High-Level Metaphor and Metonymy in Constructional Alternations.

Abstract

This paper addresses syntactic alternations from the perspective of high-level metaphor and metonymy. Within the Lexical constructional Model or LCM (Ruiz de Mendoza and Mairal, 2008, 2011; Mairal and Ruiz de Mendoza, 2009), grammatical alternations result from the interaction possibilities between lexical and constructional representations. These possibilities are regulated by constraints, of which high-level metaphor and metonymy are prominent cases. In this study I supply evidence in support of the metaphoric and metonymic grounding of a number of constructional alternations posited by Levin (1993). It will be shown how the conceptual connection between lexical and constructional configurations motivates grammatical conversions to occur. I will also examine the interaction between metaphor and metonymy in syntactic alternations, as in I will buy you a ticket for 5$ versus 5$ will buy you a ticket.