Dan Xu
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199297566
- eISBN:
- 9780191711299
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199297566.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Phonetics / Phonology
This new interpretation of the early history of Chinese argues that Old Chinese was typologically a ‘mixed’ language. It shows that, though its dominant word order was subject-verb-object, this ...
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This new interpretation of the early history of Chinese argues that Old Chinese was typologically a ‘mixed’ language. It shows that, though its dominant word order was subject-verb-object, this coexisted with subject-object-verb. This book demonstrates that Old Chinese was not the analytic language it has usually been assumed to be, and that it employed morphological and lexical devices as well as syntactic means. The book describes the typological changes that have taken place since the Han period and shows how Chinese evolved into a more analytic language, supporting this exposition with abundant examples. The book draws where possible on archaeological findings in order to distinguish between versions of texts transmitted and sometimes modified through the hands of generations of copyists. The book focuses on syntactic issues, including word order, verbs, causative structures, resultative compounds, and negation, but also pays close attention to what the book demonstrates are closely related changes in phonology and the writing system.Less
This new interpretation of the early history of Chinese argues that Old Chinese was typologically a ‘mixed’ language. It shows that, though its dominant word order was subject-verb-object, this coexisted with subject-object-verb. This book demonstrates that Old Chinese was not the analytic language it has usually been assumed to be, and that it employed morphological and lexical devices as well as syntactic means. The book describes the typological changes that have taken place since the Han period and shows how Chinese evolved into a more analytic language, supporting this exposition with abundant examples. The book draws where possible on archaeological findings in order to distinguish between versions of texts transmitted and sometimes modified through the hands of generations of copyists. The book focuses on syntactic issues, including word order, verbs, causative structures, resultative compounds, and negation, but also pays close attention to what the book demonstrates are closely related changes in phonology and the writing system.
Gilles Boyé and Patricia Cabredo Hofherr
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197264607
- eISBN:
- 9780191734366
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264607.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter examines some particular types of defectiveness in French and Spanish verbs. In the cases considered herein, the gaps in the paradigm exhibit the same zones of stem suppletion patterns ...
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This chapter examines some particular types of defectiveness in French and Spanish verbs. In the cases considered herein, the gaps in the paradigm exhibit the same zones of stem suppletion patterns prevalent in irregular verbs. The defective paradigms of the French and Spanish verbs which are assumed to be associated to the level of the stem are examined through stem suppletion and through the lexicalization of the gaps in the stem space. Discussed herein are: the three kinds of defectiveness that can be found in verbal paradigms; the morphology of the defective verbs in French and Spanish; and the analysis of the Spanish verb morphology according to Boyé and Cabredo Hoffer. This analysis suggests that each zone of the systematic co-variation in the verbal paradigm corresponds to the forms built on the same stem. Stems are generally organized by a graph that presents the links between stems which define implicative relations. Regular verbs only need one stem to be specified while irregular verbs need more than one stem to be specified. Included as well is a discussion on how the zones of defectiveness identified in the French and Spanish verbs coincide with the independently established zones of stem suppletion in the study of irregular verbs. The chapter concludes with the three ways that can lead to defectiveness, stem indeterminacy, stem gaps, and stem avoidance.Less
This chapter examines some particular types of defectiveness in French and Spanish verbs. In the cases considered herein, the gaps in the paradigm exhibit the same zones of stem suppletion patterns prevalent in irregular verbs. The defective paradigms of the French and Spanish verbs which are assumed to be associated to the level of the stem are examined through stem suppletion and through the lexicalization of the gaps in the stem space. Discussed herein are: the three kinds of defectiveness that can be found in verbal paradigms; the morphology of the defective verbs in French and Spanish; and the analysis of the Spanish verb morphology according to Boyé and Cabredo Hoffer. This analysis suggests that each zone of the systematic co-variation in the verbal paradigm corresponds to the forms built on the same stem. Stems are generally organized by a graph that presents the links between stems which define implicative relations. Regular verbs only need one stem to be specified while irregular verbs need more than one stem to be specified. Included as well is a discussion on how the zones of defectiveness identified in the French and Spanish verbs coincide with the independently established zones of stem suppletion in the study of irregular verbs. The chapter concludes with the three ways that can lead to defectiveness, stem indeterminacy, stem gaps, and stem avoidance.
Tal Goldfajn
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198269533
- eISBN:
- 9780191683671
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198269533.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
This introductory chapter explains the coverage and objective of this book, which is the temporal interpretation of word order and expression of time in the biblical Hebrew (BH) verb. This book ...
