Syntactic functioning of verbal phraseological units with atypical structure

The question concerning the syntax role of verbal phraseological units with an atypical structure is considered to be one of the complex issues of the syntax of a simple sentence (in their structure, such units do not have a verb component which may reflect such categories as type, tense, person, number). The aim of the research is to analyze the main patterns of the syntax functioning of verbal phraseological units with atypical structure in one- and two-parts sentences of the Belarusian language. The methodological base consists of the works of leading local and foreign linguists in phraseology and syntax. The material for the study is based on the factual material of the reputable phraseological dictionary of Mr. Lepeshev. The main methods are description, comparison, analytical research method, use of elements of quantitative calculations. The article considers the use issues of verbal phraseological units with an atypical structure in two-part sentences with a subject reflecting a person, a concrete or abstract subject. Mostly verb phraseological units are used in full sentences, but they can also be used in incomplete contextual ones. The author substantiates the use patterns of verbal phraseological units with an atypical structure which are used as a simple complexified verbal predicate in a two-parts sentence. The article also names and indicates factors influencing the functioning of verbal phraseological units in the role of linkers or copular parts. Being close in meaning to an infinitive, such units in combination with predicatives play the role of the main member of one-part impersonal sentences. The atypical functions of such units are the functions of definition, complement and adverbial of purpose. The article conclusions can be applied in lectures and practical classes in linguistics and cultural studies, as well as in the preparation of phraseological dictionaries.

Quantifying clause chains in Nungon texts

Clause chains are sequences of clauses with under-specified verbal predicates, plus a single clause with a fully-specified verbal predicate. Clause chains represent the morpho-syntactic demarcation of a speech unit greater than a single clause, but the precise length of this unit is rarely assessed. Clause chain length, distribution, bridging linkage, and non-canonical forms are evaluated in a sample of 64 texts, containing over 1742 clause chains, in the Papuan language Nungon. In the 49 narrative texts, unlike in other genres, total clause chains per text increases as text duration increases. The average clause chain in the sample is 3–4 clauses long; the longest has 22 clauses. Average clause chain length decreases as text length increases. The longest narrative texts have similar average clause chain length, proportion of bridging clauses, and proportion of non-canonical clause chains, and feature a leisurely rhythm: half of their clause chains are minimal, two-clause chains.

Siladang Syntax: A Study of Grammar Typology

The analysis of basic clause structures shows that clauses in Bahasa Siladang consist of verbal and non-verbal predication. The non-verbal predicate can be filled by an adjective, noun, numeral or prepositional phrase. The analysis of the argument structure shows that the intransitive predicate requires one NP argument as the only argument functioning as the grammatical subject, which can be an agent or a patient. Meanwhile, the transitive verb predicate requires two or more arguments. The presence of these arguments in the predicate in transitive sentences is mandatory. The conclusion from the analysis of the grammatical behavior in syntactic construction is that SL is a language which has a grammatical alignment system which gives the same treatment to A and S, and a different treatment to P. It can be categorized as an accusative language, marking the direct object of transitive verbs, making them different from the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs. Keywords: clause structure, argument structure, syntactic typology

Verb verb complex predicates in Old and Middle Japanese

This chapter describes the main features of Verb Verb complex predicates in Old and Middle Japanese (8th to 16th centuries) and discusses changes that took place between Old Japanese and Modern Japanese. Old Japanese had complex verbal predicate constructions which resemble the Modern Japanese Types 1–3, and in addition a V1 aktionsart verb construction, which is not found in later stages and which is hypothesized to have played a crucial role in the development of complex predicates in Japanese. The wordhood of complex verbal predicates is addressed. Verb Verb complex predicates did not constitute tight morphological units in Old and Early Middle Japanese, but developed into morphological words in Late Middle and Modern Japanese. It is proposed that the loss of subordinating function of the infinitive played an important part in this change. It is also observed that the Modern Japanese Type 4 (Vte V) is a Late Middle Japanese innovation which is not a prototypical complex predicate verb construction but rather an auxiliary verb construction.

Towards a unified analysis of correlatives and indefinites in Balkar

In this paper we consider two morphosyntactically similar constructions in Balkar: correlative clauses and wh-indefinites. They both consist of three elements: (i) an interrogative pronoun, (ii) a verb marked by the conditional suffix -sa, and (iii) the particle da 'even'. We demonstrate that despite superficial similarities there are certain semantic and syntactic differences between them. Specifically, the correlatives are interpreted definitely and are merged as clausal adjuncts and the whindefinites function as indefinite NPs and are merged as arguments of the main predicate. We develop an analysis that maintains the contribution of wh-expressions and the particle da and argue that the point of divergence is the -sa marked element. While in correlatives it is a true verbal predicate, in wh-indefinites it is a grammaticalized marker that denotes a choice function.

