A Cognitive Explanation of the Asymmetry in Event/Propositional Interpretation of Finite/Non-finite Adnominal Clauses

This study aims to explain the phenomenon where non-finite clauses, which originally denote events, can sometimes represent propositions, while, asymmetrically, finite clauses that express propositions cannot denote events in any context. To explore this, the methodology of “ultimate explanation” from evolutionary psychology is introduced. While this phenomenon could be explained through type coercion or polysemy, such explanations are not considered ultimate. This paper adopts an explanation based on cognitive systems as the ultimate explanation. Event memory can become semantic memory, but semantic memory cannot become event memory. This asymmetry in cognitive systems is directly reflected in language, leading to the asymmetrical interpretation of non-finite and finite clauses.