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This introductory chapter explains the coverage and objective of this book, which is the temporal interpretation of word order and expression of time in the biblical Hebrew (BH) verb. This book postulates that the use of BH verb forms in classical BH is not arbitrary. It proposes two parameters that may be used to organize more consistently the observations concerning the time indications of the BH verb. The first parameter deals with the existence of two initial temporal set-ups and the second is about the role of verb order sequences in setting the temporal relations between the events within each temporal set-up.Less
This introductory chapter explains the coverage and objective of this book, which is the temporal interpretation of word order and expression of time in the biblical Hebrew (BH) verb. This book postulates that the use of BH verb forms in classical BH is not arbitrary. It proposes two parameters that may be used to organize more consistently the observations concerning the time indications of the BH verb. The first parameter deals with the existence of two initial temporal set-ups and the second is about the role of verb order sequences in setting the temporal relations between the events within each temporal set-up.
Tal Goldfajn
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198269533
- eISBN:
- 9780191683671
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198269533.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
This book addresses the problem of temporal interpretation within narrative of the biblical Hebrew verb, thus exploring the broader issue of the expression of time in language and the ways in which ...
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This book addresses the problem of temporal interpretation within narrative of the biblical Hebrew verb, thus exploring the broader issue of the expression of time in language and the ways in which we can attempt to understand and represent it. The author offers a summary of this controversy, which has been argued over since at least the tenth century, presenting previous scholarly opinions and theories. She argues that one possible way of understanding the fundamental meanings of the Hebrew verbs is by examining the role played in ordering time by the four main verb forms used in biblical Hebrew narrative. Accordingly, emphasis is given to the intersentential use of these forms and the variety of interesting ways in which they establish the order of events.Less
This book addresses the problem of temporal interpretation within narrative of the biblical Hebrew verb, thus exploring the broader issue of the expression of time in language and the ways in which we can attempt to understand and represent it. The author offers a summary of this controversy, which has been argued over since at least the tenth century, presenting previous scholarly opinions and theories. She argues that one possible way of understanding the fundamental meanings of the Hebrew verbs is by examining the role played in ordering time by the four main verb forms used in biblical Hebrew narrative. Accordingly, emphasis is given to the intersentential use of these forms and the variety of interesting ways in which they establish the order of events.
Jeff Good
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780197264102
- eISBN:
- 9780191734380
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264102.003.0009
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This chapter discusses some morphological idiosyncrasies that involve the four Bantu verbal suffixes. The terms passivization and applicativization are used in the chapter to refer to abstract ...
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This chapter discusses some morphological idiosyncrasies that involve the four Bantu verbal suffixes. The terms passivization and applicativization are used in the chapter to refer to abstract morphological processes that can be applied to basic verb roots. These can create derived verb stems that show the syntax and semantics that are associated with those terms. Background information on the Bantu verb stem is provided in the second section, while the third section features a simpler morphological irregularity found in the verb stem. The chapter also discusses morphological mismatches in the verb stem and various classes of deponent verb stems.Less
This chapter discusses some morphological idiosyncrasies that involve the four Bantu verbal suffixes. The terms passivization and applicativization are used in the chapter to refer to abstract morphological processes that can be applied to basic verb roots. These can create derived verb stems that show the syntax and semantics that are associated with those terms. Background information on the Bantu verb stem is provided in the second section, while the third section features a simpler morphological irregularity found in the verb stem. The chapter also discusses morphological mismatches in the verb stem and various classes of deponent verb stems.
Terry Crowley
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780198241355
- eISBN:
- 9780191712050
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198241355.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics, Language Families
This book describes the diversity of serial verb constructions within Oceanic languages and constitutes a full account of this unusual linguistic phenomenon. Serial verb constructions are sequences ...
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This book describes the diversity of serial verb constructions within Oceanic languages and constitutes a full account of this unusual linguistic phenomenon. Serial verb constructions are sequences of verbs placed one after another to express meanings which in other languages are typically expressed by means of single verbs. It has long been established that languages in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea are serializing languages, but the construction has only comparatively recently been recognized in Oceanic languages, which belong to a very large subgroup of the Austronesian family. Based on research throughout the Pacific region, the book demonstrates that patterns of serial verbs can exhibit structural diversity even within a single language, and examines how serial verbs originate. It also investigates issues such as language contact and functional issues in language change. Serial verbs are often subject to reanalysis and this book investigates how they have developed new grammatical functions in different languages.Less
This book describes the diversity of serial verb constructions within Oceanic languages and constitutes a full account of this unusual linguistic phenomenon. Serial verb constructions are sequences of verbs placed one after another to express meanings which in other languages are typically expressed by means of single verbs. It has long been established that languages in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea are serializing languages, but the construction has only comparatively recently been recognized in Oceanic languages, which belong to a very large subgroup of the Austronesian family. Based on research throughout the Pacific region, the book demonstrates that patterns of serial verbs can exhibit structural diversity even within a single language, and examines how serial verbs originate. It also investigates issues such as language contact and functional issues in language change. Serial verbs are often subject to reanalysis and this book investigates how they have developed new grammatical functions in different languages.
