Complex Predicate Constructions Research Articles

Simple Monotransitive and Complex Dative Alternation Predicates in Spanish Monolingual Child Acquisition Data

Abstract This work analyzes the acquisition of simple and complex constructions in Spanish monolingual children’s data. It examines the emergence and the role played by adult input in child production of simple monotransitive constructions when compared to two types of complex predicates that undergo dative alternation (DA), namely, a/para-datives and dative-clitic doubled (DCLD) structures. In order to shed light on these issues, we have analyzed data from Spanish monolingual children and from the adults that they interact with, as available in CHILDES (MacWhinney, Brian. 2000. The CHILDES project: Tools for analyzing talk [Dataset], 3rd edn. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum. http://childes.talkbank.org (accessed 20 October 2019)). The results show that there is an order in the onset of simple and complex predicate constructions, as reflected in the earlier emergence of monotransitives when compared to DA constructions. The latter also show a subsequent order of first occurrence, namely, DCLDs before a/para-datives. Thus, the degree of syntactic complexity seems to have played a role in the acquisition of simple and complex constructions, as measured by the number of Case assignment relations between the verb and its internal argument(s). Moreover, the differences in the Spanish monolingual children’s incidence of the three structures under analysis do not appear to be explained by the relative frequency of exposure in the adult input.

An acoustic exploration of event construals in Bengali language

The world is full of events, and events are construed. One of the major research questions, therefore, seeks to understand the way events are construed through language. Event construals involve the syntacto-semantic properties of certain linguistic categories such as Verb, Tense, Aspect, Modality, etc. Serial Verb Constructions (SVC) and Complex Predicate Constructions (CPC) are no exception to this very fact. In this work, we look forward to compare both linear and non linear acoustical features generated from SVC and CPC events found in sentences of Bengali language. For this, we recorded 60 common utterances of Bengali language containing SVC and CPC events individually (around 36 of them belong to SV category while the rest belong to CP category), from 1 male and 1 female native Bengali speakers. The serial verb construction in these utterances may contain two (2) serial verbs in either simultaneous or sequential order, while few sentences are such that they can be interpreted both as SV or CP events. The main objective is to look for robust acoustic features which lead to perceptual categorization of events as SV or CP with a particular linguistic background. Various linear features like MFCC (Mel frequency Cepstral Coefficients), spectral skewness/energy, pause duration, pitch profile and nonlinear features like Fractal Dimension (FD) have been employed for the classification purpose. This work is a pilot study of an ongoing project which looks to explore the concept integrating capacity of human brain in terms of Syntactic Compositionality or Semantic Combinatorics in a complex sentence. This preliminary acoustic study reveals interesting new results in terms of perceptual linguistic representation of the event construals.

연속동사 복합서술어 구문의 유형 분류

연속동사 복합서술어 구문의 유형 분류

The Type Classification of “NP-Josa Burida” Complex Predicate Constructions -Focusing on the Argument and Thematic Role-

The Type Classification of “NP-Josa Burida” Complex Predicate Constructions -Focusing on the Argument and Thematic Role-

Semantic Characteristics of Complex Predicate 'hada'

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the semantic characteristics of complex predicate hada . That s because the semantic characteristics have not been discussed a lot. Also the reason why the subject of study is confined to complex predicate hada is to be accepted as complex predicate in most studies for complex predicate to be discussed. Complex predicate constructions have the internal separation and independent argument structure. Though the preceding constituent of complex predicate has predicative, that s not absolutely the case. However the preceding constituent must have not argument hada but other argument. If not so, a new argument must be realized. In case that asyntactic root, adverb or bound noun is used as the preceding constituent, complex predicate can not be realized. Light verb is its lexical meaning is not meaningless but very abstract, so light verb performs a role that sense subject of preceding constituent can be realized as the subject of complex predicate construction. However it is verb which can t confine the semantic role the subject of complex predicate construction has . Therefore hada was set differently compared to existing light verbs in this thesis. Hada is heavily dependent since its meaning is very abstract in the process of forming complex predicate. Thus it can not have the independent argument structure. However it can have the dependent argument structure as it is combined with the meaning of preceding constituent and forms complex predicate. Syntactic intimacy and semantic relationship among associating constituent can t be the core characteristic to distinguish complex predicate.

A Complex Predicate Constructions and Passiveness

A Complex Predicate Constructions and Passiveness

The Types of ‘NP－Josa Deulda’ Complex Predicate Constructions

The Types of ‘NP－Josa Deulda’ Complex Predicate Constructions

Complex Predicate Constructions in Uzbek Language

Complex predicates are defined as constructions consisting of preverb/converb/coverb + ‘light verb’ (Bowern 2006). Each component of the complex construction contributes to the internal argument structure. The typology of complex predicates exhibits cross-linguistic similarities and differences. This study investigates the complex predicate constructions in Uzbek, which possesses a rich variety of light verb constructions. Novel data from Uzbek is provided, and it is analyzed on the basis of proposed criteria in the government and binding theory (GB) literature for complex predicates. The analysis reveals that these constructions express simultaneity, cause and effect, and consecutivity. Both verbs in complex constructions share the same subject, and they describe a single event. However, the object may or may not be shared by both verbs. What is significant about Uzbek light verbs is that they both host inflection, and contribute to the event structure. That is, tense and agreement markers, as well as aspectual markers are carried by the light verb. The constituency is strict in complex predicates, and there cannot be an intervention between the converb and the light verb by such elements as interrogatives, negation, or temporal adverbs. Key words: Complex predicates, light verbs, Uzbek language, construction, derivation

