Finite Verb Forms Research Articles

Sobre la distribución sintáctica de las formas finitas del verbo vasco: condicionamiento léxico y sintáctico

Our aim in this article is to develop a minimalist analysis for the distribution of finite verb forms in Basque -i. e, izan 'ser'/ *edun 'haber' alternations, as well as some idiosyncratic asymmetries between synthetic/analytical verb forms observed in impersonal and substandard reflexive/reciprocal constructions. According to this analysis, the distribution of finite verb forms is ultimately determined in the language by the feature-content of Verb and Tense/Aspect in the lexicon, along with the application of the syntactic requirement that uninterpretable features be checked before reaching the interfaces. Crucially, we will argue that Basque finite verbs differ in the lexicon as to their {Case}-specification; unlike the others, which are intrinsically specified for {ABS/ERG}, izan 'ser' y *edin 'ser' receive their {ABS}-feature only optionally. This idea will combine with our claim that Tense/Aspect may be morphologically defective in certain syntactic environments; in particular, either head will encode a defective feature {Minimal Case/Null Case} in the impersonal and substandard reflexive/reciprocal constructions of Basque.

Are there correlations in the acquisition of definite pronouns and finite verbs in German?

The study presents a first investigation of two different processes in the L1-acquisition of German: The acquisition of definite pronominal forms and the occurence of finite verbs. The aim of the study is to find out if there are inherent relations between both processes. Inherent relations are understood as developmental relations based on the structural properties which demand a correlated emergence of the finite verb and definite pronominal forms.

Auxiliaires, langues romanes et grammaticalisation

The aim of the paper is to compare the class of auxiliary verbs in three Romance languages, French, Spanish and Italian, in the framework of grammaticalization theory. Grammaticalization is defined as the process by which lexical items are gradually converted into grammatical markers, i.e. a dynamic operation by which elements can move over time from one linguistic component to another (from the lexicon to the grammar and eventually, to the morphological component). Auxiliaries are defined both on a syntactic and a semantic basis : formally, they are verbs followed by a non finite verb form (only infinitives are considered here) and semantically, they express one of three notional concepts : time, aspect or modality. The major claim of the paper is that French is the most grammaticalized of the three languages, and Spanish the least. The empirical evidence that supports this hypothesis relates to three kinds of data : the number of verbs that can be analyzed as members of the category AUX, the selectional properties concerning the subject NP (± human NP) and the possible alternation of the infinitival complement with NP complements.

Deficits in finite verb morphology: some assumptions in recent accounts of specific language impairment.

The grammatical morphology deficits common in children with specific language impairment (SLI) are characterized in some models as linguistic deficits. Such models must assume some mechanism for correct productions of finite verb forms. Three such assumptions were tested by analyzing speech samples from 18 children with SLI (aged 3 years 6 months to 6 years 9 months). Assumption 1, that nonfinite forms are used consistently until replaced by memorized finite forms, was tested by examining the distribution of verb types in present third-person singular and noun types in present third-person singular contractible copula contexts. Significantly more word types than expected were inflected inconsistently. Both Assumption 2, that finite and nonfinite verb forms are memorized but used indiscriminately, and Assumption 3, that affixation rules are applied indiscriminately, predict random use of finite forms. This prediction was not supported.

Processing load and the extended optional infinitive stage.

Spontaneous language data from fifteen language-impaired children in the Extended Optional Infinitive stage of morphosyntactic development are examined with respect to processing load. Clauses with a target finite verb form are categorised according to finiteness and their preverbal constituents. Patterns of occurrence are discussed with regard to the Optional Infinitive framework itself and the implications for remediation.

Abstracts in German medical journals: A linguistic analysis

Studies on contrastive genre analysis have become a current issue in research on languages for specific purposes (LSP) and are intended to economize specialist communication. The present article compares formal schemata and linguistic devices of German abstracts and their English equivalents, written by German medical scholars to English native speaker (NS) abstracts. The source material is a corpus of 20 abstracts taken from German medical journals representing different degrees of specialism/professionalism. The method of linguistic analysis includes 1. (1) the overall length of articles/abstracts, 2. (2) the representation/arrangement of “moves”, 3. (3) the linguistic means (complexity of sentences, finite verb forms, active and passive voice, tenses, linking words, and lexical hedging). Results show no correlation between the length of articles and the length of abstracts. In contrast to NS author abstracts, the move “Background information” predominated in the structure of the studied German non-native speaker (GNNS) abstracts, whereas “Purpose of study” and “Conclusions” were not clearly stated. In linguistic terms, the German abstracts frequently contained lexical hedges, complex and enumerating sentence structures, passive voice and past tense as well as linkers of adversative, concessive and consecutive character. The GNNS English equivalent abstracts were author translations and contained structural and linguistic inadequacies which may hamper the general readability for the scientific community. Therefore abstracting should be systematically incorporated into language courses for the medical profession and for technical translators.