Paola Monachesi
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199274758
- eISBN:
- 9780191705908
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199274758.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book explores the interface between syntax and the other components of the grammar, particularly phonology, morphology, and argument structure. It contains case studies, on subjects such as ...
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This book explores the interface between syntax and the other components of the grammar, particularly phonology, morphology, and argument structure. It contains case studies, on subjects such as clitics and complex predicates (auxiliary and modal verbs) in Romance and grounding theoretical analysis in constant exemplification. It shows that a careful analysis of their properties can lead to a better understanding of the interaction of the various components of the grammar. The syntactic properties of clitics are considered in relation to their phonological and morphological characteristic. The properties of auxiliary verbs are analysed from the perspective of the interface between argument structure and syntactic structure. Modal verbs are examined at the interface between syntax and phonology. The analyses of clitics and auxiliaries shed new light on the link between Romanian and Balkan/Slavic.Less
This book explores the interface between syntax and the other components of the grammar, particularly phonology, morphology, and argument structure. It contains case studies, on subjects such as clitics and complex predicates (auxiliary and modal verbs) in Romance and grounding theoretical analysis in constant exemplification. It shows that a careful analysis of their properties can lead to a better understanding of the interaction of the various components of the grammar. The syntactic properties of clitics are considered in relation to their phonological and morphological characteristic. The properties of auxiliary verbs are analysed from the perspective of the interface between argument structure and syntactic structure. Modal verbs are examined at the interface between syntax and phonology. The analyses of clitics and auxiliaries shed new light on the link between Romanian and Balkan/Slavic.
Lutz Marten
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199250639
- eISBN:
- 9780191719479
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199250639.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics, Syntax and Morphology
This book develops a new analysis of the interpretation of verb phrases and VP adjunction by arguing that the lexical subcategorization information of verbs is systematically underspecified and is ...
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This book develops a new analysis of the interpretation of verb phrases and VP adjunction by arguing that the lexical subcategorization information of verbs is systematically underspecified and is only resolved when verb phrases are built in context, with recourse to pragmatic knowledge. This idea is formally implemented in the framework Dynamic Syntax by introducing an underspecified semantic type into the logical system. This provides an account of how verb phrases are built on-line and how verbs can be used with a different array of complements on each occasion of use. Under this dynamic view, the interpretation of verbs is argued to be essentially pragmatic, making use of the notion of ad hoc concept formation developed in Relevance theory. The approach is illustrated in detail by a case study of Swahili applied verbs. The study brings together results from dynamic approaches to syntax and Relevance theoretic pragmatics, and charts the stretch of the syntax-pragmatic interface where lexical information from verbs and contextual concept formation meet.Less
This book develops a new analysis of the interpretation of verb phrases and VP adjunction by arguing that the lexical subcategorization information of verbs is systematically underspecified and is only resolved when verb phrases are built in context, with recourse to pragmatic knowledge. This idea is formally implemented in the framework Dynamic Syntax by introducing an underspecified semantic type into the logical system. This provides an account of how verb phrases are built on-line and how verbs can be used with a different array of complements on each occasion of use. Under this dynamic view, the interpretation of verbs is argued to be essentially pragmatic, making use of the notion of ad hoc concept formation developed in Relevance theory. The approach is illustrated in detail by a case study of Swahili applied verbs. The study brings together results from dynamic approaches to syntax and Relevance theoretic pragmatics, and charts the stretch of the syntax-pragmatic interface where lexical information from verbs and contextual concept formation meet.
Tal Goldfajn
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198269533
- eISBN:
- 9780191683671
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198269533.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
This chapter examines how the basic relations of anteriority, simultaneity, and posteriority between different events are realized within each temporal set-up in a number of classical biblical Hebrew ...
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This chapter examines how the basic relations of anteriority, simultaneity, and posteriority between different events are realized within each temporal set-up in a number of classical biblical Hebrew (BH) narrative texts. It identifies the common verb order sequences commonly employed to convey anteriority, simultaneity, and posteriority in the basic temporal set-ups. It provides examples to show how some common verb forms are used in narrative to express temporal relations.Less
This chapter examines how the basic relations of anteriority, simultaneity, and posteriority between different events are realized within each temporal set-up in a number of classical biblical Hebrew (BH) narrative texts. It identifies the common verb order sequences commonly employed to convey anteriority, simultaneity, and posteriority in the basic temporal set-ups. It provides examples to show how some common verb forms are used in narrative to express temporal relations.
Gregory D. S. Anderson
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199280315
- eISBN:
- 9780191707186
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199280315.003.0003
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Language Families
This chapter addresses the LEX-headed inflectional pattern. In this construction, the lexical verb bears all the obligatory inflectional categories, and the auxiliary verb may appear in an ...
