2 (resistance) = meet [ART ~], run [into ART ~]
offer [ART/Ø ~]
Oper 1(controlN) = have [~ over NY] Oper 2 (controlN) = be [under NX’s ~]
Oper 1 (examN) = give [ART ~] Oper 2(examN) = take [ART ~] Oper 3(examN) = be [on ART ~]
The expression in brackets following each element of the value of the LF illustrated is in
point of fact its reduced Government Pattern—its lexical subentry; for a discussion of
such subentries, see 5.1, p. 00.
In case an Oper i verb admits only a dummy subject (a purely grammatical lexeme,
which has no meaning of its own), the subscript ‘ 0’ is used: Rus. Oper 0(zapax (smell)) = tjanut´
[~om] [Iz podvala tjanulo zapaxom moči lit. (From the-basement [it] pulled with-the-smell of-
urine), with a zero dummy subject Ø3sg.neu], Fr. Oper 0(baisse (decrease)) = on constate une baisse
lit. (One sees a decrease) [with the subject ON], Ger. Oper 0(Problem (problem)) = Es gibt ein
grosses Problem lit. (It gives [a big problem]) [with the subject ES].
Let it be recalled (p. 00, NB under Conv, No. 3) that all Oper is are counted as one LF, and
so are all Func is and all Labor ijs, see below.
44. Func i [Lat. *functionāre ([to] function) = support verb with L as Surface Subject
The DSyntA I of the Func i verb (and its SSynt-Subject) is L itself, and its DSynt-actant II
(= its main SSynt-Object) is the i-th DSyntA(L).
Examples
Func 1(blowN) = comes [from NX] Func 2(blowN) = descends [on NY], falls [upon NY]
Func 1(proposal) = comes, stems [from NX] Func 2(proposal) = concerns [NY]