Complex Predicates
Cross-linguistic Perspectives on Event Structure

Provides a fresh perspective on the cross-linguistic properties of complex predicates, considering how additional words contribute to the overall meaning.

Mengistu Amberber (Edited by), Brett Baker (Edited by), Mark Harvey (Edited by)

9781107672512, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 April 2014

332 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.45 kg

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG], Linguistics [CF]