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This chapter addresses the LEX-headed inflectional pattern. In this construction, the lexical verb bears all the obligatory inflectional categories, and the auxiliary verb may appear in an uninflecting form, expressing only the category that it functions to encode. This construction is noteworthy insofar as the phrasal or syntactic head is generally the auxiliary verb, but the inflectional head is the lexical verb. In many descriptions, the auxiliary in the LEX-headed pattern is analysed as an uninflecting particle. However, when considering the functional semantics of the element and the fact that these historically originate from verbal elements, the semantics of which are in accord with the semantic developments typical of the process of auxiliation, it seems clear that these in certain instances should rather be considered as reflecting an AVC of the LEX-headed inflectional pattern. Lexical verbs, although bearing obligatory inflectional categories for the clause (other than those embodied or encoded by the auxiliary itself), may also bear an overt marker of dependency, further underscoring their presence in a grammaticalized AVC, albeit one in which the auxiliary itself bears no inflection. The LEX-headed pattern here also includes situations in which there is a dummy third singular ‘clausal’ subject marker found with the auxiliary, sometimes reflecting the construction’s origin in a reanalysed biclausal verb plus complement structure or in an ambient serialization construction.Less
This chapter addresses the LEX-headed inflectional pattern. In this construction, the lexical verb bears all the obligatory inflectional categories, and the auxiliary verb may appear in an uninflecting form, expressing only the category that it functions to encode. This construction is noteworthy insofar as the phrasal or syntactic head is generally the auxiliary verb, but the inflectional head is the lexical verb. In many descriptions, the auxiliary in the LEX-headed pattern is analysed as an uninflecting particle. However, when considering the functional semantics of the element and the fact that these historically originate from verbal elements, the semantics of which are in accord with the semantic developments typical of the process of auxiliation, it seems clear that these in certain instances should rather be considered as reflecting an AVC of the LEX-headed inflectional pattern. Lexical verbs, although bearing obligatory inflectional categories for the clause (other than those embodied or encoded by the auxiliary itself), may also bear an overt marker of dependency, further underscoring their presence in a grammaticalized AVC, albeit one in which the auxiliary itself bears no inflection. The LEX-headed pattern here also includes situations in which there is a dummy third singular ‘clausal’ subject marker found with the auxiliary, sometimes reflecting the construction’s origin in a reanalysed biclausal verb plus complement structure or in an ambient serialization construction.
Gregory D.S. Anderson
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199280315
- eISBN:
- 9780191707186
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199280315.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Language Families
This book presents findings from a long-term study of a range of complex predicate types subsumed under the heading, Auxiliary Verb Constructions (AVCs), drawing on a database of over 800 languages. ...
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This book presents findings from a long-term study of a range of complex predicate types subsumed under the heading, Auxiliary Verb Constructions (AVCs), drawing on a database of over 800 languages. Chapter 1 discusses how the terms auxiliary verb and auxiliary verb construction are understood, and then provides an overview of the kinds of functional categories that AVCs serve to encode. A cursory typology is offered of the patterns of encoding inflectional/morphosyntactic/ functional semantic categories in AVCs, and notions of functional and formal headedness within AVCs are introduced. Five macro-patterns of inflection emerge, each with several sub-patterns. Chapters 2 to 5 are dedicated to the presentation of the varied sub-types of inflectional patterns seen in AVCs. These are called the AUX-headed, LEX-headed, doubled, and the split and split/doubled patterns. Each of these is extensively exemplified. In the final two chapters, various aspects of the diachronic origins of AVCs are discussed. Chapter 6 discusses where AVCs go once they have been grammaticalized, offering a range of complex verb forms that have derived from each of the inflectional macro-patterns of AVCs. Chapter 7 discusses diachronic origins of AVCs. This includes a discussion of both typical lexical source semantics for the grammaticalization paths of individual functional subtypes of AVC as well as the syntactic source construction types for each of the five macro-patterns and some of their more common sub-patterns. These source constructions draw into the discussion of how auxiliary verb constructions fit within the broadest possible typology of complex predicate phenomena. It offers an analysis of not only AVCs, but also such related complex predicate phenomena as serial verb constructions, verb complement structures, coordinate and clause chaining constructions, ‘light’ verbs, etc.Less
This book presents findings from a long-term study of a range of complex predicate types subsumed under the heading, Auxiliary Verb Constructions (AVCs), drawing on a database of over 800 languages. Chapter 1 discusses how the terms auxiliary verb and auxiliary verb construction are understood, and then provides an overview of the kinds of functional categories that AVCs serve to encode. A cursory typology is offered of the patterns of encoding inflectional/morphosyntactic/ functional semantic categories in AVCs, and notions of functional and formal headedness within AVCs are introduced. Five macro-patterns of inflection emerge, each with several sub-patterns. Chapters 2 to 5 are dedicated to the presentation of the varied sub-types of inflectional patterns seen in AVCs. These are called the AUX-headed, LEX-headed, doubled, and the split and split/doubled patterns. Each of these is extensively exemplified. In the final two chapters, various aspects of the diachronic origins of AVCs are discussed. Chapter 6 discusses where AVCs go once they have been grammaticalized, offering a range of complex verb forms that have derived from each of the inflectional macro-patterns of AVCs. Chapter 7 discusses diachronic origins of AVCs. This includes a discussion of both typical lexical source semantics for the grammaticalization paths of individual functional subtypes of AVC as well as the syntactic source construction types for each of the five macro-patterns and some of their more common sub-patterns. These source constructions draw into the discussion of how auxiliary verb constructions fit within the broadest possible typology of complex predicate phenomena. It offers an analysis of not only AVCs, but also such related complex predicate phenomena as serial verb constructions, verb complement structures, coordinate and clause chaining constructions, ‘light’ verbs, etc.
