Non-finite Verb Forms Research Articles

Written Narrative in Patients with Different Mental Disorders

Language disorders are criteria of psychopathology diagnostics listed both in the 10th revision of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) and the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, structure and grammar remain understudied in this aspect, which makes structural analysis a relevant research topic. A structural analysis of written narrative may objectivize particular language disorders, thus facilitating psychodiagnostics of different mental disorders. The research objective was to describe the structural features of written narratives obtained from 127 patients with schizophrenic, bipolar, and personality disorders. The narratives were subjected to structural and statistical analyses. Schizophrenic narratives demonstrated a poor vocabulary, a low volume, and a high degree of formality with a passive narrator. Bipolar texts tended to be long, detailed, egocentric, and active, with multiple participles. Patients with personality disorders emotionally relived their memories, producing reflective written narratives with a lot of actors. The final list of written speech indicators to be used to distinguish between schizophrenic, bipolar, and personality disorders included such variables as text volume, verb tense, non-finite verb forms, first-person singular pronoun, number of actors, passive / active narrator, and laconic / detailed narration.

La gramaticalización de los futuros y condicionales en el navarroaragonés de los siglos xiii y xiv

Abstract This paper aims to partially verify the hypothesis following which the grammaticalisation of the Ibero-Romance future and conditional tenses unfolded earlier in the (north-)eastern peninsular varieties before spreading to the central and western part of the Iberian territory through language and dialect contact. For this purpose, we will contrastively examine the distribution of futures and conditionals in Navarro-Aragonese and Castilian for the 13th and 14th century, more specifically the variation between the so-called synthetic verb forms with postverbal object pronouns and the analytic forms with mesoclitic pronouns, including the morpho-syntactic factors that favour the use of the former. It is shown that Navarro-Aragonese seems to exhibit a higher frequency of use of the synthetic forms with postverbal pronouns, especially with syncopated verbs, conditionals and a following non-finite verb form.

Структурная и функционально-семантическая классификация корякских полипредикативных конструкций со скрепой тите ‘когда’

The paper presents structural and functional-semantic classifications of Koryak polypredicative constructions with the clause linkage marker tite ‘when’. These are syntactic units prototypically comprising two clauses linked by the word tite and encoding the relation between the events expressed by these predicative units. Given the endangered status of the Koryak language, it seems imperative to document its grammar. Furthermore, the Koryak syntax is particularly intriguing from a typological perspective due to its polysynthetic nature and extensive use of non-finite verb forms with nominal case affixes directly attached to the verb stem. This study employed the methodology developed by the scholars of the Institute of Philology of the SB RAS. The classifications were developed by analyzing the constructions concerned in the texts of the three native speakers. The three main parameters of the analysis were the forms used as predicates of clauses, the morphological nature of the clause linkage markers, and the semantic relation between the events. In terms of the morphology of clause linkage markers, the constructions can be categorized into proper analytic and analyticsynthetic types, while the forms of the predicates determine whether they are bi-finite, monofinite, or bi-nonfinite. The non-finite verb form system exclusively employs negative, locative, dative converbs, and converbs of simultaneity. When considering its functional aspects, the author regards tite as a versatile marker of clause linkage, encompassing temporal-conditional and complement constructions. Posteriority, partial simultaneity, and reality condition are among the most prevalent semantic types. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the correlations between structure and meaning.

Неличные глагольные таксисные формы как средства выражения одновременности в русском языке

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the functioning of the transgressive and the infinitive as verb forms used to express the meaning of simultaneity. The aim of the study is to identify the contextual conditions for the realization of this meaning. The study is novel in that it is the first to highlight the specific conditions that determine the realization of simultaneity as opposed to non-simultaneity. As a result, it has been proved that in the Russian language, the forms of the transgressive, as well as the infinitive are able to express simultaneity. The functional-semantic field of the category of simultaneity is represented by the core, which is formed by the non-finite verb forms of the transgressive, participle, infinitive, and the periphery, which is occupied by non-verbal means of expression. The infinitive can express the meaning of simultaneity only as a part of copular constructions that include verbs of position and motion. Simultaneity representation is the main function for imperfective transgressives, while perfective transgressives require appropriate contexts, i.e. descriptive and statistical. Pseudo-simultaneity is expressed by perfective transgressives in the predicates of interpretive semantics and in postposition to the main verb.

