Advances in Role and Reference Grammar

PREPOSITION ASSIGNMENT IN ENGLISH^291

as be-at' is the logical constant describing endpoint  and NOT be-at', the
starting point A. The necessity of positing a separate primitive for path, as
well as a separate argument slot in the semantic structure of motion
accomplishments, is based on Dowty's interval semantics analysis of
changes of location:
Traveling from place A to place  is not merely changing from being at A
to not being at A, nor is it changing from not being at  to being at B, but
is apparently the conjunction of these two changes. (142)
Be-via' thus specifies the conjunction of two state changes.

2.5 Analysis of semantic structures: to and from

Creswell's analysis of the spatial point of view as a journey is useful in

describing the semantic structures of to and from. Bennett's (1975) perspec­

tive is similar:

From marks the beginning of any sort of movement or transition and to

marks the end. Information on what kind of movement or transition is

involved in a given utterance is supplied by other lexemes in the environ­

ment.(9)

2.5.1 Non-predicative functions

The function of to and from as specified points in a journey is readily appar­

ent in a motion accomplishment context such as (29). As identified in the

LS for this sentence, the LS for nonpredicative to = [BECOME be-at'

(x,z)] where ζ is the agent-theme (Rita) and χ is the locative/goal (store).

The LS for from = [BECOME NOT be-at' (x,y)], where  is the agent-

theme (Rita) and χ is the locative-source (school). The positive/negative

components in the semantic structures of to and from have been intuitively

recognized by numerous analysts, although not satisfactorily explained. For

example, Martin & Rulon (1973:136) comment on the fact that and appears

to be replaced by to with a positive connotation and from, with a negative

connotation, in sentences such as (40) and (41).

(40) Sugar is similar to salt. (Sugar and salt are similar)

(41) Cats are different from dogs. (Cats and dogs are different)

Gruber analyses to/from, into/out of and onto/off/of as mirror image

relationships having positive and negative values. Hawkins also discusses