Ronald W. Langacker
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195331967
- eISBN:
- 9780199868209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331967.003.0005
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
Despite being polar opposites conceptually, the two most fundamental grammatical classes—noun and verb—show extensive parallelism. One similarity is that both divide into two major subclasses: count ...
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Despite being polar opposites conceptually, the two most fundamental grammatical classes—noun and verb—show extensive parallelism. One similarity is that both divide into two major subclasses: count vs. mass for nouns, perfective vs. imperfective for verbs. Allowing for the intrinsic conceptual difference between nouns and verbs, these oppositions are precisely the same. The essential feature of count nouns and perfective verbs is that the profiled thing or process is construed as being bounded within the immediate scope in a particular cognitive domain: the domain of instantiation, characterized as the domain where instances of a type are primarily conceived as residing and are distinguished from one another by their locations. For nouns, the domain of instantiation varies, although space is prototypical; for verbs, the relevant domain is always time. Correlated with bounding are other distinguishing properties: internal heterogeneity (for count and perfective) vs. homogeneity (for mass and imperfective); contractibility (the property of masses and imperfectives whereby any subpart of an instance is itself an instance of its type); and expansibility (whereby combining two mass or imperfective instances yields a single, larger instance). Count vs. mass and perfective vs. imperfective are not rigid lexical distinctions, but are malleable owing to alternate construals as well as systematic patterns of extension. The conceptual characterization of perfective and imperfective verbs explains their contrasting behavior with respect to the English progressive and present tense.Less
Despite being polar opposites conceptually, the two most fundamental grammatical classes—noun and verb—show extensive parallelism. One similarity is that both divide into two major subclasses: count vs. mass for nouns, perfective vs. imperfective for verbs. Allowing for the intrinsic conceptual difference between nouns and verbs, these oppositions are precisely the same. The essential feature of count nouns and perfective verbs is that the profiled thing or process is construed as being bounded within the immediate scope in a particular cognitive domain: the domain of instantiation, characterized as the domain where instances of a type are primarily conceived as residing and are distinguished from one another by their locations. For nouns, the domain of instantiation varies, although space is prototypical; for verbs, the relevant domain is always time. Correlated with bounding are other distinguishing properties: internal heterogeneity (for count and perfective) vs. homogeneity (for mass and imperfective); contractibility (the property of masses and imperfectives whereby any subpart of an instance is itself an instance of its type); and expansibility (whereby combining two mass or imperfective instances yields a single, larger instance). Count vs. mass and perfective vs. imperfective are not rigid lexical distinctions, but are malleable owing to alternate construals as well as systematic patterns of extension. The conceptual characterization of perfective and imperfective verbs explains their contrasting behavior with respect to the English progressive and present tense.
Bettelou Los
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199274765
- eISBN:
- 9780191705885
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199274765.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter argues that the occurrence of the to-infinitive after verbs expressing meanings like ‘intend’ or ‘want’, or the negative counterparts ‘fear’ or ‘avoid’ represents an innovation. Unlike ...
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This chapter argues that the occurrence of the to-infinitive after verbs expressing meanings like ‘intend’ or ‘want’, or the negative counterparts ‘fear’ or ‘avoid’ represents an innovation. Unlike the verbs discussed in the previous chapter, these verbs never occurred with a to-prepositional phrase, so that the presence of the to-infinitive requires a different explanation. The best predictor for the distribution of a to-infinitive after verbs of this group in Old English is that of the subjunctive þæt-clause. As subjunctive þæt-clauses and to-infinitives had occurred side by side as expressions of the adjunct of purpose and of the GOAL-argument, this may have led them to be analysed as each other’s equivalents, as if the to-infinitive had come to be regarded as a non-finite subjunctive clause. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the only environment in which bare infinitive and to-infinitive occur side by side: verbs with the meaning ‘begin’.Less
This chapter argues that the occurrence of the to-infinitive after verbs expressing meanings like ‘intend’ or ‘want’, or the negative counterparts ‘fear’ or ‘avoid’ represents an innovation. Unlike the verbs discussed in the previous chapter, these verbs never occurred with a to-prepositional phrase, so that the presence of the to-infinitive requires a different explanation. The best predictor for the distribution of a to-infinitive after verbs of this group in Old English is that of the subjunctive þæt-clause. As subjunctive þæt-clauses and to-infinitives had occurred side by side as expressions of the adjunct of purpose and of the GOAL-argument, this may have led them to be analysed as each other’s equivalents, as if the to-infinitive had come to be regarded as a non-finite subjunctive clause. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the only environment in which bare infinitive and to-infinitive occur side by side: verbs with the meaning ‘begin’.