Особенности выражения семантики будущности неличными формами английского глагола

The study aims to establish the fact of the transposition of the temporal meaning of futurality to non-finite verb forms in a certain lexico-grammatical (narrow) context. The paper presents a context-based analysis of a corpus of examples from English-language fiction in which an action expressed by a non-finite verb form possesses the meaning of the future tense. It is found that the transfer of the temporal meaning of futurality to a non-finite form occurs due to the modal connotations of verbs in a finite form combined with these non-finite verb forms. This is confirmed by transformational analysis, namely: the combination of a verb (with modal connotative semantics) with a non-finite verb form is easily transformed into a complex sentence with a future tense finite verb form (instead of a non-finite one). The scientific novelty of the study lies in establishing the fact of the transposition of the meaning of the future tense to a non-finite verb form in the construction ‘V (a verb with a modal meaning) + Ving (a non-finite verb form)’. Therefore, this construction can be considered as one of the ways of expressing the future tense in English. As a result of the study, a minimal lexico-grammatical context that promotes the transposition of the meaning of futurality from a finite verb form to a non-finite one has been established.

Comparative constructions of equality in Ossetic

The study deals with equative (‘Mary is as tall as Peter’) and similative (‘Mary sings like Peter’) constructions in the Iron dialect of Ossetic. I focus on the morphosyntactic and semantic features of constructions with Standard markers -aw and χʷəžзn. The morphosyntactic criteria I am using are the part of speech of the Standard of comparison (Peter) as well as the syntactic position of the Comparee (Mary). As for the semantics, I am looking at the type of the construction — equative, similative, or predicative (She is like her sister) — and at the referential status of the Standard of comparison (specific or generic). With both markers, the Comparee can occupy a rather low syntactic position. The Standard of comparison can also be a non-finite verb form, apart from a noun phrase. The main difference between the two Standard markers is their semantics. The equative case -aw tends to be used in similative constructions and expresses a comparison of manner. The predominance of generic Standards in constructions with -aw can be explained by the scope of comparison. Referring to a predicate, the -aw form modifies an action or attribute, comparing it with another action or attribute. Comparison of the two situations as a whole allows -aw to be combined with specific Standards, which turned out to be less acceptable otherwise. The postposition χʷəžзn can occur both in equative and similative constructions; in addition, it can mark a Standard used as an attribute of the Comparee.

Non-finite verb forms in Turkic exhibit syncretism, not multifunctionality

Abstract Non-finite verbs in Turkic are typically categorised as participles, converbs, and sometimes infinitives, with multiple uses of a form within one category considered to constitute multiple functions. This multifunctionality approach predicts that all non-finite verb forms within each of the categories should have the same range of syntactic functions. We show that this is not the case. Based on analysis of a representative set of Turkic languages (Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Sakha, Tatar, Turkish, and Tuvan), we propose a categorisation based on morphological and syntactic properties of non-finite verbs, resulting in four categories: verbal nouns, verbal adjectives, verbal adverbs, and infinitives. Under this approach, forms that are typically labelled as participles end up categorised as verbal nouns, verbal adjectives, or both, and forms that are typically labelled as converbs end up categorised as verbal adverbs, infinitives, or both. Some forms even span these two divisions. When a non-finite verb form appears to exist in multiple categories, we consider this to be a case of syncretism; this is, there is a member of one category that has the same form as a member of another category. We propose historical trajectories that may have led to the types of situations that are attested, examine the limitations of this approach, and discuss its wider implications.

