Colors in the lexicon-syntax-semantics interface. Change-of-color verbs, lexical aspectual classes and measuring-out machinery

Abstract

This work combines corpus and analytic data with a view to explore the extensions of a well-known positive correlation between open/closed scalar structures associated to properties (e.g. Hay et al. 1999) and aspectual boundedness in Italian adjectives and deadjectival verbs. On these grounds, we aim at gaining better understanding of grammatical and lexical facts bearing on the linguistic representation of colors in this language. Two major facts are observed. First, corpus and analytic evidence shows that color verbs and adjectives can be argued to be lexically associated to bounded scalar structures in Italian. Telicity and further aspectual properties (along with the consequent behavior: resultativity, double scope for negative/partial adjuncts, relevant ambiguity between repetitive/restitutive readings) are correctly predicted on this basis. This behavior contrasts with the patterns shown by semantically similar verbs associated,instead, to open scales, where a Degree-Event Homomorphism models +/-homogeneous, +/-telic change-of-state [COS] events. Second, a specific alternative allowed by color introduces an important variable. In particular, the choice between a holistic and a non-holistic representation of the affected object undergoing the change of state denoted by the verb accommodates otherwise unexpected occurrences and uncovers the crucial role of grammar (argument structure relations) in the application of the observed correlation.