Don Ringe
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199284139
- eISBN:
- 9780191712562
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199284139.003.0004
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter is a grammatical sketch of Proto-Germanic, parallel to the sketch of Proto-Indo-European in Chapter 2. The section on phonology discusses the Verner’s Law alternation; automatic vocalic ...
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This chapter is a grammatical sketch of Proto-Germanic, parallel to the sketch of Proto-Indo-European in Chapter 2. The section on phonology discusses the Verner’s Law alternation; automatic vocalic alternations; and the ablaut system at length. The section on inflectional morphology discusses the classes of strong, weak, preterite-present, and anomalous verbs, as well as the various classes of nominals. Short sections on derivational morphology, syntax, and the lexicon are included; the last concentrates on loanwords in Proto-Germanic.Less
This chapter is a grammatical sketch of Proto-Germanic, parallel to the sketch of Proto-Indo-European in Chapter 2. The section on phonology discusses the Verner’s Law alternation; automatic vocalic alternations; and the ablaut system at length. The section on inflectional morphology discusses the classes of strong, weak, preterite-present, and anomalous verbs, as well as the various classes of nominals. Short sections on derivational morphology, syntax, and the lexicon are included; the last concentrates on loanwords in Proto-Germanic.
Roland Hinterhölzl
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195308211
- eISBN:
- 9780199867318
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195308211.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book studies three salient phenomena of the West Germanic language group, namely scrambling, remnant movement and restructuring, and discusses their interrelatedness. It shows that scrambling ...
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This book studies three salient phenomena of the West Germanic language group, namely scrambling, remnant movement and restructuring, and discusses their interrelatedness. It shows that scrambling cannot be taken to create the remnant categories necessary for VO-topicalization and the formation of verb clusters in restructuring infinitives. Instead, the book argues that remnant categories are created by licensing movement and that restructuring involves remnant movement of large portions of the infinitival clause. Restructuring breaks down into movement of the infinitival AspP, which accounts for the formation of verb clusters, and the infinitival TP, which is responsible for the general transparency of restructuring infinitives, into dedicated licensing positions in the matrix clause. These movements follow from a general theory of sentential complementation. Furthermore, the book argues that only a biclausal account can provide a uniform explanation for the properties of all types of restructuring infinitives; and it shows that the distribution of adverbs/adjuncts differs from the one found in single clauses and therefore calls for the existence of (at least) two licensing domains in restructuring infinitives. Secondly, it shows that the binding properties of all types of coherent infinitives differ from the binding properties of simple clauses, and arguments for the presumed monoclausal nature of coherent to-infinitives, derived from the existence of long passives, are discarded. Finally, the book proposes a uniform format for the different types of verb clusters in German, Dutch, and West Flemish, which accounts for the appearance/non-appearance of the IPP-effect and provides the basis for accounting for the different properties of VP-topicalization in these languages. These properties follow from the fine structure, in essence the branching nature, of the different verb clusters in these languages and the Phase Impenetrability Condition.Less
This book studies three salient phenomena of the West Germanic language group, namely scrambling, remnant movement and restructuring, and discusses their interrelatedness. It shows that scrambling cannot be taken to create the remnant categories necessary for VO-topicalization and the formation of verb clusters in restructuring infinitives. Instead, the book argues that remnant categories are created by licensing movement and that restructuring involves remnant movement of large portions of the infinitival clause. Restructuring breaks down into movement of the infinitival AspP, which accounts for the formation of verb clusters, and the infinitival TP, which is responsible for the general transparency of restructuring infinitives, into dedicated licensing positions in the matrix clause. These movements follow from a general theory of sentential complementation. Furthermore, the book argues that only a biclausal account can provide a uniform explanation for the properties of all types of restructuring infinitives; and it shows that the distribution of adverbs/adjuncts differs from the one found in single clauses and therefore calls for the existence of (at least) two licensing domains in restructuring infinitives. Secondly, it shows that the binding properties of all types of coherent infinitives differ from the binding properties of simple clauses, and arguments for the presumed monoclausal nature of coherent to-infinitives, derived from the existence of long passives, are discarded. Finally, the book proposes a uniform format for the different types of verb clusters in German, Dutch, and West Flemish, which accounts for the appearance/non-appearance of the IPP-effect and provides the basis for accounting for the different properties of VP-topicalization in these languages. These properties follow from the fine structure, in essence the branching nature, of the different verb clusters in these languages and the Phase Impenetrability Condition.
