Posted inCall for Papers / Linguistics in Belgium

Light verb constructions in Germanic languages

17-18 November 2017, Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles

Deadline extension for submission of abstracts: 30 July 2017


Aims and scope

The German term “Funktionsverbgefüge” (‘light verb construction’; LVC) designates a combination of a noun phrase (with or without a preposition) with a light verb. The nominal and the verbal constituents build a semantic unit, e.g. German zur Entscheidung kommen, in Verbindung setzen, English to make a decision, to take a look and Dutch in aanmerking komen, ter beschikking staan. LVCs constitute an interesting research topic which can be studied from different perspectives. They can express different aspectual dimensions (causative, durative, inchoative, etc.), are more or less suitable for passivization and sometimes fill a semantic gap. Interesting research issues include their definition, the delimitation criteria – for instance between collocations and LVCs – as well as the typology of their constituents (preposition, article, nominal constituent and light verb). LVCs are also in competition with simple verbs and the question arises whether both ways of expression are interchangeable and semantically identical. From a more applied perspective, LVCs constitute a great challenge for foreign language learners. More specifically, the selection of a specific light verb, which can be among others a posture or placement verb like German stehen, setzen, versetzen, etc., is far from easy for learners. In spite of similarities between Germanic languages like German, Dutch and English, there are several differences in the formation and the use of these constructions. This makes a comparison of LVCs within Germanic and other languages another interesting issue.

The aim of this conference is to bring together researchers who are interested in the study of LVCs from different perspectives. We welcome submissions dealing with issues such as the following (but not exclusively):

  • criteria for the delimitation between LVCs and collocations
  • the syntactic structure of LVCs/Typology of their constituents
  • posture and placement verbs in LVCs
  • the semantics of prepositions in LVCs
  • LVCs vs. simple verbs
  • aspectual differences
  • comparison of LVCs between Germanic languages and/or other languages

Abstract submission 

Submissions are welcome for 25-minute oral presentations (including 5 minutes for questions) and posters. Conference languages: German and English. Abstracts of no more than 500 words (+ references) can be sent by email to sabine.deknop@usaintlouis.be until 30 July 2017.

Please include the following information in the main body of your email: author’s name, affiliation, email address, presentation title and preferred mode of presentation (oral presentation or poster). Notification of acceptance will be sent on 20 August 2017.

Abstract layout

Word document of up to 500 words, single-spaced, font size 12, Times New Roman, 2.5 cm margins on all sides. All figures and tables must fit within the page margins.

Keynote speakers

Antje Heine (Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald)
Alain Kamber (Université de Neuchâtel)
Fabio Mollica (Università degli Studi di Milano)
Jouni Rostila (University of Helsinki)
Elmar Schafroth (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)

Organizing committee

Sabine De Knop (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles) (chair)
Sylvie De Cock (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles & Université catholique de Louvain)
Françoise Gallez (Université catholique de Louvain)
Manon Hermann (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Vera Höltschi (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Dominique Longrée (Université de Liège & Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Julien Perrez (Université de Liège)
Ferran Suñer Muñoz (Université catholique de Louvain)
Cornelia Wermuth (KULeuven, campus Antwerpen)

Scientific committee

Jeroen Darquennes (Université de Namur)
Sabine De Knop (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Sylvie De Cock (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles & Université catholique de Louvain)
Kurt Feyaerts (KULeuven)
Françoise Gallez (Université catholique de Louvain)
Antje Heine (Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald)
Manon Hermann (Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Alain Kamber (Université de Neuchâtel)
Samantha Laporte (Université catholique de Louvain)
Torsten Leuschner (Universiteit Gent)
Dominique Longrée (Université de Liege & Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles)
Carmen Mellado Blanco (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela)
Fabio Mollica (Università degli Studi di Milano)
Julien Perrez (Université de Liège)
Kristel Proost (IDS, Mannheim)
Jouni Rostila (University of Helsinki)
Elmar Schafroth (Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf)
Ferran Suñer Muñoz (Université catholique de Louvain)
Cornelia Wermuth (KULeuven, campus Antwerpen)

Important dates

Deadline extension for submission of abstracts: 03.07.2017
Notification of acceptance: 20.08.2017
Conference 17-18.11.2017

Venue

Université Saint-Louis, Rue du Marais 119, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Registration fees

  • Early-bird registration (till 10.09.2017): regular: 125 € /students: 75 €
  • After 10.09.2017: regular: 150 € / students: 90 €

Contact

Sabine De Knop, sabine.deknop@usaintlouis.be
Website will follow

With the support of Séminaire des Sciences du Langage (SeSLa) of the Université Saint-Louis, Bruxelles & Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)