The historical status of the conjunct/disjunct pattern in Tibeto-Burman

Abstract Several Tibeto-Burman languages show a peculiar pattern of distribution of copulas and/or finite verb forms, in which one set occurs with first person subjects in statements, second person subjects in questions, and in complement clauses of verba dicendi when the complement and main clause subjects are coreferential, and another set in all other contexts. When the evidence for and against reconstructing the system at the branch or family level is assessed, it appears that this “conjunct/disjunct” pattern is a recent secondary innovation in all of the languages in which it is found. It probably developed independently at least twice, in Tibetan and Akha; its occurrence in other languages may represent Tibetan influence.

Terminativ-2-Verben im Arabischen

Summary The paper deals with the mutual relations of actional main types and the meaning of both of finite verbal forms (perfect and imperfect forms) and the active participle in the field of (initially determined) terminative(2)-verbs in Arabic like intalaqa ‘to go off, to leave’. The finite verbal forms express single or repeated actions, whereas the actional segment that follows the initial point can be of various length. The active participle occurs above all in non-predicative positions (e.g. as attribute or predicative attribute). The durative basic meaning of the participle is manifested in actions with general/iterative or repeated/temporally expanded meaning. On the other hand the active participle is not use in order to point out single actions. The active participle expresses in this way above all stylistic nuances with regard to the meaning of the imperfect form.

Mood and morphology: An alternative approach to the syntax and semantics of German moods

The following paper deals with the category ‘mood’ in German, that is with a certain parameter of verbal inflection which, according to the common view of German grammar, is said to include three values: the indicative ( er gibt, er gab, er hat gegeben, er hatte gegeben), the subjunctive, normally divided into subjunctive I ( er gebe, er habe gegeben) and the subjunctive II ( er gäbe, er hätte gegeben), and the imperative ( gib, gebt, habe/habt gegeben). The central aim of this paper is to present an alternative approach to the syntax and semantics of German moods, arguing against a particular position in German mood research, according to which ‘mood’ is presumed to be a syntactically and semantically heterogeneous phenomenon which does not allow for a unified grammatical description. The paper starts by sketching the main arguments in favour of this position, which in a certain sense might be seen as the natural consequence of two hundred years of mood research in German, and then goes on to develop an alternative view which follows a much older tradition taking mood to be a category not only of finite verbal forms but also of non-finite ones. As will be shown in detail, this is an interpretation which is apt to give the category ‘mood’ a coherent grammatical description in terms of morphological markings and thus provides a background which allows for a systematic account of most of the syntactic as well as the semantic properties of German moods.

The formation of the imperative in modern Russian

Our study has contributed to the further description of finite verb forms in Russian by revealing the relative lack of homogeneity of the imperative in contrast to the present tense. The relationships between the individual subparadigms of expression are relatively weak, the relationships between the basic forms and paradigms of expression show a lack of cohesiveness, and, although the measure of predictability is even somewhat higher than in the present tense, the quantitative part of our study clearly shows that there is a larger number of rarely occurring examples.

Aplinkybinio anglų kalbos I dalyvio vartojimo ir vertimo į lietuvių kalbą klausimu (chemijos tekstų pagrindu)

According to the syntactical relations in the sentence participles as elements of word-group structure and as elements of sentence structure can be distinguished. Adverbial Participle I can be rendered into Lithuanian by different adverbial participial constructions, adverbial subordinate clauses and co-ordinate clauses. The choice of the means of translation is determined by the grammatical meaning and the lexical character of the participle and by the relation of its agent to the agent of the main action expressed by the finite verb form.

