Introduction 0.1 Aim and scope 0.1.1 The form of the ditraitive clause 0.1.2 The meaning of the ditraitive clause 0.1.3 The aim and the research pepective 0.2 Issues arising from previous analyses 0.3 Conceptual frame 0.4 The data 0.5 Layout of the dissertationChapter 1 Cognition and operation 1.1 Introduction 1.2 View of language 1.3 Cognition and operation 1.3.1 Cognition and language in cognitive science 1.3.2 Operation in cognitive linguistics 1.4 A stratified model 1.4.1 Neurocognitive linguistics 1.4.2 Tripartite parallel architecture 1.4.3 Conceptual frame 1.5 The syntactic structure of the ditraitive clause 1.6 SummaryChapter 2 Conceptual frame 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Meaning activated in compreheion and production 2.2.1 Conceptual structure 2.2.2 Between the mental world and the outside world 2.2.3 The metaphorical account 2.2.4 Conceptual frame vs.argument structure 2.3 Cotrual operatio and conceptual frame 2.3.1 The ditraitive clause as a gestalt 2.3.3 Conceptual frame as a gestalt 2.4 ConclusionChapter 3 Major variants of the traferred object 3.1 Introduction 3.2 A radial network 3.2.1 The \prospective possessor\ account and \affecte- dness\account 3.2.2 An overview of cotruction grammar 3.2.3 Discussion 3.2.4 Conceptual frame: A proposal 3.3 Major variants of the traferred object 3.3.1 A frequent type of the ditraitive clause 3.3.2 Object as Thing 3.3.3 Object as Identity 3.3.4 Object as Information 3.3.$ Object as Action 3.3.6 Object as Event 3.4 Discussion and conclusionChapter 4 Major variants and verb categorizatio 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Introduction 4.1.2 An investigation into the FrameNet 4.1.3 Semantic motivation and productivity 4.2 Trafer of Thing 4.2.1 Simple conceptual process 4.2.2 Simple conceptual process and the to-phrase 4.2.3 Composite conceptual process 4.2.4 The for-phrase and the to-phrase 4.2.5 From concrete things to abstract things 4.2.6 Summary 4.3 \Trafer\ of Identity 4.4 Trafer of Information 4.4.1 Verbal Information 4.4.2 Non-verbal Information 4.5 \Trafer\ of Action 4.5.1 Physical actio 4.5.2 Mental actio 4.6 SummaryChapter 5 Special eases 5.1 Permit, allow ; forbid, prohibit 5.2 Owe 5.3 Buy 5.4 Previously recognized exceptio 5.4.1 Ask, beg; bill, charge, fine 5.4.2 Refuse and deny 5.4.3 Envy ; forgive ; bear ; mean 5.4.4 Save and spare 5.5 Metapho involving an abstract entity 5.6 Topics for future studyConclusionAppendix I A list of verbs that have been investigatedReferences