Introduction
The grasp of the intended sense (from among the possible many) of the prepositions is a tricky task during translation from one language to another. This issue of right selection becomes still more engaging when machines have to be taught to do it. Simply, this is so because unlike humans the computers are not endowed with natural analyzers which will carry out the task by default. So, they have to be fed with optimum information regarding their task. Nevertheless, in order to prevent such instructions from becoming extremely exhaustive or redundant some procedures, like identification of categories and subsequently their correspondences, could be followed. Thus, achieving the desired goal. In this report we have followed a similar procedure that of Observing the English Verb Classes and the Prepositions they take. This has enabled us to make some generalizations regarding the sense that English prepositions would take in the Hindi translation.
As part of summer internship project at LTRC/ IIIT- Hyderabad. I had to study the English Verbs Classes and Alternations as accounted by Beth Levin in her seminal work 'English Verb Classes And Alternations'. And I was supposed to decide how the prepositions following those Verbs/ Verb classes would be translated in Hindi (that is their Hindi counterparts). I went through some forty- five verb classes mentioned in her book and followed the procedure. In my observation, most of the time the prepositions would take the default sense, however, there was a good number of occasions when they showed variations. For instance:
Ø She came with her mother.
· Vaha apnI maaz ke sAWa Ayi
Ø She left with anger.
· Vaha gusse me gayi
Ø She opened the lock with key.
· Usne cABI se wAlA KolA
Here we see how the preposition 'With' is acquiring varied correspondences in Hindi postpositions. Following is the list of verb classes I observed in the foresaid book (English Verb Classes: Beth Levin).
1. Verbs Of Putting: Put verbs, Verbs of putting in a spatial configuration, Funnel verbs, Verbs of putting with a specified direction, Pour verbs, Coil verbs, Spray/ Load verbs, Fill verbs, Butter verbs, Pocket verbs.
2. Verbs Of Removing: Remove verbs, Banish verbs, Clear verbs, Wipe verbs, Steal verbs, Cheat verbs, Pit verbs, Debone verbs, Mine verbs.
3. Verbs Of Sending and Carrying: Send verbs, Slide verbs, Bring and Take verbs, Carry verbs, Drive verbs.
4. Verbs of Exerting Force: Push/ Pull verbs.
5. Verbs of change of Possession: Give verbs, Contribute verbs, Verbs of Future Having, Verbs of Providing (Fulfilling, Equip), Verbs of Obtaining (obtain, get), Verbs of Exchange, Berry verbs.
6. Learn verbs.
7. Hold and Keep verbs.
8. Verbs of Concealment.
9. Verbs of Throwing: Throw verbs, Pelt verbs.
10. Verbs of Contact by Impact: Hit verbs, Swat verbs, Spank verbs, Non- agentive verbs of contact by Impact.
11. Poke verbs.
12. Verbs of Contact: Touch verbs.
13. Verbs of Cutting: Cut verbs, Carve verbs.
14. Verbs of Combining and Attaching: Mix verbs, Amalgamate verbs, Shake verbs, Tape verbs, cling verbs.
15. Verbs of Separating and Disassembling: Separate verbs, Split verbs, Disassemble verbs, Differ verbs.
16. Verbs of Coloring.
17. Image Creation verbs: verbs of Image Impression, Scribble verbs, Illustrate verbs, Transcribe verbs
18. Verbs of Creation and transformation: Build verbs, Grow verbs, Verbs of Preparing, Create verbs, Knead verbs, Turn verbs, Performance verbs.
19. Engender verbs.
20. Calve verbs.
21. Verbs with Predicative Complements: Appoint verbs, Characterize verbs, Dub verbs, Declare verbs, Conjecture verbs, Masquerade verbs, Orphan verbs, Captain verbs.