Artemis Alexiadou, Elena Anagnostopoulou, and Martin Everaert (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199257652
- eISBN:
- 9780191717772
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199257652.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
The phenomenon of unaccusativity is a central focus for the study of the complex properties of verb classes. The Unaccusative Hypothesis, first formulated in 1978, claimed that there are two classes ...
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The phenomenon of unaccusativity is a central focus for the study of the complex properties of verb classes. The Unaccusative Hypothesis, first formulated in 1978, claimed that there are two classes of intransitive verbs: the unaccusative (Jill arrived) and the unergative or agentive (Jill sings). The hypothesis has provided a rich context for debating whether syntactic behaviour is semantically or lexically determined, the consequence of syntactic context, or a combination of these factors. No consensus has been reached. This book combines new approaches to the subject and contains several chapters reproducing papers that have achieved a significant status even though formally unpublished. Among the issues the chapters address are: the determination of the unaccusative class of verbs, the problem of unaccusativity diagnostics, the implications of special morphology for the structural representation of unaccusatives and the status of the external thematic role, the properties guiding the unergative versus unaccusative distinction in acquisition, and the properties of second-language lexicon.Less
The phenomenon of unaccusativity is a central focus for the study of the complex properties of verb classes. The Unaccusative Hypothesis, first formulated in 1978, claimed that there are two classes of intransitive verbs: the unaccusative (Jill arrived) and the unergative or agentive (Jill sings). The hypothesis has provided a rich context for debating whether syntactic behaviour is semantically or lexically determined, the consequence of syntactic context, or a combination of these factors. No consensus has been reached. This book combines new approaches to the subject and contains several chapters reproducing papers that have achieved a significant status even though formally unpublished. Among the issues the chapters address are: the determination of the unaccusative class of verbs, the problem of unaccusativity diagnostics, the implications of special morphology for the structural representation of unaccusatives and the status of the external thematic role, the properties guiding the unergative versus unaccusative distinction in acquisition, and the properties of second-language lexicon.
Christopher Piñón
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- May 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199544325
- eISBN:
- 9780191720536
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199544325.003.0013
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter is concerned with the denotation of the object argument of verbs of creation. Through an examination of the verb draw, Piñón argues that the object of verbs of creation cannot in general ...
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This chapter is concerned with the denotation of the object argument of verbs of creation. Through an examination of the verb draw, Piñón argues that the object of verbs of creation cannot in general denote ordinary individuals. In particular, Piñón argues for three different readings of draw a house, depending on the denotation of the object. Thus, not only ordinary individuals or images of ordinary individuals satisfy the predicate house, but abstract individuals such as house‐depictions and house‐descriptions, which are not necessarily related to ordinary individuals. He distinguishes two different ‘relational’ readings of draw a house, which involve the depiction either of a particular house or of a particular house‐description, from the ‘notional’ reading which involves a general house‐depiction, but no house or house‐description in particular. The argument is based not only on the semantic differences between the three readings, but also on the fact that in some languages (Piñón describes Hungarian) these three readings correspond to three different verbs.Less
This chapter is concerned with the denotation of the object argument of verbs of creation. Through an examination of the verb draw, Piñón argues that the object of verbs of creation cannot in general denote ordinary individuals. In particular, Piñón argues for three different readings of draw a house, depending on the denotation of the object. Thus, not only ordinary individuals or images of ordinary individuals satisfy the predicate house, but abstract individuals such as house‐depictions and house‐descriptions, which are not necessarily related to ordinary individuals. He distinguishes two different ‘relational’ readings of draw a house, which involve the depiction either of a particular house or of a particular house‐description, from the ‘notional’ reading which involves a general house‐depiction, but no house or house‐description in particular. The argument is based not only on the semantic differences between the three readings, but also on the fact that in some languages (Piñón describes Hungarian) these three readings correspond to three different verbs.
Stephen Anderson
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199279906
- eISBN:
- 9780191707131
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199279906.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book is about the grammar of clitics. It considers all points of view, including their phonology and syntax and relation to morphology. In the process, it deals with the relation of second ...
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This book is about the grammar of clitics. It considers all points of view, including their phonology and syntax and relation to morphology. In the process, it deals with the relation of second position clitics to verb-second phenomena in Germanic and other languages, the grammar of contracted auxiliary verbs in English, noun incorporation constructions, and several other much discussed topics in grammar. The book includes analyses of a number of particular languages, and some of these — such as Kwakw'ala (nullKwakiutlnull) and Surmiran Rumantsch — are based on the author's own field research. The study of clitics has broad implications for a general understanding of sentence structure in natural language.Less
This book is about the grammar of clitics. It considers all points of view, including their phonology and syntax and relation to morphology. In the process, it deals with the relation of second position clitics to verb-second phenomena in Germanic and other languages, the grammar of contracted auxiliary verbs in English, noun incorporation constructions, and several other much discussed topics in grammar. The book includes analyses of a number of particular languages, and some of these — such as Kwakw'ala (nullKwakiutlnull) and Surmiran Rumantsch — are based on the author's own field research. The study of clitics has broad implications for a general understanding of sentence structure in natural language.