PREDICATIVE QUALITATIVENESS CATEGORY IN KET: LANGUAGE MEANS OF EXPRESSING IT

В статье рассматриваются основные разновидности семантической категории качественности, в частности, субкатегория предикативной качественности и языковые способы ее выражения с позиций функциональной грамматики. Показано, что в кетском языке выделяются три типа предикативной качественности: адъективно-предикативная, субстантивно-предикативная и глагольно-предикативная. Адъективно-предикативная качественность выражается адъективными предикатами (как правило, прилагательными); субстантивно-предикативная — предикатами-существительными, которые являются ядром составного именного сказуемого и определяются прилагательными; глагольно-предикативная — предикатами, представленными спрягаемыми глагольными формами. Определен основной инвентарь языковых средств, образующих качественные предикаты: непроизводные качественные прилагательные; производные относительные прилагательные, оформленные словообразовательным суффиксом =ту; каритивные прилагательные; неглагольные субстантивные предикаты, выражающие субстантивно-предикативную качественность; причастия или инфинитивы; субстантивированные комплексные модификаторы; сложнопроизводные прилагательные, оформленные суффиксом производных прилагательных =ту. В статье проанализированы неглагольные средства выражения предикативной качественности, т. е. предикаты, имеющие в качестве главного компонента слово, которое не принадлежит классу полнозначных глаголов, вне зависимости от того, содержится ли в составе сказуемого глагол-связка. Выявлены две ведущие стратегии кодирования качественных предикатов: личная стратегия, которая заключается в оформлении ядра неглагольного предиката показателями согласования с подлежащим по категориям лица, числа и класса (рода), и неличная стратегия, предполагающая использование суффикса =сʹ (ед. ч.) ~ =сʹ=ин (множ. ч.), допускающего согласование с подлежащим только по категории числа. Показано, что имеются некоторые случаи альтернативного кодирования неглагольных качественных предикатов посредством либо личной, либо неличной стратегии кодирования. Приводятся аргументы, подтверждающие, что грамматическая категория степеней сравнения у кетских качественных прилагательных отсутствует. Компаратив и суперлатив выражаются синтаксическими конструкциями, образованными на базе адъективных качественных предикатов. The paper deals with the basic types of qualitativeness category particularly predicative qualitativeness and the language means of expressing it from the standpoint of functional grammar approach. It is shown that three types of predicative qualitativeness are identified in Ket. These are adjective-predicative, substantive-predicative and verbal-predicative ones. Adjective-predicative qualitativeness is expressed by adjective predicates, substantive-predicative qualitativeness — by compound nominal predicates and verbal-predicative qualitativeness — by predicates including finite conjugated verb forms. The basic inventory of language means forming predicative qualitative predicates is identified. The inventory includes underived qualitative adjectives, derived relative adjectives formed by means of the derivative suffix =ту, caritive adjectives, nonverbal substantive predicates denoting substantive-predicative qualitativeness; participles or infinitives; substativized complex modifiers; compound adjectives derived by means of the suffix =ту forming adjectives. The paper analyzes non-verbal means of denoting predicative qualitativeness, i.e. the predicates having as a head a word which doesn’t belong to the class of autosemantic verbs irrespective of the fact whether there is a verbal copula in the predicate structure. Two principal strategies of coding qualitative predicates have been identified including a person and number coding strategy which involves marking the non-verbal predicate by the affixes showing agreement with the subject of the qualitative construction in the categories of person, number and class (gender) and non-personal coding strategy implying the use of the suffix =сʹ (singular) — =сʹ=ин (plural) which allows for agreement with the subject only in the category of number. It is shown that there are cases of alternative coding of non-verbal qualitative predicates using either a person and number coding strategy or a non-personal strategy. The evidence that the grammatical category of degrees of comparison is not found in Ket qualitative adjectives is provided. The comparative and superlative notions are expressed by the syntactic constructions formed on the basis of adjectival qualitative predicates.

Projections

Tense is typically a trait of verbs and the suffixes associated with it cannot be applied to members of other lexical categories. But still it is possible to imagine something expressed by a nominal sentence to have been the case in the past. Turkish has a small number of suffixes which can be applied to all types of sentence in order to create a certain projection. The first section deals with projection in the past, and interestingly, application to a tensed verbal predicate leads to compound tenses. Next, the suffix associated with indirect observation (reported past, inference) is introduced, and thirdly, the suffix which deals with hypothetical statements is discussed. There are many possible and impossible combinations across these three suffixes. The fourth suffix is used for assumptions and in statements of general validity.