Meaning of prepositions in English predicative prepositional phrases in ICE-GB

Abstract

This paper is aimed at analyzing the meaning of prepositions in English predicative prepositional phrases (henceforth, PPP). After introducing different concepts, the polysemous nature of prepositions will be underlined, which is described as “a very challenging, but necessary task” (Saint-Dizier, 2005: 163). Different scholars propose a variety of types of meanings that can be conveyed by prepositions. Thus, for example, whereas Schibsbye (19692: 302) draws a distinction between three types of content (“distinctive, reduced, or all but lost”), Cruse (2000: 199) mentions “literal” and “nonliteral” meanings and Lindstromberg (20102: 20) classifies them into “prototypical” (also called “primary” or “representative”) and “secondary” (or extended). Another possibility is to refer to the existence of literal (locative) as opposed to metaphorical (abstract) meanings. Thus, for instance, Quirk et al. (1985: 685-7) include examples such as “to be in danger” and “The bridge is under construction”. In the former, the preposition does not express a location but a state or condition, whereas in the latter “under” conveys a process rather than vertical direction. Attention should also be paid to the fact that the same preposition in the same PP may express either a literal or a metaphorical meaning depending on the immediate context where a given example is found. That would be the case, for example, of “on the shelf” in “The torch was still on the shelf where he'd put it when he came in” (BNC:ABX 3408) and “I am clearly not good enough for them because I'm on the SHELF” (ICEGB:W1B-005 #86:4)” (the meaning of the latter is defined as “unlikely to find a partner or get married, usually because of being too old” in MEDAL3). The analysis of different structures will help us draw the conclusion that, rather than using just two labels, the use of gradations in the meaning conveyed by prepositions would allow for greater flexibility, moving from purely literal meanings to metaphorical ones, as stated by Quirk et al. (1985: 685).