The Interplay of Synonymy and Polysemy

 
 
 
We can tentatively represent these preferences in the above schemas. The closer the 
dashes, the more the 
DIRECTIONAL
is preferred. In the first schema, the 
DIRECTIONAL
occurs 
most of the time, but it also accepts sentences without a 
DIRECTIONAL
. In the second
schema, 
on the other hand, there is a preference for not having a 
DIRECTIONAL
,
though I leave open the 
possibility that a 
DIRECTIONAL
can appear.
I
NITIATOR
VERB 
mirada 
‘look’ 
D
IRECTIONAL
I
NITIATOR
VERB 
carcajada 
‘laugh’ 
D
IRECTIONAL

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105 | 
There are several frequent schemas that show a level of optionality in the 
DIRECTIONAL
slot. The schemas take up a large portion of the data set. For example, the 
THROWING 
schema and the 
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS 
and 
SOUNDS
schema are quite frequent. 
Additionally, these schemas with optional 
DIRECTIONAL
are instantiated by more than one 
throw-
verb: the 
THROWING 
schema applies to all four, and the 
BANISHMENT
schemas and 
LOOKS
schemas appear with at least three of the verbs.
Schemas with a Directional 
The final group we can distinguish are schemas that require (or at least very strongly 
prefer) a 
DIRECTIONAL
. First I will discuss schemas that have an open slot for the 
DIRECTIONAL 
but still strongly prefer the appearance of one. Then I will discuss schemas that 
have a (partially) lexically filled 
DIRECTIONAL
.
Several of these lexically filled 
DIRECTIONALS 
occur with 
echar¸ 
though it is certainly not exclusive to this verb.
One schema, seen with 
lanzar
and 
tirar
, that prefers a 
DIRECTIONAL 
was the 
HITS
(or 
VIOLENCE
)
schema.
(143) Y me 
LANZÓ
un bofetón