Complex Predicates
Cross-linguistic Perspectives on Event Structure
Published on 17. April 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
332 pages
978-1-107-67251-2 (ISBN)
Description
Complex predicates are multipredicational, but monoclausal structures. They have proven problematic for linguistic theory, particularly for proposed distinctions between the lexicon, morphology, and syntax. This volume focuses on the mapping from morphosyntactic structures to event structure, and in particular the constraints on possible mappings. The volume showcases the 'coverb construction', a complex predicate construction which, though widespread, has received little attention in the literature. The coverb construction contrasts with more familiar serial verb constructions. The coverb construction generally maps only to event structures like those of monomorphemic verbs, whereas serial verb constructions map to a range of event structures differing from those of monomorphemic verbs. The volume coverage is truly cross-linguistic, including languages from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Africa and North America. The volume establishes a new arena of research in event structure, syntax, and cross-linguistic typology.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; Printed music items
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
482 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-67251-2 (9781107672512)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Mengistu Amberber | Brett Baker | Mark Harvey
Complex Predicates
Cross-linguistic Perspectives on Event Structure
E-Book
05/2010
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€38.49
Available for download
Mengistu Amberber | Brett Baker | Mark Harvey
Complex Predicates
Cross-linguistic Perspectives on Event Structure
Book
04/2010
Cambridge University Press
€127.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Mengistu Amberber is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia). He is the co-editor (with P. Collins) of Language Universals and Variation (2002), and (with H. de Hoop) Competition and Variation in Natural Languages: The Case for Case (2005), and the editor of The Language of Memory in a Cross-Linguistic Perspective (2007). Brett Baker is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of New England (Armidale, Australia). He is the author of Word Structure in Ngalakgan (2008), and the co-editor (with Ilana Mushin) of Discourse and Grammar in Australian Languages (2008). Mark Harvey is a senior lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Newcastle (Australia). His previous publications include Proto Mirndi: A Discontinous Language Family in Northern Australia (2008), A Grammar of Gaagudju, A Language of the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory (2002) and A Grammar of Limilngan: A Language of the Mary River Region, Northern Territory (2001).
Content
1. Introduction: complex predicates Mengistu Amberber, Brett Baker and Mark Harvey; 2. Complex predicate formation Brett Baker and Mark Harvey; 3. The light verb jungle: still hacking away Miriam Butt; 4. Events and serial verb constructions William A. Foley; 5. Cotemporal serial verb constructions in White Hmong Nerida Jarkey; 6. Activity incorporates in some Athabaskan languages Keren Rice; 7. Warlpiri verbs of change and causation: the thematic core Mary Laughren; 8. Complex predicates in Wambaya: detaching predicate composition from syntactic structure Rachel Nordlinger; 9. Compound verbs and ideophones in Wolaitta revisited Azeb Amha; 10. The structure of the light verb construction in Amharic Mengistu Amberber; Author index; Language index; Subject index.