Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

58 3. PERCEPTION VERB COMPLEMENTS IN ENGLISH
investigate not only the internal structure (section 3) and the internal
semantics (section 4) of PVCs, but also the question as to which
complementtypes can occur with which kind of matrix predicate. The
original observation of the interdependency of complement types and
matrix predicates was made by Vendler with regard to perfect and imperfect
nominals, i.e. PNOMs and INOMs, respectively. These two
types of nominalizations can be distinguished by their di ering ability
to be embedded by two groups of matrix predicates which he termed
narrow and loose containers (Vendler, 1967). Narrow containers
designate matrix predicates which accept PNOMs but not INOMs
or that-clauses, while loose containers can take both PNOMs and IN-
OMs as well as that-clauses. Both predicate classes contain adjectival,
verbal, or nominal predicates. PNOMs can additionally occur with
temporal prepositions. Examples for each container type are provided
in Table 4. The complement types (indicated by X) function as either
subjects or objects of the matrix predicates, i.e. of the container predicates.
For adjectival, postnominal verbal and nominal predicates, the
complements function as subjects. Only for prenominal verbal predicates
do they function as objects.
Table 4. Two classes of matrix predicates: narrow and
loose containers (Vendler, 1967)
Narrow containers Loose containers
(PNOM) (PNOM, INOM, that-clauses)
adjectival Xbegradual/ slow/ Xbe unlikely/ probable/
sudden/ fast/ prolonged certain
postnominal Xoccur/ take place/ X surprise s.o./ cause s.th.
verbal begin/ last/ end
prenominal see/ watch/ hear/ mention/ deny/ remember X
verbal feel/ observe/ cause X
nominal Xbe an event/ Xbe a fact/ result of
process/ action
temporal PREP before/ after/ until X
(note: X indicates a subject or object complement.)
In addition to active and passive perception verbs and aspectual
expressions, which are discussed in more detail below, adjectival predicates
such asXbe slow (26), nominal predicates such asXbe a deliberate
action (27), and certain temporal prepositions such asuntil
X (28) function as narrow containers. The examples show that narrow
containers are de ned by accepting PNOMs but not INOMs as
complements.
(26) a. *John's singing the Marseillaise was slow.