Abstract
The main aim of this paper is to discuss two issues in analyzing depictive constructions. The first issue is related to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), where there is an overlap between depictives and adverbs. This paper distinguishes between depictives in MSA, where the word in accusative case is adjective and adverbs, where the word in accusative case is a verbal noun. The second issue that is discussed in this paper is the syntactic analysis of depictives. In this regard, we contribute a new analysis within the Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) framework, in which depictives are analyzed as single adjuncts that modify participants in the main predicate in the same way as adjectives, when they function as modifiers, do.
Highlights
Depictive constructions are defined in the literature as a structure that modifies a participant in the main predicate throughout the duration of the event in the main predicate
We contribute a new analysis within the Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) framework, in which depictives are analyzed as single adjuncts that modify participants in the main predicate in the same way as adjectives, when they function as modifiers, do
This section discusses the syntactic analysis of depictive constructions. It shows two possible analyses for this phenomenon in generative syntax, where depictives are analyzed as small clauses or single adjuncts
Summary
Depictive constructions are defined in the literature as a structure that modifies a participant in the main predicate throughout the duration of the event in the main predicate (see Schultze-Berndt & Himmelmann, 2004; Bruening, 2018). The second type is mixed with depictives in traditional grammar and other analyses, because depictives in MSA carry the same case marking and this added a new complication to the fact that a depictive in somehow may characterizes the event with a participant in this event, in which the participant is its main target In addition to this semantic issue in analyzing depictive constructions, there is another problem in the syntax. It is divided into two subsections: the first describes depictive constructions in MSA and shows the type of words that can function as depictives in MSA and the case marking of depictives. It shows that the controller in MSA is different in that it has no specific syntactic functions or thematic roles
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