22. Verbs of Perception: See verbs, Sight verbs, Peer verbs, Stimulus Subject Perception verbs.
23. Psych Verbs: Amuse verbs, Admire verbs, Marvel verbs, Appeal verbs
24. Verbs of Desire: Want verbs, Long verbs.
25. Judgment verbs.
26. Verbs of Assessment.
27. Verbs of Searching: Hunt verbs, Search verbs, Stalk verbs, Investigate verbs, Rummage verbs, Ferret verbs.
28. Verbs of Social Interaction: Correspond verbs, Marry verbs, Meet verbs.
29. Verbs of Communication: Verbs of Transfer of a Message, Tell, Verbs of Manner of Speaking, verbs of Instrument of Communication, Talk verbs, Chitchat verbs, Say verbs, Complain verbs, Advise verbs.
30. Verbs of Sound Made by Animals.
31. Verbs of Ingesting: Eat verbs, Chew verbs, Gobble verbs, Devour verbs, Dine verbs, Gorge verbs, Verbs of Feeding.
32. Verbs of Killing: Murder verbs, Poison verbs.
33. Destroy verbs.
34. Lodge verbs.
35. Verbs of Change of State: Break verbs, Bend verbs, Cooking verbs.
36. Verbs of grooming and Bodily Care.
37. Verbs Involving the Body.
38. Verbs of Emission
39. Measure verbs.
40. Avoid verbs.
41. Aspectual verbs.
42. Weekend verbs.
43. Weather verbs.
Verbs Of Putting:
Put verbs: arrange, immerse, install, lodge, put, place, mount, position, Verbs of putting in a spatial configuration: dangle, hang, perch,
Verbs of putting with a specified direction:
Pour verbs:
Coil verbs:
Spray/ Load verbs:
Fill verbs:
Butter verbs:
Pocket verbs:
Observation: The English preposition coming after these verbs will be translated in their default sense.
Verbs of Removing:
Remove verbs: abstract, cull, delete, discharge, remove
Banish verbs: banish, deport, expel, recall
Clear verbs: clear, clean, drain, empty
Wipe verbs: wipe, wear, erase, dust, brush, comb
Steal Verbs: abduct, cheat, capture, wrest
All these verbs are followed by the English preposition 'From' which will acquire its default sense 'se' in Hindi translation.
Cheat verbs: bleed, cheat, defraud, deplete, free, rob
These verbs are followed by prepositions like 'of', 'off' and they are translated as 'se' (just as from) – non default sense.
Pit verbs: bark, beard, bone, burl, core, gill
Debone verbs: debark, debone, deforest, descale
Mine verbs: mine, quary
The English prepositions like 'with' 'from' and 'of' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'se' in Hindi.
Verbs of Sending and Carrying:
Send verbs: airmail, convey, dispatch, express
The locative preposition specially 'to' coming after the verbs of bring and take will acquire correspondences:
To: 'ko'
From: 'se'
Slide verbs: bounce, float, roll, slide
Bring and Take verbs: bring, take
The locative preposition specially 'to' coming after the verbs of bring and take will acquire correspondences:
To: a) 'ko' b) 'me' c) 'waka' d) 'ke pAsa'
Carry verbs: carry, drag, haul, hoist, kick
Drive verbs: barge, bus, cart, drive
The prepositions associated with these verbs are 'to', 'into', 'on' and they will be translated as
To: a) 'waka' when the following NP is a location/place etc.
'ko' when the following NP is an animate thing or institution etc.
Into: 'me'
On: 'para'
Verbs of Exerting Force:
Push and Pull verbs: draw, jerk, press, push, pull, thrust
The preposition followed by these verbs 'towards'will be translated into Hindi as 'kI waraPa'
Verbs of Sound Made by Animals: bark, moo, coo, bar
The prepositions 'on'/ 'at' and 'for' that normally follow these verbs will have their correspondence as 'para' and 'ke liye' respectively in Hindi.
Verbs of Killing:
Murder verbs: assassinate, butcher, execute, kill
Poison verbs: crucify, drown, hang, poison, shoot
The prepositions 'by' and 'with' that normally follow these verbs will have their correspondence as 'ke xvArA' or 'se' in Hindi.
The choice between 'ke xvArA' and 'se' will depend on whether the object used for carrying out the action stays with the doer or leaves him/her. Only in case when it stays with him/her the choice would be 'ke xvArA' otherwise it would be 'se'.