Multifunctionality and syncretism in non-finite forms: an introduction

AbstractThis article is an introduction to a collection of papers discussing the identity of form and diversity of function in non-finite verb forms from a variety of perspectives. We start by illustrating the phenomenon and introducing the main functions that non-finite forms can have in the languages of the world. We provide a concise typological overview of the attested combinations of these functions and show how and to what extent these patterns are reflected in the traditional labels, such as participles, converbs, verbal nouns, and infinitives. We briefly discuss the main approaches to the phenomenon under study that have been proposed within both functional and formal frameworks. Finally, we provide a summary of the papers comprising this Special Issue, highlighting the perspectives adopted in the individual contributions.

Infiniittiset verbirakenteet raumalaisessa Westhin koodeksissa ja Mikael Agricolan Käsikirjassa

Finnish written language was created through translation. Liturgical texts began to emerge, as the Protestant Reformation reached Finland in 1530s. Codex Westh is one of the oldest manuscripts written in Finnish. The core part of the codex contains an Agenda (schemata of ecclesiastical ceremonies) dating from 1546. Mikael Agricola, the celebrated founder of the Finnish literary language, submitted corresponding material to the printing press some years later (1549). As a common and homogenous Finnish language did not yet exist at that time, the texts translated from Swedish sources by Westh and Agricola were partly different. This study examines the use of non-finite verb forms and verbal constructions in the Agendas of Westh and Agricola. The results of analysis illustrate that, consistent with previous knowledge of the nature of contact-induced changes and different translation strategies, significant changes have taken place in those parts of the Finnish modal verb system that have provided various alternative solutions or system gaps to be filled with new types of syntactic constructions following the model given by source languages. Structural borrowing from Swedish and Latin can be seen in both translations, and Westh especially seems to have ended up with simple and partly unidiomatic routines when choosing Finnish counterparts to Swedish modal constructions.

Субстантивная репрезентация темпоральной и аспектуальной длительности (на материале английского и русского языков)

The purpose of the paper is to identify the features of substantive representation of aspectual duration in English and Russian. Scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that the notions of temporal and aspectual duration are distinguished at the level of semantics and means of expression. As a result, it has been proved that substantives of the temporal semantics of duration are units of time measurement and nouns implying the presence of an interval in the studied languages. Aspectual substantives of duration are an indicator of duration of an action only if they are used together with verbal nouns or non-finite verb forms. In the English language, the meaning of continuation is emphasised, not the meaning of duration, which is actively implemented by the substantive “continuity”. In the Russian language, the substantives «длительность», «продолжительность» (duration) demonstrate significant activity compared to the English language.

Topiks im Deutschen und Italienischen

The aim of this paper is i) to investigate the distribution of different topic types in the highest portion (found above valutative adverbs such as glücklicherweise and leider, Cinque 1999) of the German Mittelfeld, i. e. the clause portion found between the finite and non-finite verb forms (Satzklammer), and ii) to compare it with the distribution of topics within the Italian left periphery, i. e. the area found above the finite verb where operators, focalised and topicalised constructions are hosted (Rizzi 1997; Benincà 1988, 2001). Based on a corpus of written and oral German data collected through the DeReKO and the FOLK Databases, we show that in German i) in both written and oral examples a single topic belonging to all topic classes can appear in the highest portion of the Mittelfeld (as proposed by Frascarelli/Hinterhölzl 2007), ii) and that multiple topics are restricted to written texts and appear with the fixed order “Aboutness Topic > Familiar Topic; Aboutness Topic > Contrast Topic”. We compare the distribution of topics above valutative adverbs in German with the distribution of topics in the Italian left periphery. We show that the two languages share the fact that multiple topics are possible, with the difference that i) three topics can appear in the Italian left periphery in the order Aboutness Topic > Contrast Topic > Familiar Topic whereas only sequences of two topics are attested in German; ii) the sentence-initial position functions as an “extra” position for topics in German but not in Italian due to the V2 nature of the former language; iii) the presence of multiple topics in the left periphery is restricted to oral or informal texts in Italian and it is a typical trait of colloquial/informal language, whereas the availability of multiple topics in the German Mittefeld is restricted to written/formal texts and can thus be seen as a written/formal trait.

