A Study on the Meaning of the Verb 'make'

It is said that the verb ‘make" is classified into one of the multi- meaning- words, building a lot of constructions. By adopting all the assumptions suggested by the previous research on complex predicates of the verb ‘make" (Cattell 1984; Dixon 1990; Vendler 1967), this study tries to provide an approach to the single meaning of the verb ‘make" using the meaning-framework of ‘(Z of) Y is AN EFFECT of X"s W" (Y: result, X: agent). Within this framework, most constructions of the verb can be explained with Z substituted for things, changes, states etc. and W for things, changes, states etc. and actions, manipulation, efforts etc. respectively. This analysis proceeds based on semantics and structure grammar, eventually arguing that the core meaning of the verb ‘make" is one, through which all the meanings of the verb ‘make" are extended or shifted in construction.