21.1166, Diss: Syntax: Ogie: 'Multi-Verb Constructions in Edo'

Tue Mar 9 21:28:17 UTC 2010

LINGUIST List: Vol-21-1166. Tue Mar 09 2010. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 21.1166, Diss: Syntax: Ogie: 'Multi-Verb Constructions in Edo'

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1)
Date: 07-Mar-2010
From: Ota Ogie < ota.ogie at hf.ntnu.no >
Subject: Multi-Verb Constructions in Edo

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:26:26
From: Ota Ogie [ota.ogie at hf.ntnu.no]
Subject: Multi-Verb Constructions in Edo

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Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology 
Program: Department of Speech and Communication Studies 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2009 

Author: Ota Ogie

Dissertation Title: Multi-Verb Constructions in Edo 

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax
                     Typology

Dissertation Director(s):
Lars Hellan

Dissertation Abstract:

Multi-verb constructions provide useful insight into the question of how 
languages distinguish between adjunction and complementation. The 
term 'multi-verb constructions' is defined as consisting of verbs in 
series that can function as independent verbs in simple sentences, with 
at least one shared argument and no marking of syntactic dependency 
(cf. Ameka 2005:2). This thesis examines multi-verb constructions in 
Èdó (a Benue-Congo tone language) with the following foci: within 
individual languages are there different types of multi-verb 
constructions and tests that clearly identify them? What are the 
argument sharing patterns that characterize the different types? What 
are the aktionsart and temporal relations that license combinations of 
multi-verb constructions?

11 multi-verb constructions in Èdó are shown to pattern into four 
structural types with respect to the distribution of the past tense suffix -
rV, an infinitival marker yá, a floating anaphor tòbórè 'by him/her/it self 
', interspersable VP adverbs and argument sharing patterns. In 
particular, object sharing in multi-verb constructions is analyzed as 
token sharing by grammatical function. 

Based on the above distribution, two schemas are posited to account 
for the structural types:

Verb-serial-compl (ement)-phrase with a complementation structure for 
the V (P) +V (P) resultative and V+infinitival complement constructions.

Serial-mod-phrase with an adjunction structure for V+mood 
constructions, V+modifier constructions and V (P) +V (P); 
consequential; purpose; and negative resultative constructions.

The -rV suffix interacts in an interesting way with the temporal 
structures of multi-verb constructions. Overlapping events license -rV 
while non-overlapping events do not. This is formally stated as a 
constraint on semantic combination constraining the suffix to affix only 
to multi-verb constructions with unbounded temporal time span. 
I also introduce a representation of tone in the HPSG analysis to 
account for the interaction between tense, tone, inflection and 
argument selection.

The study also examines multi-verb constructions in the following 
languages of the Niger-Congo: Igbo and Yoruba (Benue-Congo), 
Gurenne (Oti-Volta), Ga, Baule, Akan and Ewe (Kwa), and situate 
properties of Èdó multi-verb constructions within a typology common to 
these languages. The findings show that the typological features of a 
language determine the types of multi-verb constructions it licenses. 

In this study I have used Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar and a 
sub-eventual templates analysis for events (cf. Pustejovsky) as 
analytical tools in my analysis. 

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