Decomposition of activity verbal event and implication on their combinatory syntax

This paper aims to give account of the grammatical behavior of past participle and gerund when these non-finite verb forms appear with activity verbs in the main predicate. To this end, I adopt the constructivist perspective assuming that morphosyntax and semantics correlate with each other in such a way that the first module determines the systematicity of lexical meaning. Concretely, the notion of event, conventionally associated to the properties of lexical items such as verbs, is split into different functional categories of subeventive nature. I argue on the basis of this assumption that past participle joins the constructions with activity verbs as complement, while gerund is adjunct, which hinges on the event structure of the aforementioned verbs.

Encoding processes in five physical sciences research articles: A systemic functional perspective

This paper considers the encoding of processes in five physical sciences research articles. Processes may be encoded as finite verbs, non-finite verb forms or as nominalizations. Relational process is the most common process type for finite verbs, followed by mental process as the second most common type, with mathematical processes forming an important subgroup within this type. Mental process is the most common type for non-finite verb forms, and material process the most common type for nominalizations. Viewing this from the point of view of the processes themselves, material processes have a strong chance of being encoded as nominalizations, and relational processes of being encoded as finite verbs. For mental cognitive processes, there is a reasonably strong chance of them being encoded as finite verbs, with non-finite forms being a second preference. For mental mathematical processes, non-finite forms would provide the first preference with finite verbs being a second choice. These findings are important for non-anglophone researchers and students hoping to publish their results in English.

“The Trout Breaks the Ice” by Mikhail Kuzmin: Verse and Grammar

The author explores various compositional levels of the Russian modernist author Mikhail Kuzmin’s long poem “The Trout Breaks the Ice”. The levels are: (1) the grammatical tenses vs. the astronomical time (non-finite verb forms (imperative) are also assumed to indicate time); (2) the meters of this polymetric poem; (3) realistic vs. symbolic and (4) static vs. dynamic narrative modes. The analysis is done by the chapter, and the data are summarized in five tables. It turned out that certain features regularly co-occur, thus supporting the complex composition of the poem. In particular, the present tense and time regularly mark the realistic and static chapters written in various meters, whereas the past tense and time are specific to the realistic and dynamic chapters written in iambic pentameter. The article sheds new light on the compositional structure of Kuzmin’s poem and the general principles of poetic composition.

Contexts and Consequences of Sentence Splitting in Translation (English-French-Czech)

The present paper examines the contexts and consequences of sentence splitting in English, Czech and French translated fiction. In the data extracted from a parallel (multilingual) corpus, we analyze first a language-specific context of sentence splitting (sententialization of non-finite verb forms in translations from English and French into Czech), and second, contexts of splitting occurring in all directions of translation. We conclude that sentence boundaries are usually introduced at the point of a sentence entailing the fewest modifications in the target sentence, especially between two coordinate clauses; and that a systematic sentence splitting, deeply modifying the style of the source text, involves the effect of simplification and normalization.

The Meanings and Usages of Tokorohe

This study describes the derivation paths leading to the development of the conjunctive particle tokorohe. The main findings are as follows.BR First, as a noun, tokorohe functions as a complement that represents the spatial direction or destination of the motion represented by the predicate—that is, “place.”BR Second, the meaning of tokoro can be abstract, so tokorohe can present the temporal situation in which the event occurs. As the meaning of tokoro changes, its function changes from that of a complement in a sentence to a conjunctive particle that fulfills the grammatical function of connecting clauses.BR Third, in some contexts, tokorohe can acquire the meaning of an “addition or accumulation of a new event.” The events connected by tokorohe (the events of the subordinate and the main clause) are not usually coincidental situations but situations that share similarities. Tokorohe can express not just an event’s current temporal phase, but its situation before new circumstances are added (something just happened or is about to happen). Syntactically, it typically takes the form of “X tokorohe Y {node / kara / non-finite verb form} Z.” Tokorohe’s meaning is similar to noni and ueni, which represent additions or accumulations.BR To summarize, tokorohe can represent a spatial direction (place), and as the meaning of tokoro changes, its function changes from that of a complement in a sentence to a conjunctive particle expressing the temporal situation of an event and implying the addition or accumulation of a new event (something just happened or is about to happen).

