What is a linked event?
When a single verb or verb phrase contains or implies two discrete actions, we code the initial event and also code a linked event for the second, implied or explicitly stated event. Coding both an initial and also a second event category to a single verb or verb phrase, therefore, constitutes a linked event.
Types of linked events
There are three types of linked events:
1. Reciprocal event
A reciprocal event is one in which actors are engaged in a mutual interaction. That is, in addition to coding the initial interaction between the source and target, a second, implicit interaction between the target and the source should also be coded.
The event categories in a reciprocal event are (by definition) the same for both codings. The following event categories are always reciprocally linked:
Agree is always reciprocally linked to Agree
Agree or accept is always reciprocally linked to Agree or accept
Collaborate is always reciprocally linked to Collaborate
Discussions is always reciprocally linked to Discussions
Military clash is always reciprocally linked to Military clash
These occurrences, by definition, require mutual actor engagement. These event categories must always be coded as reciprocal events.
When coding the second, reciprocal event, the order of the source and target positions should be the reverse of the initial coding.
2. Complementary event
A complementary event is one in which actors are engaged in a mutual interaction. That is, in addition to coding the initial interaction between the source and target, a second, implicit but different interaction between the target and the source should also be coded.
The event categories in a complementary event are different for each coding. The following event categories are usually complementarily linked to each other:
Travel to meet is usually complementarily linked to Host a meeting
Host a meeting is usually complementarily linked to Travel to meet
In the majority of cases, these categories will be coded as complementary events.
Exceptions to this rule occur in sentences such as, "President George Bush returned home." A complementary event category does not make sense here, (his home is not hosting him, it is his home). Further, "home" is undefined.
When coding the second, complementary event, the source and target order should be the reverse of the initial coding.
3. Compound verb event
If the main verb phrase of a sentence consists of two verbs that are connected by the conjunction, "and," a compound event verb is present. This type of verb phrase must be coded as two events, with the coder assigning the one category to each verb. Unlike reciprocal and complementary linked events, the event categories to be linked in a compound verb event are not pre-defined. That is, the coder must determine which event categories will be linked together based upon the compound verbs specified in the main clause of the sentence. For instance, if the compound verb phrase is "shot and killed," code one event to the category, Shooting and the other event to the category, Death. These two events are not permanently linked because a shooting, unless explicitly stated as such, is not fatal.
The event categories for a compound verb event are different (almost without exception) for each coding.
When coding the second compound event, the source and target should appear in the same order as the initial coding.
Although reciprocal and complementary linked events require the coder to reverse the positions of the source and target in the second event coding, do not reverse the positions of the source and target in the second event coding of a compound event. This is because compound linked event categories do not share the reciprocal or complementary associations of the other linked event types.
