scholarly journals First Phase Syntax of Persian Complex Predicates: Argument Structure and Telicity

Nordlyd ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Pantcheva
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Light Verb

In this paper, I propose an analysis of Persian complex predicates, based on the First Phase Verbal syntax developed by Ramchand (2008). I suggest that the light verbs lexicalize the subevent heads into which the verbal phrase is decomposed, while the preverbal element occupies the Rheme position and semantically unifies with the light verb to build one joint predication. Further, I propose a feature specification for some of the most productive light verbs. I argue that the light verb is responsible for the argument structure of the entire predicate (in line with Megerdoomian 2002b, Folli et al. 2005), while the aspectual properties of the complex predicate depend on the interaction between the preverb and the light verb.

The syntax of argument structure: Evidence from Italian complex predicates

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAFFAELLA FOLLI ◽  
HEIDI HARLEY
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Syntactic Approach ◽  
The Subject

This paper provides an analysis of Italian complex predicates formed by combining a feminine nominalization in -ata and one of three light verbs: fare ‘make’, dare ‘give’ and prendere ‘take’. We show that the constraints governing the choice of light verb follow from a syntactic approach to argument structure, and that several interpretive differences between complex and simplex predicates formed from the same verb root can be accounted for in a compositional, bottom–up approach. These differences include variation in creation vs. affected interpretations of Theme objects, implications concerning the size of the event described, the (un)availability of a passive alternant, and the agentivity or lack thereof of the subject argument.

scholarly journals The diachrony of complex predicates

Diachronica ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Bowern
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Stable Structures ◽  
State Of The Field

While complex predicate constructions, including light verb structures and verb serialisation, are found in many of the world’s languages, there has been little diachronic work on these structures to date. In this paper I survey the state of the field and describe current ideas on the origins and development of complex predicates. In particular, I show that the assumption of cline-like development from parataxis to affix (through serialisation, light verbs and auxiliation) is too simplistic. Finally, I review arguments in favor of and against views of light verbs as stable structures.

scholarly journals Complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Role And Reference Grammar ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Matrix Verb

This paper characterises complex predicates and light verb constructions in Modern Irish. Light verbs are attested in many of the world’s languages (Alsina, Bresnan & Sells, 2001; Butt, 1995, 2003). Cross linguistically, there appears to be a common class of verbs involved in these constructions and generally there is agreement that light verbs contribute to the formation of complex predicates. Light verbs seem have a non-light or ‘heavy’ verb counterpart. In this paper we discuss the light verb constructions (LVC) as found in modern Irish and how they form complex predicates. We claim that the light verb (LV) encodes the event process initiation (or cause) and the matrix verb indicates the bounded component or result. In light verb constructions, the matrix verb appears in Modern Irish syntax as a verbal-noun form. The function of light verbs in these constructions is to modulate the event and sub-event semantics. We distinguish between auxiliary verbs constructions (AVC) and those constructions involving complex predicated and light verbs (Aikhenvald & Dixon, 2006; Anderson, 2006). We provide evidence based on an analysis of Irish data that shows how aspect and argument structure considerations are resolved for the complex predicate within the light verb construction via the linking system between semantics and syntax. We motivate a functional account, based on Role and Reference Grammar (Nolan, 2012; Nolan & Diedrichsen, 2013; Van Valin, 2005; Van Valin & LaPolla, 1997), that appeals to the analysis of complex predicates within a consideration of the layered structure of the clause.

scholarly journals Serialization in Complex Predicates in MalakMalak

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothea Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Closed Class ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Two Systems ◽  
Complex Verbs ◽  
Australian Languages

<p>While complex verbs are well attested in Australian languages and elsewhere, in MalakMalak two systems of multi-verb constructions combine in a typologically rare setup: First, complex predicates consist of an uninflecting open-classed coverb and an inflecting verb (IV) of a closed class of six. Second, coverbs combine in serial constructions as part of a complex predicate with up to four coverbs encoding multiple or single events. This overlap provides a unique opportunity to examine shared and distinctive features. I argue for an analysis of MalakMalak’s complex predicates’ argument structure in terms of argument unification (Bowern 2010) of coverb and IV. </p>

scholarly journals On the Integration of Dative Adjuncts into Event Structures in Yapa Languages

Languages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Mitchell Browne
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Event Structure ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Grammatical Relations ◽  
Event Structures ◽  
Single Argument ◽  
Grammatical Relation ◽  
New Research

Warlpiri and Warlmanpa (Ngumpin-Yapa languages of Australia) exhibit a complex predicate construction in which a class of preverbs introduces a single argument that is not shared by the argument structure of the inflecting verb, nor is there necessarily any shared event structure. This is problematic for many theories of linking structures of complex predicates, since no arguments or events are shared between the predicative elements of the complex predicate. The same grammatical relation is instantiated by a beneficiary adjunct. In light of new research in event and argument structure, I propose a lexical rule which introduces an applicative argument to account for the beneficiary construction; and that the preverbs take another predicate as one of their arguments to account for the complex predicates. The applicative rule and the preverbs both introduce an argument of the same grammatical relation, leading to interesting interactions, given that two grammatical relations of the same type are not expected to co-occur within a single clause.

