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On the borders of neglected word classes

From preverbs to ‘satellites’ via adverbs and particles
  • Anna Sőrés
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Word Classes
This chapter is in the book Word Classes

Abstract

This paper proposes a functional word class called “path satellites” that includes adverbs, particles, verbal prefixes, and preverbs expressing direction or orientation of motion. The starting point of the analysis is Hungarian, which has a specific set of morphemes considered in different grammars either as a subclass of adverbs or as a specific word class called “preverb”. A detailed description of the semantic and syntactic properties of spatial preverbs in Hungarian and a comparison with adverbs enables two separate classes to be established in this language. However, as many examples presented here show, several other items in different languages have important functional similarities with Hungarian preverbs, e.g. particles or verbal prefixes in German, Italian, Polish, Ancient Greek or in Mayan languages. Moving beyond the traditional semantic, morphological and syntactic criteria that have been used in identifying word classes enables us to demonstrate the functional commonalities of the elements discussed, which are labeled differently in the grammars of individual languages. Adopting the term “satellite” proposed by Talmy is useful for the description of this class of grammatical items moving in the verbal sphere.

Abstract

This paper proposes a functional word class called “path satellites” that includes adverbs, particles, verbal prefixes, and preverbs expressing direction or orientation of motion. The starting point of the analysis is Hungarian, which has a specific set of morphemes considered in different grammars either as a subclass of adverbs or as a specific word class called “preverb”. A detailed description of the semantic and syntactic properties of spatial preverbs in Hungarian and a comparison with adverbs enables two separate classes to be established in this language. However, as many examples presented here show, several other items in different languages have important functional similarities with Hungarian preverbs, e.g. particles or verbal prefixes in German, Italian, Polish, Ancient Greek or in Mayan languages. Moving beyond the traditional semantic, morphological and syntactic criteria that have been used in identifying word classes enables us to demonstrate the functional commonalities of the elements discussed, which are labeled differently in the grammars of individual languages. Adopting the term “satellite” proposed by Talmy is useful for the description of this class of grammatical items moving in the verbal sphere.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword and acknowledgements vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. PART I. Types of word classes
  6. Carving verb classes from corpora 17
  7. Classes of creation verbs 37
  8. On Light Nouns 51
  9. The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
  10. The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
  11. Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
  12. PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
  13. Hungarian is a classifier language 141
  14. Cardinal numerals 161
  15. On the borders of neglected word classes 181
  16. PART III. Across word classes
  17. Between adjective and noun 203
  18. On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
  19. PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
  20. Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
  21. Half and other unique words 263
  22. Index of languages 283
  23. Index of names 285
  24. Index of subjects 289
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.332.10sor

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword and acknowledgements vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. PART I. Types of word classes
  6. Carving verb classes from corpora 17
  7. Classes of creation verbs 37
  8. On Light Nouns 51
  9. The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
  10. The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
  11. Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
  12. PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
  13. Hungarian is a classifier language 141
  14. Cardinal numerals 161
  15. On the borders of neglected word classes 181
  16. PART III. Across word classes
  17. Between adjective and noun 203
  18. On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
  19. PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
  20. Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
  21. Half and other unique words 263
  22. Index of languages 283
  23. Index of names 285
  24. Index of subjects 289
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