Abstract
AbstractMiddle English had a rich inventory of verbs that could be used as causatives in periphrastic (or analytic) constructions. Interestingly, we see that two verbs likedoandmake, which share several similarities in their basic meaning, are both used as causative verbs. The present paper explores the relationship and the uses of causativedoand causativemakewith an infinitive complement in the Middle English period. By means of a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), it will be investigated which semantic domains are more distinctively associated with each verb. The results of the statistical analysis will shed light on the semantic features that characterise these two verbs in Middle English. In addition, the quantitative analysis will help us understand whymakebegan to be used as a causative verb and how productive these verbs were in Middle English.
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