A typology of causatives: form, syntax and meaning

Abstract

Introduction This chapter will survey causative constructions in terms of three parameters: their formal marking, their syntax and their semantics. It will also investigate dependencies between the parameters. I work in terms of a basic theoretical framework. In any language verbal clauses can be categorized as (i) intransitive, with one core argument, in S function; (ii) transitive, with at least two core arguments, in A and O functions (there are subtypes: simple transitive and ditransitive); and (iii) copula, involving two core arguments, in copula subject and copula complement functions (in some languages the copula complement may be omittable). Within a transitive clause, that core argument whose referent has the potential to initiate or control the activity is linked to A function, and that core argument whose referent may be saliently affected by the activity is linked to O function. A causative construction is sometimes described as involving ‘two events’. Frawley (1992: 159) talks of ‘a precipitating event’ and ‘a result’, and Shibatani (1976a: 1) of ‘a causing event’ and ‘a caused event’. I prefer a quite different characterization – a causative construction involves the specification of an additional argument, a causer, onto a basic clause. A causer refers to someone or something (which can be an event or state) that initiates or controls the activity. This is the defining property of the syntactic–semantic function A (transitive subject). That is, if a causative construction is formed by derivation, it will involve the addition of a new argument in A function (the causer).