Verbs of Separating and Disassembling:
Separate verbs: separate, part, divorce, differentiate.
Disassemble verbs: detach, disconnect, unite
Differ verbs: differ, diverge
The prepositions 'from' and 'into' following these verb groups will retain their default sense that is 'se' and 'me' during translation.
Split verbs: cut, draw, knock, pull, push
These verbs, specially push, pull and knock, are followed by prepositions like 'off', 'out', 'down' etc and they will be translated differently and contextually (not in default sense of the English preposition).
Image Creation verbs:
Verbs of image impression: set, sign, stamp, tattoo, mask
Scribble verbs: carve, chalk, draw, copy, plot
Illustrate verbs: address, adorn, data, label, tag
Transcribe verbs: copy, type, televise, film
The varied prepositions like from, of, on, for, over, under etc. coming after these verb classes will adopt their default sense that is 'se' for from, 'ka' for of, 'para' for on, 'ke liye' for for and 'ke Upara' for over.
However, 'with' will be translated as 'se' when it is followed by a non abstract NP and otherwise 'ke sAWa'
Verbs of Creation and Transformation:
Build verbs: arrange, assemble, bake, blow, build, carve, fold, sew
Grow verbs: develop, grow, evolve, hatch
Verbs of preparing: blend, boil, grill, pour
Create verbs: coin, compute, create, model, style
The prepositions 'from', for, on and 'into' following these verb groups will retain their default sense.
However, 'with' and 'of' will be translated as 'se' or 'ke xvArA'
Knead verbs: beat, bend, freeze, knead
Turn verbs: alter, change, convert, turn
These verbs are followed by the English prepositions 'into' and 'from' that will be translated as 'se'.
Performance verbs: chant, compose, dance, sing, whistle
The prepositions following the performance verbs will be translated as:
To: a) 'pe' or 'para'
b) 'ke liye' when some objective/intention is conveyed.
With: a) 'ke sAWa' when the object is animate.
b) 'se' when the object is inanimate.
Learn verbs: acquire, hold, cram, learn, memorize, read, study
The prepositions preceded by the Learn verbs will be translated in their default sense. However, these variations are possible:
For: a) 'ke liye' when it refers to some person or object.
b) 'waka' when it communicates a duration or quantity.
With: a) 'ke sAWa' when it refers to some person or object.
b) 'se' when it communicates the manner/ style of action.
Hold and Keep verbs:
Hold verbs: clasp, clutch, grip, hold
Keep verbs: hoard, keep, leave, store
The prepositions, like 'for', 'of' etc. following these verbs will be translated in their default sense.
Verbs of Concealment: block, hide, isolate, shelter
The English preposition 'into', 'from' and 'for' coming after these above verbs will be translated as 'me', 'se' and 'ke liye' respectively.
Verbs of Throwing:
Throw verbs: bash, bat, cast, fling, pass, slap, toss
Pelt verbs: buffet, bombard, pelt, shower, stone
The English prepositions at/on coming after the verbs of throwing will be translated in their default sense.
Poke verbs: dig, pierce, poke, stick, jab
The English prepositions 'through' and 'with' coming after the poke will be translated as 'se'.
Verbs of Contact: Touch verbs; caress, graze, lick, pat, touch
The English prepositions 'with'and 'on' coming after the verbs of contact will be translated as 'se' and 'para' respectively.
Verbs of Contact by Impact:
Hit verbs: bang, bash, beat, bump, drum, hammer, hit
Swat verbs: bite, claw, paw, peck, scratch
The prepositions 'with', 'against' or 'through' following these verbs will be translated as 'se' in Hindi. Whereas, 'by' coming after the above verbs will be translated as 'ke xvArA'
Spank verbs: belt, cane, club, whip
Non agentive verbs of Contact by Impact: crash, ram, slam, smash,
The prepositions 'with' and 'into' coming after such verbs will be translated as 'se' and 'me' in Hindi. However, 'with' coming after the verbs like club, paddle, thrash etc will be translated as 'ke sAWa'
Verbs of cutting:
Cut verbs: chip, cut, slash, snip
Carve verbs: bore, bruise, crop, cube, slit
The prepositions (except for 'with') coming after the verbs of cutting will be translated into their default sense. Whereas, 'with' will have its correspondence with either 'se' or 'ke xvArA' depending upon the foresaid criteria.