The status of the nominal in Persian complex predicates

The nature of preverbal nominals and their relation to the verb have been the focus of much debate in languages with a productive complex predication process. For Persian, certain analyses have argued that the bare nominals in complex predicate constructions are distinct from bare objects, while others have treated the two types of bare nominals uniformly. This paper argues that the two categories of preverbal nouns cannot receive the same analysis since they display distinct syntactic and semantic behavior: the preverbal nominals, unlike the bare object nouns, cannot be questioned, are modified differently, have different interpretations, give rise to distinct case-assignment contexts, and can co-occur with a non-specific object. The distinct properties of the two nominal categories are captured by positing distinct structural positions for these nouns. Non-specific bare nouns are internal arguments of the thematic verb, while the nominal element of the complex predicate construction is part of the verbal domain with which it combines through a process of conflation, as defined in Hale and Keyser (2002), to form a single predicate.

Hindi aspectual complex predicates

This paper discusses ergative case assignment in Hindi and its interaction with aspectual verb complexes or complex predicate constructions. It is shown that ergative case is assigned by the last head in the aspectual verb complex and that ergative case on the subject of intransitive verbs denoting bodily-functions is associated with a counter-to-expectation meaning. It is then shown that aspect complex predicates in Hindi involve two distinct syntactic structures, which have similar semantics. While one syntactic structure involves argument composition, the other involves a head-modifier structure. It is argued that the existence of two structures favor approaches to the interface between syntax and semantics which do not require a uniform isomorphism between the semantics and syntax of aspect.

The diachrony of complex predicates

While complex predicate constructions, including light verb structures and verb serialisation, are found in many of the world’s languages, there has been little diachronic work on these structures to date. In this paper I survey the state of the field and describe current ideas on the origins and development of complex predicates. In particular, I show that the assumption of cline-like development from parataxis to affix (through serialisation, light verbs and auxiliation) is too simplistic. Finally, I review arguments in favor of and against views of light verbs as stable structures.

Derivational theta-marking: A minimalist approach to the complex predicate constructions in Japanese

Derivational theta-marking: A minimalist approach to the complex predicate constructions in Japanese

Double-subject and complex-predicate constructions

Double-subject and complex-predicate constructions

Nominative Objects in Japanese Complex Predicate Constructions: A Prolepsis Analysis

A novel analysis of nominative objects in Japanese complex predicate constructions is proposed. In this analysis the nominative object is identified with a proleptic object, an element that is base-generated in the matrix VP and binds a pro in the embedded clause. The analysis is shown to receive empirical support from the fact that the nominative object is disconnected from, and can have various relations with, the embedded clause. Related issues are also addressed, including those concerning the case, LF position, and thematic properties of the nominative object. This proposal leads to the claim that there are two types of prolepsis in Japanese, one where the proleptic object is accusative and another where it is nominative.

THE COMPOUNDING PARAMETER IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

This article presents an experimental study investigating the compounding parameter in the L2 Spanish interlanguage of English and French NSs in light of the Subset Principle and its predictions for the process of L2 development. The compounding parameter (Snyder, 1995, 2001) argues that languages permit complex predicate constructions like verb particles, resultatives, and double objects if and only if they can productively form N-N compounds. English exhibits the plus value of the parameter, allowing N-N compounds and the related constructions, whereas in Spanish and French these compounds and constructions are ungrammatical. Because English also allows periphrastic constructions of the same meaning, which are the only option in French and Spanish, English represents the superset parameter value to the Spanish and French subset value. At issue is whether L2 learners are able to acquire the subset value of the compounding parameter based on the naturalistic input they receive. In this case, the learning task involves realizing that some L1 constructions are unavailable in the L2. Results indicate that the learners initially transfer the L1 (superset) value and do not start with the subset value of the parameter. Findings also inform the debate on whether negative evidence can engage UG-related acquisition. Ten of the 26 advanced subjects were able to successfully reset the whole parameter based on negative data for only two of the four constructions in the cluster. This fact suggests that it is not impossible for negative evidence to be utilized in grammar reorganization.

Invisible Agr in Japanese

The purpose of this article is to show that, even in a language like Japanese which lacks overt morphological agreement, Agreement Phrases not only exist, but also play an important role in the grammar. Evidence comes primarily from facts about scope interaction in certain complex predicate constructions. The article also presents indirect support for the core idea of Watanabe's (1993) three-layered Case theory

Subjects in Japanese and English

Originally published in 1994, this volume shows that the structural relation 'government' holds not only between the verbal head and its object but also between the verbal head and its subject at least at the level of Logical Form in both Japanese and English. The book provides an analysis of complex predicate constructions in Japanese, discusses phrase structure in Japanese and English and develops a theory of binding.