scholarly journals Building verbs in language mixing varieties

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Artemis Alexiadou

AbstractThis paper discusses two patterns of language mixing involving verbal predicates produced by bilingual speakers, the so-called light verb construction and the so-called affixal pattern. The empirical focus of the study is on Greek-German and Cypriot Greek-English varieties, which are contrasted to the Spanish-German variety discussed in González-Vilbazo and López (2011). An analysis of the constructions is offered using the tools of Distributed Morphology and Minimalist Syntax. The paper shows that bilingual speakers have very detailed knowledge of fine properties of their two linguistic systems that become apparent in the context of building verbs.

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Babak Sharif ◽  
Mohammad Amouzadeh

<p>Persian Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) have been studied by many scholars. Yet, little attention has been paid to the process of LVC formation. This paper aims to situate the components of Persian light verb constructions in contexts that can be justifiably invoked as a motivation for LVC formation. We will investigate the issue by arguing that Persian LVCs can be analyzed in terms of incorporation process. This process, explained from a cognitive viewpoint, involves LVCs originating from complete clauses, then passing through a <em>compositional path</em> (Langacker 1987, 2008) where a nonverbal and a verbal element are selected out of a kernel clause and end up in a complex predicate (CPr). The investigation will be primarily focused on the LVCs constructed with<em> </em>LV<em> kardan </em>‘do, make’, as the most frequently used light verb in Persian. The paper will also explore how different paths could be associated with certain particular ‘light’ meanings of<em> kardan. </em>The resulting LVCs may further yield <em>constructional schemas</em> upon which other LVCs formed with a given LV can be formed.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Light verb construction, Complex predicate, Incorporation, Persian</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weina Zhao ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Huidan Liu ◽  
Jian Wu

1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATE KEARNS

The sequence make the claim that S has certain syntactic properties which indicate the presence of some sort of complex predicate, previously suggested to be a Light Verb Construction (LVC) or a reanalysis of N and V to a complex V. I consider and reject both these proposals, and propose an alternative structure which is still a type of complex predicate. Adopting the Locality framework of Manzini (1992, 1994), I show that a syntactic account of extractions from make the claim follows straightforwardly. I also show that extraction from make the claim is distinct from extraction from indefinites.


Author(s):  
Incheol Choi ◽  
Stephen Wechsler

The Korean Light Verb Construction (LVC) contains a Sino-Korean main predicate (tayhwa-lul), a Light Verb (ha-ta), and semantic arguments of the main predicate (John-i, Tom-kwa):           John-i        Tom-kwa tayhwa-lul  ha-yess-ta.          John-Nom Tom-with talk-Acc     do-Pst-Dc                         'John talked with Tom.' We defend a three-part analysis:  (i) The subject of the main predicate is thematically controlled by the LV's subject.  Evidence: Korean verbs assigning Accusative take an external argument (Wechsler/Lee 1996; Burzio's Generalization).  Since the main predicate is Accusative, ha-ta must theta-mark its subject.  Moreover ha-ta selects a non-stative Verbal Noun (VN) (cp. *kyumson-ul ha-ta 'humble-Acc do-Dc'); non-stative theta-structures typically take an external argument (Kang 1986). This control arises through complex predicate formation.  (ii) Oblique arguments (PPs) are optionally transferred (cp. Grimshaw/Mester 1988) — but Accusative NPs are not.  Evidence comes from relativization and pronoun replacement.  (iii) Accusative is assigned by a mixed category Verbal Noun.  This can be supported by adverbial clauses with VN's assigning Accusative without LV's.  We review cross-linguistic evidence for both argument transfer (German; Hinrichs & Nakazawa; i.a.) and mixed categories (many languages, Malouf; i.a.) and show that Korean LVCs provide the right environment for both to occur.


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