Cognitive Approaches to Specialist Languages

Semantic and Conceptual Aspects of Volcano Verbs 341

By comparing the dictionary definitions and terminological contexts of
belch and dribble, we can see that the verb trickle — hypernym of dribble
— and the adverbial phrases slowly and bit by bit clearly contrast with the
semantic particulars of belch, violently and abruptly, which entail brisk,
forceful and rapid eruption. It follows from this analysis that belch does
not naturally collocate with adverbs such as slowly and mildly in the
argument structure of this verb, and the same is true for dribble with
adverbs such as rapid and quick. This assumption was attested by
searching the corpus for unnatural collocations, such as those mentioned
above, which yielded no hits.
It also follows from the analysis that the definition contents of volcano
verbs also activate semantic categories that are integrational elements of
these contents. Contexts (1) to (7) reveal that the semantic categories of
these verbs are actually subcategories of VOLCANIC MATERIAL ENTITY
(instantiated in discourse by nouns such as lava, magma, ash and gas),
whose semantic role is PATIENT in the construction argument structure of
volcano inside the VOLCANIC NATURAL DISASTER domain (see 2.1.). These
semantic subcategories feature the verbs in the volcano typology and put
them into contrast, making their differences salient. The comparison of
belch and dribble, for instance, activates the subcategory MANNER_
EJECTION_SPEED (speed at which lava is forced out of a volcano), and
reveals the slowly-violently dichotomy.
Definitions (8) and (9), from CED and AHDEL, respectively, bring the
subcategory QUALITY to the foreground, and make the semantic difference
between dribble and squirt apparent. Specifically, dribble implies a thin
stream (of lava), whereas spew entails a thick flow. The focus is thus laid
on a difference in the density of lava being ejected off the volcano.
Context (10) is given as textual evidence that squirt co-occurs with
volcano in domain-specific texts dealing with geology:

(8) Dribble: to flow or allow to flow in a thin stream

(9) Squirt: To eject liquid in a forceful stream or thick flow

(10) Alaska’s Pavlof Volcano, the most active volcano in the region, has

begun to erupt once more, squirting lava and pushing ash into the

environment

Definitions (11) and (12), from CED and AHDEL, respectively, show
that the difference between dribble and spew lies in the QUANTITY of lava
ejected. The adjective thin and the noun drops involve a low flow of lava
being expelled from the crater over time. This assumption is confirmed by
usage context (13), which includes the prepositional phrase over months or
years; this phrase takes on the TIME category in the argument structure of