Trondheim Summer School on Multi-Verb Constructions

[Dorothee Beermann]

PROGRAM AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

TRONDHEIM SUMMER SCHOOL
MULTI-VERB CONSTRUCTIONS IN MACRO-AND MICRO-TYPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
JUNE 23-27, 2003


The Trondheim Summer School in Linguistics at NTNU (Norwegian University of 
Science and Technology) will offer three days of intensive
courses with the overall theme Multi-verb constructions in Constraint-Based 
grammars, followed by a two days workshop devoted to the
same areas. The grammatical frameworks considered are Lexical Functional 
Grammar (LFG) and Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG),
  and the phenomena in focus are taken mainly from West-African and South 
and South-East Asian languages. For information about registration for
attendance, accommodation, etc., see

http://www.ling.hf.ntnu.no/forskning/norsource/multiverb/


PROGRAM FOR COURSES AND FOR WORKSHOP:

COURSES - June 23-25, 2003 -- every day:
9.15-10.30
Miriam Butt, UMIST
Verbal Predicates and Complex Predicates in LFG

11.00-12.15:
Stephen M. Wechsler, University of Texas at Austin:
Introduction to HPSG and its application to multi-verb constructions

14.00-15.15
Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, University of Ghana:
Introduction to Multi-Verb Constructions in the languages of the Volta
Basin

15.45-17.00
Kweku E. Osam, University of Ghana:
Introduction to the structure of Akan: its verbal and multi-verbal
     system


COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Verbal Predicates and Complex Predicates in LFG
Miriam Butt, UMIST, UK
This course will provide a brief introduction to the treatment of verbal
predication (argument structure, grammatical relations, linking theory) in
LFG and then move on to examine the problems posed by complex
predication as discussed in Alsina 1996, Butt 1995 and Mohanan 1994.
The data ranges over periphrastic and morphological causatives in Bantu,
Romance and South Asian languages such as Urdu, Marathi and
Malayalam, as well as N-V complex predicates in Hindi and V-V complex
predicates in Urdu. The synchronic evidence will be augmented by a look
at some of the available historical evidence with respect to light verbs and
complex predication. Finally, the course will wind up with a look at a
recent implementation (Butt and King 2003) of Urdu V-V complex
predicates via the Restriction Operator (Kaplan and Maxwell 1993) within
the XLE grammar development platform.


Introduction to HPSG and its application to multi-verb constructions
Stephen M. Wechsler, University of Texas at Austin
This course will first review the framework of Head-Driven Phrase
Structure Grammar, focusing especially on those aspects most relevant
to the analysis of multi-verb constructions. Then we will look at specific
HPSG analyses of such constructions, including serial verbs, causatives,
light verbs, and related phenomena. Approaches have included `argument
attraction' (in which VALENCE items are effectively transferred from a
lower to higher verb); and crucial use of a structured semantic CONTENT
field where verb meanings combine. We will also compare the proposal by
Andrews and Manning 1999 (`Complex Predicates and Information
Spreading in LFG', CSLI Publications), which blends ideas from LFG and
HPSG.


Introduction to multi-verb constructions in the languages of the Volta Basin
Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, University of Ghana
Most languages of the Volta Basin (both "Kwa" and Gur) exhibit multi-verb 
constructions
even within the structures associated with a single lexical verb. The first 
day will be
devoted to examining the internal morpho-syntax of verb expressions in 
languages
of the southern part of the area, particularly Ga and Dangme. Special 
attention will
be given to headedness in this context. The second day will similarly 
examine features
associated with the verb in the languages of the northern part, especially 
Gurene and Dagaare,
drawing attention to what the northern and southern languages have in 
common (or not).
The third and final lecture will be devoted to attempting an area-wide 
classification of constructions
  involving more than one lexical head verb.

Introduction to the structure of Akan: its verbal and multi-verbal system
Kweku E. Osam, University of Ghana
Akan is a Kwa language spoken in Ghana. This course will focus on the 
verbal system
of the language by examining its verbal morphology which essentially 
involves its tense-aspect system. The view that Akan is an aspect oriented 
language will be demonstrated with data from the language. In addition, 
there will also be a discussion of some of the verbal alternations in the 
language, with a focus on how these relations impinge on grammatical and 
semantic relations.
A core component of the course will be to present the facts of the 
multi-verb system (focusing on serialisation) in the language.


WORKSHOP ON MULTI-VERB CONSTRUCTIONS,  JUNE 26-27
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

THURSDAY 26
9.00 -   9.40   Lars Hellan, Dorothee Beermann and Eli Sætherø Andenes, NTNU:
                    A dichotomy of Serial Verb types in Akan

9.40 - 10.20    Martha Larson, Fraunhofer Institute for Media 
Communication:
                       Multi-Verb Constructions and Coordination
         break

10.30 - 11.20   Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, University of Ghana (invited talk):
                       Aspect Agreement Requirements in Gurene MVCs
         break

11.30 - 12.10   Cholthicha  Sudmuk, University of Texas at Austin, USA.:
                       Sequential Serial Verb Constructions in Thai
         lunch

13.30 - 14.10   Soma Paul, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India:
                       Composition of Compound Verbs in Bangla

14.15 - 15.05   Stephen M. Wechsler, University of Texas at Austin (invited 
talk): tba
         break

15.15 - 16.05   Naoko Tomioka, McGill University:
                       The Lexicalization Pattern of Verbs and V-V-compounds

         break

16.30 - 16.55   Bjørghild Kjølsvik, University of Oslo:
                       A semantic analysis of a serial verb construction

17.00 - 17.25   Ota Ogie, NTNU:
                       Multi-verb constructions, RV-suffixation and 
serialization in Edo

FRIDAY 27
9.00 -   9.40   Hana Skoumalová, Charles University, Prague:
                      Multi-verb expressions in Czech

9.40 - 10.20    Mila D. Vulchanova, NTNU:
                      The complexity of results: in search of the constraints

         break

10.30 - 11.20   Miriam Butt, UMIST (invited talk): tba

         break

11.30 - 12.10   Atsuko Shimada and Valia Kordoni, University of Saarland:
                       Japanese "Verbal Noun and suru" Constructions

         lunch

13.30 - 14.10   Seongsook Choi, University of Sussex:
                       Serial verb Constructions and Empty category

14.15 - 15.05   Felix Ameka, University of Leiden (invited talk):
                       Multiverb constructions in areal typological perspective

         break

15.15 - 16.05  Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, University of Ghana, and Lars 
Hellan,  NTNU:
                      The 'verbid' construction in Ga: a case of VPs with 
Adjunct function


We look forward to seeing you in Trondheim in June!

The organizing committee:
         Lars Hellan
         Dorothee Beermann
         Eli Sætherø Andenes