Les composés français VN — aspects sémantiques

This study addresses the semantics of French VN compounds within a lexeme-based and lexicalistic approach to morphology. The N constituent can correspond to one of the two semantic macroroles: PATIENT (ouvre-boîte) or ACTOR (croque-monsieur). In addition, there is a special type of unproductive VN compound in which the N is a hyperonym of the hyponym compound (gratte-boësse). The study confirms that there are no strict constraints on the V and the N: the four Aktionsarten, as well as unaccusative and inergative Vs, are accepted. Moreover, it shows that the compounds are formed by different semantic patterns : Agent/Experiencer, Instrument, Locative, Causative, Event and Patient/Theme. The Agent/Experiencer and Instrument patterns in which the N is a PATIENT are the most productive ones.