Ronald W. Langacker
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195331967
- eISBN:
- 9780199868209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331967.003.0011
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
A full clause profiles a grounded instance of a process type. Conceptual archetypes function as the prototypical values of basic clause types and clausal elements. Languages naturally differ in their ...
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A full clause profiles a grounded instance of a process type. Conceptual archetypes function as the prototypical values of basic clause types and clausal elements. Languages naturally differ in their implementation of this general characterization, and within a language clauses are varied and complex. Subject and object are defined schematically as trajector and landmark, i.e. primary and secondary focal participant. In most languages a particular semantic role represents the typical choice of trajector: either agent or theme (a patient-like participant). Each is the starting point along a natural path: the path of energy flow in the case of agent, and a path based on conceptual autonomy in the case of theme. In varied proportions and for different grammatical phenomena, every language makes some use of these two basic strategies. This is the basis for nominative/accusative, ergative/absolutive, and agent/patient organization. It can be argued that subject is a grammatical universal when defined abstractly in terms of primary focal prominence. In addition to the most typical clausal organization, every language offers a variety of alternatives for special purposes. Voice alternations (such as active, passive, and middle) pertain to the semantic role of the participant focused as trajector. The trajector can also be a non-participant, e.g. a setting or location. There is comparable variation in the choice of landmark, resulting in different kinds of objects. In agent-oriented languages, clauses which choose the theme as trajector represent an important secondary option. The verb of a clause is often complex. In addition to incorporating nominal or adverbial elements, the verb can exhibit layers of morphological derivation, be a phrase instead of a single word, or even consist in a series of verb-like elements.Less
A full clause profiles a grounded instance of a process type. Conceptual archetypes function as the prototypical values of basic clause types and clausal elements. Languages naturally differ in their implementation of this general characterization, and within a language clauses are varied and complex. Subject and object are defined schematically as trajector and landmark, i.e. primary and secondary focal participant. In most languages a particular semantic role represents the typical choice of trajector: either agent or theme (a patient-like participant). Each is the starting point along a natural path: the path of energy flow in the case of agent, and a path based on conceptual autonomy in the case of theme. In varied proportions and for different grammatical phenomena, every language makes some use of these two basic strategies. This is the basis for nominative/accusative, ergative/absolutive, and agent/patient organization. It can be argued that subject is a grammatical universal when defined abstractly in terms of primary focal prominence. In addition to the most typical clausal organization, every language offers a variety of alternatives for special purposes. Voice alternations (such as active, passive, and middle) pertain to the semantic role of the participant focused as trajector. The trajector can also be a non-participant, e.g. a setting or location. There is comparable variation in the choice of landmark, resulting in different kinds of objects. In agent-oriented languages, clauses which choose the theme as trajector represent an important secondary option. The verb of a clause is often complex. In addition to incorporating nominal or adverbial elements, the verb can exhibit layers of morphological derivation, be a phrase instead of a single word, or even consist in a series of verb-like elements.
Bettelou Los
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199274765
- eISBN:
- 9780191705885
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199274765.003.0002
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter describes the earliest syntactic function of the to-infinitive: that of purpose adjunct, as in Present-day English, I left early to catch the train. Data from Gothic and Old English show ...
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This chapter describes the earliest syntactic function of the to-infinitive: that of purpose adjunct, as in Present-day English, I left early to catch the train. Data from Gothic and Old English show that this function could be encoded by three expressions: the du- or to-infinitive, the du- or to-prepositional phrase, and the subjunctive clause introduced by ei in Gothic and by þæt in Old English. It has been claimed in the literature that the bare infinitive could also express purpose in Old English, but a closer look at the data shows that these infinitives occur after verbs of motion and rest, and are parallel to the present participles in Present-day English, he came running, he sat thinking. Such bare infinitives do not express purpose by simultaneity.Less
This chapter describes the earliest syntactic function of the to-infinitive: that of purpose adjunct, as in Present-day English, I left early to catch the train. Data from Gothic and Old English show that this function could be encoded by three expressions: the du- or to-infinitive, the du- or to-prepositional phrase, and the subjunctive clause introduced by ei in Gothic and by þæt in Old English. It has been claimed in the literature that the bare infinitive could also express purpose in Old English, but a closer look at the data shows that these infinitives occur after verbs of motion and rest, and are parallel to the present participles in Present-day English, he came running, he sat thinking. Such bare infinitives do not express purpose by simultaneity.
