Stimulus-response

Definition

A Stimulus-Response relationship occurs when an earlier event (the Stimulus or Occasion) sets the necessary context for a following event (the Response). The stimulus prompts or triggers the response, but it does not physically force or inevitably cause it. The response is often a volitional action, decision, or verbal reaction by an agent.

Larson defines this relationship broadly, encompassing linguistic interactions and actions: Occasion-Outcome, Problem-Resolution, Remark-Evaluation, Question-Answer, and Proposal-Reply.

English examples

• He saw the train coming and began to run.
• John made a good speech and the people elected him (Larson)
• John became ill and Mary drove him to the hospital (Larson)
• "He is a grumpy person." "I think so too." (Larson)

Kovol examples

• mena isig isig om nemb mandeb nom nala, wondug eb amb yab yab yab I.
  "(the pig gone wild) ate the old food here and then wondered, it did that and then we wanted to kill it (and) we talked and talked."
  
• nom obob o ninim eb nemb om hangib etenim eb hangib eteb egee nininn.
  "(the fish you caught) get (those) you want to eat, and eat these you want to wrap and cook, you will wrap, cook and eat."

Kovol description

Steve suggests that the Kovol desiderative can be used to communicate an occasion-outcome. The desire is a trigger that leads to an action.

Degree of certainty

Low

There is a high degree of intention in a desiderative that may communicate Reason-result. The Kovol reason-result relationship generally uses an explicit word "ombo" whereas with a desiderative, the link is implicit.

If stimulus-response is taken in a very general way this may fit. Occasion-response may be a better label. Normally the response would be an involuntary reaction to the stimulus and not a desire/intention.

The important thing is not the correctness of the label, but figuring out what the Kovol desiderative does when put next to sequential propositions.