Rise and be surprised: Aspectual profiling and mirativity in Odia light verb constructions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-164
Author(s):  
Maarten Lemmens ◽  
Kalyanamalini Sahoo
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
The Status ◽  
Main Verb

AbstractIn this paper, we present our Construction Grammar account of light verb constructions in the Indo-Aryan language Odia (earlier known as Oriya). These light verb constructions are asymmetric complex verb predicates that combine a main verb (MV) with a light verb (LV). While the LVs are form-identical with a lexical verb, they are “light” because they have lost their lexical content as well as their argument structure. We argue that LV constructions present a coherent system: (i) they all modulate the interpretation of the event encoded by the main verb by adding a particular aspectual (phasal) profile on the event (i.e. profiling the ONSET, DURATION or COMPLETION of the event) and (ii) some of these light verbs further add a mirative interpretation. The present paper focuses on this subset of “aspectuo-mirative LVs” which can be characterised as non-parasitic expressions of mirativity; in particular, it presents new work on the light verb -uʈh ‘-rise’ that combines a profile on ONSET with mirativity. The constructional view that we present here offers an account of light verbs that is both descriptively and theoretically innovative. Its descriptive value resides in its systematic and fine-grained corpus-based analysis of the formal and semantic features of LVs beyond what is found in the existing literature. The theoretical contribution of our paper not only resides in offering a better understanding of the status of LVs in the grammar, but by situating the semantic value of some of these in the complex category of mirativity, it offers a more unified answer of quite disparate observations in the literature. Finally, we also address the question of whether this mirative value of the aspectuo-mirative LVs is semantic or pragmatic. As we will show, such a strict dichotomy cannot be maintained, which gives further support for a constructional approach.

scholarly journals Complex predicates: Structure, potential structure and underspecification

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Müller
Keyword(s):  
Categorial Grammar ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Actual Structure ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Potential Structure ◽  
Lexical Items

This paper compares a recent TAG-based analysis of complex predicates in Hindi/Urdu with its HPSG analog. It points out that TAG combines actual structure while HPSG (and Categorial Grammar and other valence-based frameworks) specify valence of lexical items and hence potential structure. This makes it possible to have light verbs decide which arguments of embedded heads get realized, something that is not possible in TAG. TAG has to retreat to disjunctions instead. While this allows straight-forward analyses of active/passive alternations based on the light verb in valence-based frameworks, such an option does not exist for TAG and it has to be assumed that preverbs come with different sets of arguments.

Eventuality semantics in Slovak light verb constructions

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Ivanová ◽  
Miroslava Kyseľová
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Light Verbs ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Light Verb ◽  
Verb Constructions

SummaryThe study investigates the eventuality semantics of light verb constructions in Slovak. The presence of temporal/aspectual and relational/argument structure semantic components which represent eventuality structure is seen as the fundamental motivation for usage of these constructions instead of their synthetic verbal pendants. The central role in eventuality semantics is played by light verbs which, in spite of the process of delexicalization or semantic bleaching they undergo, preserve certain semantic characteristics of their full lexical counterparts which are further reinterpreted to express different subtle meaning components related to eventuality structure.

Event Structure and Complex Predicates in Persian

2001 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 97-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine Megerdoomian
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Event Structure ◽  
Word Formation ◽  
Complex Predicates ◽  
Persian Literature ◽  
Complex Predicate ◽  
Light Verb Constructions ◽  
Individual Contributions ◽  
Verbal Construction ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThis article investigates the syntactic and semantic properties of complex predicates in Persian in order to isolate the individual contributions of the verbal components. The event structure of causative alternation and unergative verbs is determined, based on a decomposition of the verbal construction into primitive syntactic elements consisting of lexical roots and functional heads, with the latter projecting all arguments of the verbal construction. An analysis is provided whereby the argument structure is not projected from the lexicon but is formed compositionally by the conjunction of the primitive components of the complex predicate in syntax. The dual behaviour of Persian complex predicates as lexical and syntactic elements, which has been attested in Persian literature on light verb constructions, follows naturally from the analysis proposed since there is no strict division between the level of word formation and the component manipulating phrasal constructs.

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