Verbal polysemy and argument structure representation

Abstract

This article aims to present some theoretical approaches on verbal roots and draw some considerations about the polysemy of Brazilian Portuguese verbs from the verbs levantar, enterrar and raspar. We intended to verify the restrictions as to the semantic readings that these verbs can present, depending on the argument structure in which they are inserted. We also present an experimental development to examine the representation of the senses in the roots. We reflected on some of the issues addressed by studies in syntax-semantics interface and on possible advantages of a non-lexicalist approach in the search for an explanatory adequacy for verbal polysemy.