Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

4. PERCEPTION VERB COMPLEMENTS 37
that have been attributed to PVCtypes. In section 4.2, basic structural
properties of complement types in general and PVCs in particular are
discussed. As an addendum, in section 4.3 I consider non-PV matrix
predicates that are able to embed some of the same complementtypes
which occur with PV matrix predicates. This serves as the typological
basis for the ensuing investigation of non-PV matrix predicates of PVC
types in English and Akatek.
4.1. Semantic properties. The following semantic properties of
event denoting PVC types have been noted: Event denoting PVC
types need to be temporally simultaneous with the matrix PV, they
need to express something perceivable, they cannot be negated, and
cannot alternatively be embedded by knowledge predicates (Dik &
Hengeveld, 1991). Proposition denoting PVC types, on the other
hand, can, but need not, be simultaneous, can, but need not, convey
perceivable content, can be negated and can be embedded by knowledge
matrix predicates. In addition, the modi cation of a PVC with
sentential adverbials or evidentials ensures a propositional interpretation
(Gee, 1977; Monnich, 1992b).
An observation shall be added here regarding the behavior of the
matrix PV. There is a restriction for proposition denoting PVCs that
their matrix PVs cannot admit the progressive. This is due to the fact
that stative, i.e. here cognitive, predicates in general lack the ability
to occur in the progressive form.
(22) a. We're seeing Apollo 19 take o .
Kirsner & Thompson (1976), 221
b. *We're seeing that Apollo 19 takes/is taking o .
Declerck (1983), 34
c. *We're seeing the gure to be a woman.
Declerck (1983), 37
The only two semantic properties considered in this section are the
simultaneity requirement for event denoting PVCs and the use of
evidentials for proposition denoting PVCs. Detailed accounts of the
semantic properties of PVCs in English and in Akatek are presented in
chapters 3 and 5, respectively.
In order for a PVCtobeevent denoting, simultaneitybetween the
act of perception and the perceived event is obligatory. Simultaneity
can either be assured by complements lacking tense/aspect or by
complements adhering to speci c tense/aspect restrictions as shown in
chapter 6, section 2.7. Primarily proposition denoting PVCs are aspectually
and temporally unrestricted (among others, Guasti (1993)).