37.270, FYI: Argument Alternations across Languages Workshop (Germany)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-270. Tue Jan 20 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.270, FYI: Argument Alternations across Languages Workshop (Germany)

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Date: 18-Jan-2026
From: Vanya Kapitonov [i.kapitonov at uni-koeln.de]
Subject: Argument Alternations across Languages Workshop


The scientific network Argument Alternations across Languages (DFG
grant no. 560538798) addresses argument structure alternations found
in applicative and ditransitive constructions. While linguists
currently have a good understanding of how core grammatical functions
(such as subjects and various types of objects) are related to events,
the relationship of so-called applied arguments to events is less well
understood, esp. in light of the morphosyntactic alternations found
with applied arguments. Our approach takes the novel angle of
investigating alternations particular to applicative constructions,
while at the same time relating these alternations more broadly to
constructions like ditransitives, which display similar (but distinct)
alternations.
One strand of our research program deals with the argument/oblique
alternations. It has been observed that applicative morphology does
not necessarily coincide with a change in the syntactic category of
the applied event participant and can occur even when the applied
argument is introduced by a preposition. This type of alternation is
widely attested cross-linguistically (Pacchiarotti 2020, McDonnell &
Truong 2024), but appears to have diverse functions across languages
relating to semantics-pragmatics. The 2nd workshop engages with
description and theorizing about such alternations in a number of
diverse languages.
Besides that, the workshop will include sessions on methodology in
data collection for cross-linguistically robust investigation of
argument alternations. You can find the full program at
https://aaal.uni-koeln.de/workshops/workshop-2
We cordially invite everyone who is interested to attend and take
part. If you plan on attending, please register:
https://aaalws.aidaform.com/ws2-cgn
Invited Speakers:
John Beavers (UT Austin)
Sara Pacchiarotti (Ghent University)
Presenters:
Victoria Chen & Christina Truong
Peter Hallman
Kyle Jerro
Jozina van der Klok
Andrej Malchukov
Yining Nie & Soo Hwan Lee
Anna Pineda
Kilu von Prince
Linn-Iren Rødvand
When and Where:
19–20 February 2026, University of Cologne
URL: https://aaal.uni-koeln.de/workshops/workshop-2

Linguistic Field(s): Morphology
                     Pragmatics
                     Semantics
                     Syntax
                     Typology




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