On the semantics of pace adverbs

Mgr. Kateřina Volfová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The aim of my thesis is to analyze the two readings of one of the pace adverbs quickly in connection with selected verbs (denoting for example an activity, or describing a speech act). These two possible readings (clausal and manner) influence the semantics of the adverb quickly; and therefore I attempted to identify the rules affecting the perception of the meaning of quickly (namely the characterization of verbs and the position of the adverb in the sentence). I also examined the adverb gradually; discussing in what respect it may be included in pace adverbs, trying to find out the features they share, and applying these on the interpretation of pace adverbs (slowly). This thesis is based on the British National Corpus.

Keywords

adverbs, pace, speed, semantics, meaning, position, quickly, gradually, slowly

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 28. 6. 2006

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 6. 9. 2006
• Vedúci: doc. PhDr. Naděžda Kudrnáčová, CSc.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / odbor:
Philology / English Language and Literature