Verbs of coloring: colour, dye, glaze, paint, tint
The preposition 'with' coming after the verbs of colouring will be translated as 'se'
Engender verbs: beget, cause, create, engender, generate, shape
The preposition 'of' coming after the engender verbs will be translated as 'ka' in Hindi.
Calve verbs: calve, cub, fawn, kitten, foal, pup, whelp
The preposition 'of' coming after the calve verbs will be translated as 'ka' in Hindi.
Verbs with Predicative Complements:
Appoint verbs: acknowledge, adopt, consider, crown, elect, rate, want
Characterize verbs: accept, address, bill, cast, certify, hail, qualify, rank
The prepositions 'as' and 'for' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke rUpa me'/ 'ke paxa pe' and 'ke liye'
Dub verbs: anoint, call, rule, style, vote
The prepositions 'of' and 'for' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ka' and 'ke liye' However, 'to' coming after vote will be translated as 'ke paxa pe' and 'for' coming after rule and showing a period of time will be translated as 'waka'.
Declare verbs: adjudge, assume, confess, think, warrant
Conjecture verbs: admit, allow, deny, feel, grant, mean, repute
Masquerade verbs: act, behave, count, pose, rank, serve
Orphan verbs: apprentice, cripple, knight, orphan
Captain verbs: boss, clerk, captain, nurse, volunteer, witness
The prepositions 'as', 'of' and 'for' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke rUpa me', 'ka' and 'ke liye' respectively.
However, 'for', coming after captain will be translated as 'waka'
Verbs of Perception:
See verbs: detect, discern, feel, hear, notice, see, taste
Sight verbs: descry, discover, espy, eye, note, regard,
The prepositions followed by these verbs are 'by', 'at' etc. and will be translated in their default sense.
Peer verbs: check, gaze, glance, look, peep, sniff
Stimulus Subject Perception verbs: feel, smell, sound, taste
The English prepositions coming after these verbs will be translated as:
At: 'ki waraPa'
Into: 'me'
For: 'ke liye'
To: 'ko'
By: 'ke xvArA'
Of: 'ka'
Psych –verbs:
Amuse verbs: affect, agonise, bug, calm, crush, dazzle, depress, elate
The amuse verbs are followed by 'by' in passive constructions and their correspondence in Hindi will be 'se' or 'ke xvArA'
Admire verbs:
Positive: adore, respect, enjoy, fancy,
Negative: deplore, dislike, envy
The admire verbs are followed by 'by' in passive constructions and their correspondence in Hindi will be 'ke xvArA'. Whereas, 'for' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke liye'
Marvel verbs: bother, care, fret, mind, moon, rage, worry
The prepositions coming after the marvel verbs will be translated as:
About: 'ke bAre me' or 'ke liye'
At: 'para'
For: 'ke liye'
From: 'se'
In: 'ka karke' or 'karne me'
Appeal verbs: niggle, appeal, matter, jar
The prepositions like 'at'/'on' coming after the appeal verbs will be translated as 'para' whereas 'to' will be translated as 'ko'.
Verbs of Desire:
Want verbs: covet, crave, desire, fancy, need, want
Long verbs: ache, dangle, fall, lust, wish, yearn
The correspondence of the prepositions 'after' and 'for' coming after long verbs of desire (the want verbs and the long verbs) in Hindi will be 'ke piCe' and 'ke liye'.
