Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

86 3. PERCEPTION VERB COMPLEMENTS IN ENGLISH
4.5. Complementizer. The issue whether the complementizer has
any semantic value is only relevant for to-PVCs and that-PVCs. In
section 3, I classi ed the in nitival to as a particle since it is not a
complementizer like that. The complementizer that carries no distinct
meaning. Its role is to indicate that the following complement clause
is subordinate to and connected with the main clause. That typically
introduces a clause. More speci cally, that creates a dependent
proposition denoting expression (Jespersen, 1940; Portner, 1991;
Radford, 1997). In present day English to carries an unclear semantic
value. `After see and hear [the to-in nitive] may be used when
these verbs do not denote the immediate sense-perception, but rather
a logical conclusion...;' Jespersen (1940), 1576. Compare the sense
perception in (120) with the inference in (121).
(120) Ihave seen hastier people than you stay all night.
Jespersen (1940), p. 280
(121) I see this to be true. Jespersen (1940), p. 280
In cases where a matrix predicate can take either that-complements
or to-in nitives, it turns out that the predicate of a to-in nitive often
characterizes its logical subject while that-complement clauses present
neutral reports.
`With nd, as with believe, objectively viewed propositions about
empirically veri able, either-or matters of fact are most appropriate
in that clauses, but when nd is used to describe someone's personal
experience or judgment, an in nitive is more appropriate.' Borkin
(1984), 56
(122) a. When I looked in the les, I found that she was Mexican.
b. ?When I looked in the les, I found her to be Mexican.
Borkin (1984), 56
(123) a. ?I nd that Harry is amusing, although everyone else thinks
he's a bore.
b. I nd Harry (to be) amusing, although everyone else
thinks he's a bore. Borkin (1984), 56
Regarding perception constructions the same observations apply: that-
PVCs are used when the proposition is neutral and veri able, while
to-PVCs are used when the speaker wants to convey a more subjectively
oriented attitude or evaluative judgment(Monnich, 1992b; Hegarty,
1991):