
Renata Enghels, Ghent University

This course is concerned with the theoretical foundations and empirical outcomes of a constructional approach to language, with a specific focus on verbal argument structures. Within a broader functional-cognitive framework, it examines the significance of defining form-meaning pairings – known as constructions or schemas – as the fundamental units of grammar. Rather than viewing grammar as a set of abstract rules, the constructional approach emphasizes the patterns of entrenched language use, relationships between constructions and constructional variants. This usage-based model highlights the dynamic nature of language, as schemas can be modified and extended over time, relying on the concept of productivity. Moreover, given the economy and iconicity principles of language, constructional variants are expected to convey (subtle) differences in meaning, from a lexical, semantic, pragmatic and/or sociolinguistic point of view.
Against this background, the course provides in-depth case studies of constructional alternations, from both a synchronic and diachronic perspective. It illustrates how such alternations can be explained based on varying degrees of productivity and the overall concept of near-synonymy. It also delves into the interaction between verbs and schemas. Examples will be mainly taken from Spanish, and include constructions with perception verbs, inchoatives and causative verbs, and more.