Judgement verbs
Positive: acclaim, bless, commend, forgive, greet, hail, thank
The preposition 'for' coming after the Positive judgement verbs will be translated as 'ke liye'
Negative: abuse, condemn, scold, fine, vilify
The preposition 'for' coming after the Negative judgement verbs will be translated as 'ke kArana'
Verbs of Assessment: analyse, assess, audit, evaluate
The prepositions 'for' (while communicating the purpose) and 'by' (while communicating the methodology or instrument) associated with these verbs will be translated as 'ke liye' and 'ke xvArA' respectively.
Verbs of searching:
Hunt verbs: dig, feel, fish, mine, poach
The preposition 'for' followed by the hunt verbs will be translated as 'ke liye' and ' about' as 'ke As pAsa'
Search verbs: advertise, check, comb, watch
The preposition 'for' followed by the search verbs will be translated as 'ke liye' or 'ko' or 'ke viSE me'.
Stalk verbs: smell, taste, track
Investigate verbs: canvass, explore, examine, survey
Rummage verbs: bore, listen, look, page, scratch, thumb
Ferret verbs: nose, seek, tease
The preposition 'for' followed by these verbs will be translated as 'ke liye' or 'ke viSE me'
Verbs of Social Interaction:
Correspond verbs: agree, argue, clash, combat, war, pair
Marry verbs: court, marry, kiss, pet, pass
Meet verbs: battle, box, consult, fight
The prepositions 'with' or 'against' coming after the verbs of social interaction will be translated as 'ke sAWa' and 'ke virUXa' respectively.
Verbs of Communication:
Verbs of transfer of a message: ask, cite, demonstrate, explain
Tell verbs: tell
The prepositions 'with' and 'to' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke sAWa' and 'ko' respectively.
Talk verbs: speak, talk
The preposition 'to' coming after talk verbs will be translated as 'se'.
Say verbs: announce, blab, claim, confess, confide
The prepositions 'in' , 'for' and 'to' coming after say verbs will be translated as 'me' 'ke liye' and 'se' respectively.
Advise verbs: alert, advise, caution
The prepositions 'against' and 'for' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke bAre me' and 'ke liye' respectively.
Chitchat verbs: argue, chat, confer, gossip
The preposition 'for' coming after the above verbs will be translated as:
For: a) 'ke liye'
b) 'waka'
Complain verbs: boast, rag, crab, object
The prepositions 'about, 'against' and 'on' coming after these verbs will be translated as 'ke bAre me' and 'pe'.
Verbs of Combining and Attaching:
Mix verbs: blend, combine, commingle, fuse, join, link, mix, pool
The prepositions 'with' as well as 'to' preceded by the mix verbs will be translated as 'ke sAWa'. However, 'into' coming after the mix verbs will be translated as 'me'.
Amalgamate verbs: affiliate, alternate, amalgamate, associate
The prepositions 'with' as well as 'to' coming after the amalgamate verbs will be translated as 'ke sAWa'.
Shake verbs: band, gather, beat, stir, whirl, pair, attach, stick
The prepositions coming after the shake verbs will be translated as:
With: 'se'
Into: 'me'
To: 'me'
Tape verbs: anchor, belt, cement, hook, gum, seal, wire, zip
The prepositions 'to'/'on' following these verbs will be translated as 'para'
Cling verbs: adhere, cleave, cling
The prepositions coming after the shake verbs will be translated as:
With: 'se'
Into: 'me'
To: 'se' when preceded by the verb cling.
Aspectual verbs:
Begin verbs: begin, cease, commence, end, halt, keep, start
Complete verbs: complete, discontinue, initiate, quit
The English prepositions 'in', 'on' and 'at' preceded by the aspectual verbs will retain their default sense during translation into Hindi.
Weekend verbs: holiday, December, honeymoon, overnight
The English prepositions 'in', 'on' and 'at' preceded by the weekend verbs will retain their default sense during translation into Hindi.
Weather verbs: blow, clear, drizzle, fog, gust, hail, mist, rain
The English prepositions 'in', 'on' and 'at' preceded by the weather verbs will retain their default sense during translation into Hindi.
Resources:
· Samar Husain: 'Simple Preposition Correspondence' ·
Beth Levin: 'English Verb Classes and Alternations'
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