Serial verb constructions and covert coordinations in Edo – an analysis in Type Logical Grammar

Ralf Naumann,Thomas Gamerschlag

doi:10.15398/jlm.v8i2.221

Abstract

Based on both syntactic and semantic criteria, Stewart (2001) and, following him, Baker and Stewart (1999), distinguish two types of serial verb constructions (SVC) and one type of covert coordination (CC) in Edo. In this article, we present an analysis of these constructions, using Type Logical Grammar (TLG) with an event-based semantic component. We choose as base logic the non-associative Lambek calculus augmented with two unary multiplicative connectives (NL(◊, □)). SVCs and CCs are interpreted as complex event structures. The complex predicates underlying these structures are derived from simple verbs by means of a constructor. SVCs and CCs differ in terms of which part of the complex event structure is denoted. For SVCs, this is the sum of all events in the structure whereas for a CC this is only the first event in the sequence. The two verbs in an SVC and a CC are treated asymmetrically by assuming that the first verb has an extended subcategorization frame. The additional argument is of type vp (possibly modally decorated). Constraints on word order and the realization of arguments are accounted for using structural rules like permutation and contraction. The application of these rules is enforced by making use of the unary connectives.

Highlights

If a verb is used as the first verb in an serial verb constructions (SVC) or a covert coordination (CC), one gets ◊□((np\r(s/lnp))/ivp), which reflects the fact that there is an additional argument of type vp, (ii) the extended forms of verbs differ at the level of the mode by which the additional argument of type vp combines with the verb, and (iii) the head adjunction modes are ·0 and ·2
We presented an analysis of SVCs and CCs in the Kwa language Edo
The basic idea of our analysis is that SVCs and CCs denote complex event structures that are derived from simple ones denoted by verbs in isolation

Summary

Introduction

Based on both syntactic and semantic criteria, Stewart (2001) and, following him, Baker and Stewart (1999), distinguish two types of serial verb constructions (SVC) and one type of covert coordination (CC) in Edo. Recall that non-shared arguments (related to the second event predicate) are allowed in a CSVC with two ditransitive verbs where the indirect objects must be different, in an RSVC with two transitive verbs and in a CC where no constraints are imposed on the direct objects.

Results

Conclusion