Complex Predicates: Cross-linguistic Perspectives on Event Structure

by Mengistu Amberber, Brett Baker, Mark Harvey

Overview

Complex predicates are multipredicational, but monoclausal structures. They have proven problematic for linguistic theory, particularly for proposed distinctions between the lexicon, morphology, and syntax. This volume focuses on the mapping from morphosyntactic structures to event structure, and in particular the constraints on possible mappings. The volume showcases the 'coverb construction', a complex predicate construction which, though widespread, has received little attention in the literature. The coverb construction contrasts with more familiar serial verb constructions. The coverb construction generally maps only to event structures like those of monomorphemic verbs, whereas serial verb constructions map to a range of event structures differing from those of monomorphemic verbs. The volume coverage is truly cross-linguistic, including languages from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Africa and North America. The volume establishes a new arena of research in event structure, syntax, and cross-linguistic typology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521886673
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/22/2010
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Mengistu Amberber is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia). He is the co-editor (with P. Collins) of Language Universals and Variation (2002), and (with H. de Hoop) Competition and Variation in Natural Languages: The Case for Case (2005), and the editor of The Language of Memory in a Cross-Linguistic Perspective (2007).

Brett Baker is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of New England (Armidale, Australia). He is the author of Word Structure in Ngalakgan (2008), and the co-editor (with Ilana Mushin) of Discourse and Grammar in Australian Languages (2008).

Mark Harvey is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Newcastle (Australia). His previous publications include Proto Mirndi: A Discontinous Language Family in Northern Australia (2008), A Grammar of Gaagudju, A Language of the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory (2002) and A Grammar of Limilngan: A Language of the Mary River Region, Northern Territory (2001).

Table of Contents

List of figures and tables vi

List of contributors vii

Preface viii

1 Introduction: complex predicates Mengistu Amberber Brett Baker Mark Harvey 1

2 Complex predicate formation Brett Baker Mark Harvey 13

3 The light verb jungle: still hacking away Miriam Butt 48

4 Events and serial verb constructions William A. Foley 79

5 Cotemporal serial verb constructions in White Hmong Nerida Jarkey 110

6 Activity incorporates in some Athabaskan languages Keren Rice 135

7 Warlpiri verbs of change and causation: the thematic core Mary Laughren 167

8 Complex predicates in Wambaya: detaching predicate composition from syntactic structure Rachel Nordlinger 237

9 Compound verbs and ideophones in Wolaitta revisited Azeb Amha 259

10 The structure of the light verb construction in Amharic Mengistu Amberber 291

Index 319