TÜRKÇEDE YAN TÜMCE TÜRLERİ VE İŞLEVLERİ

Subordinate clauses, although it is a sentence with its structure, meaningly bound to main sentence without being autonomous gramatically. Some subordinate clauses like if clauses, wish clauses and verb clauses don’t explain the true meaning of sentences. A subordinate clause can be a component of main sentence as well as taking part in another subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses in their main sentences are always bound to an upper sentence with some syntax functions. Briefly, subordinate clauses strengthen, explain and complete the idea of main sentence and bound to it with some ways. Subordinate clauses in Turkish are two types as subordinate clauses with finite verb forms and with infinite verb forms. Wish – if clauses, that clauses and subordinate clauses which are structured with some prepositions and repeats are finite verb forms. These are also called as fully equipped subordinate sentences and are few in Turkish. Main forms of subordinate clauses are infinite verb forms in Turkish. These kinds of sentences are structured with both noun and nonfinite verbal forms (nonverb, pronoun verb, subordinate verb form) which are functioning as verbs. They are not fully equipped subordinate sentences. Subordinate sentences function as noun, adjective, subject, complement and adverb in sentences. This study is very useful for those who teach and learn Turkish language because it tries to determine principles of Turkish language syntax and bring up the structure of Turkish sentence especially by analyzing compound sentences

A SUGGESTION FOR TEACHING THE SPANISH TUTEO

The problem of how to approach the teaching of the varied Spanish equivalents of our second person address form, you, has disturbed English-speaking students of Spanish and their teachers ever since our language lost the contrast in everyday usage between thou , the intimate and familiar form of address, and you, the polite and respectful form. Centuries ago our linguistic ancestors had in their own language patterns a convenient bridge over which they could pass to an understanding of the Spanish contrast between td, intimate and familiar, and usted, polite and respectful. The gulf that separates our contemporary usage from the ustedl't; usage in Spanish seems less serious in the case of u s t e d than in the case of t u , the stranger of the two forms. A s generally happens in other cases where two contrasting forms in Spanish a re equivalent to a single English form, e . g . : por , para and s e r estar, the stranger and, as here expressed, the second of the two forms tends to be over-used by students. In view of this experience noted by many Spanish teachers the most satisfactory approach to this two-for-one type problem would appear to be one based on a careful analysis of the more troublesome or stranger member of the individual contrasting pairs, p a r a , es t a r , and t;. The use of td and its galaxy or set of attendant forms (subject, object and possessive pronouns, finite verb forms, possessive adjectives, e tc . ) , all of which correspond to ,a behavior pattern of classifying and modifying speech usgage in contacts with other human beings, is called the t u t e o in Spanish. The presentation of this feature to English speakers has been accomplished o r avoided in a variety of linguistically unsound ways. The purpose of this study is to summarize and criticize the commonly used approaches to the problem of teaching the Spanish tuteoand to offer suggestions for an improved approach.

The Middle Irish Preterit Passive Plural in the Annals of Ulster

The Annals of Ulster' consist of a series of chronologically consecutive entries from A.D. 431 to A.D. 1588 in which the events that seemed significant to the annalists are recorded for each year. Apart from their importance as a historical document, these Annals have a distinct linguistic value; for, as has been shown,2 the entries commence to be contemporary towards the end of the 7th century.' They therefore depict with reasonable faithfulness the various modifications to which the Irish language has been subjected in the course of time. Unfortunately, however, the earliest entries of the Annals of Ulster are largely in Latin; and even after the Old Irish period, that is, subsequent to A.D. 950, Latin still continues to be employed, though to an ever decreasing extent in the later entries. Furthermore, the finite verbal forms in Irish that the Annals of Ulster record are limited in number owing to the fact that Irish itself tends to use verbal nouns in ordinary narration. Notwithstanding these limitations, there nevertheless is preserved sufficient evidence to afford a chronological survey of the changes that the verbal system has undergone, particularly in Middle and Early Modern Irish. That is a fact of primary importance, since up to the present very little has been done to establish any linguistic tests whereby the date of a particular Irish text may be more precisely determined on the basis of its language.4 One of these linguistic tests for which the Annals of Ulster would seem to provide decisive evidence concerns the various terminations of the preterit passive plural. In Old Irish the conjunct ending was -th(e)a,6 an ending which survives in the Annals of Ulster until A.D. 1207,6 that is, some 250 years after the end of the Old Irish period. In Middle Irish, however, beside -th(e)a two other endings are found: -it with the particle ro before the verbal stem,' a distinctive Middle Irish formation8 which is recorded in the Annals of Ulster from A.D. 1014 to