Становление нефинитной субпарадигмы в среднеанглийский период (на материале памятников английской поэзии)

The article analyses development of non-finite verb forms in Middle English by the material of the English poetry. Scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that synchronous development of non-finite verb forms in the Middle English period is traced within a certain paradigm - verbal field. The research objective is to identify the place of non-finite verb forms in the Middle English verb paradigm. The findings indicate that the Middle English period is characterized by appearance of Gerund developed from the verbal noun. Moreover, Infinitive and Participles I and II acquire verbal features, gradually losing their nominal feature - declension. Development of analytical constructions and Gerund allows broadening the syntactic potential of non-finite verb forms.

AN OUTLINE OF THE ANALYTICAL APPROACH TOWARDS THE KAZAKH VERBAL MORPHOLOGY

The Kazakh morphology has always been one of the key research topics in the Kazakh linguistics, as well as a key matter in the Kazakh teaching methodology. Nevertheless, it is evident that some of the topics related to Kazakh verbal morphology still require a thorough research. In particular, creation and use of the modern software for morphological analysis, as well as outlining more comprehensive methods of teaching Kazakh as a second/foreign language [1] may require a different approach towards the morphological analysis. Even though the analytical morphology pattern outlined in this paper does not contradict the internal structure of the Kazakh language, it has not been in consistent use either in the academic grammars, or in the KSL/KFL teaching methodology.The paper provides a consistent distinction between primary and secondary finite forms. The former denote a temporal and personal meaning in every single context, regardless of any peculiarities thereof, whereas the latter are essentially based on verbals (also known as non-finite verb forms) [2]. In terms of a strictly morphological approach the “secondary tenses» are predicative forms of verbals. The tense meaning conveyed by these forms lies rather in the field of semantics than in the field of morphology

КВАНТИТАТИВНІ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ПОРЯДКУ СЛІВ У СУЧАСНІЙ УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ РОЗМОВНІЙ МОВІ (на матеріалі односкладних дієслівних речень)

Мета статті – установити поширеність порядку слів різних типів у сучасній українській розмовній мові. Джерела дослідження – тексти п’єс сучасних українських авторів і тексти приватного листування. Отримані дані свідчать про те, що загалом переважають односкладні речення й приєднувальні конструкції зі структурою Р та РО. Усі синтаксичні одиниці поділено на дві групи залежно від засобу вираження в них головного члена. Виявлено, що кількісну перевагу мають речення й приєднувальні конструкції, головний член яких виражений дієвідмінюваним або безособовим дієсловом. Особливу увагу зосереджено на змінах порядку слів залежно від жанрових різновидів розмовного стилю. З’ясовано, що в текстах різних жанрів трапляється різний порядок слів. Ключові слова: розмовний стиль, порядок слів, односкладні дієслівні речення, парцеляти, приєднувальні конструкції.

Pro-суб’єкт німецьких партиципних клауз у синтаксичній ролі ад’юнкта

The sentence belongs to the central concepts of syntax and is its basic unit, around which other types of syntactic categories are grouped. Researcher focus their attention mainly on syntactic categories that have a material expression. However, most natural languages turn out to have a number of elements that are phonologically empty (latent, eliminated, or overt) in certain syntactic environment. In generative linguistics, non-finite verb forms are considered to have a clause status. The verbal character of these forms is explained by their ability to form their own clause similar to the finite verb. The predicate center of such clauses is a non-finite form of the verb; the subject is always empty, that is, phonologically unexpressed. In this respect, the study of syntactic and functional features of the overt PRO-subject of а nonfinite clause is an especially significant issue within the generative grammar.