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Copying of argument structure

A gap in borrowing scales and a new approach to model contact-induced change
  • Carola Trips
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Historical Linguistics 2017
This chapter is in the book Historical Linguistics 2017

Abstract

This article deals with the copying of argument structure, pursuing two aims: first, I will discuss why the copying of verbs, and more specifically their argument structure, has never been truly dealt with in models of language contact, including borrowing scales and hierarchies. I will show that the reason lies in the use of the long-standing dichotomy between lexical and structural borrowing, which should be rethought. Second, I will propose an alternative approach using Johanson’s integrative approach to language contact and code copying (2002, 2008), Holler’s (2015) definition of integration conflicts on the level of argument structure, and a modified version of Myers-Scotton’s (2002) Abstract Level Model. I will apply my approach to a qualitative empirical corpus study of Old French psych verbs copied to Middle English, focusing on the description, analysis, and theoretical modelling of the integration conflict that arises with the EXPERIENCER argument syntactically expressed by a to-PP on the model of Old French. Finally, I will compare my findings with similar findings from studies of language acquisition and suggest some generalisations.

Abstract

This article deals with the copying of argument structure, pursuing two aims: first, I will discuss why the copying of verbs, and more specifically their argument structure, has never been truly dealt with in models of language contact, including borrowing scales and hierarchies. I will show that the reason lies in the use of the long-standing dichotomy between lexical and structural borrowing, which should be rethought. Second, I will propose an alternative approach using Johanson’s integrative approach to language contact and code copying (2002, 2008), Holler’s (2015) definition of integration conflicts on the level of argument structure, and a modified version of Myers-Scotton’s (2002) Abstract Level Model. I will apply my approach to a qualitative empirical corpus study of Old French psych verbs copied to Middle English, focusing on the description, analysis, and theoretical modelling of the integration conflict that arises with the EXPERIENCER argument syntactically expressed by a to-PP on the model of Old French. Finally, I will compare my findings with similar findings from studies of language acquisition and suggest some generalisations.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword & Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Case & argument structure
  6. Strategies for aligning syntactic roles and case marking with semantic properties 9
  7. Criteria for subjecthood and non-canonical subjects in Classical Greek 29
  8. Parallel syncretism in early Indo-European 49
  9. Dative possessor in ditransitive Spanish predication, in diachronic perspective 65
  10. ‘Liking’ constructions in Spanish 81
  11. Part II. Alignment & Diathesis
  12. The actualization of new voice patterns in Romance 109
  13. Ergative from passive in Proto-Basque 143
  14. Part III. Patterns, paradigms, & restructuring
  15. Synchrony, diachrony, and indexicality 163
  16. Ablaut pattern extension as partial regularization strategy in German and Luxembourgish 183
  17. Remotivating inflectional classes 205
  18. From noun to quantifier 229
  19. Part IV. Grammaticalization & construction grammar
  20. Old French si , grammaticalisation, and the interconnectedness of change 253
  21. The rise of the analytic Perfect aspect in the West Iranian languages 273
  22. On the grammaticalization of the -(v)ši- resultative in North Slavic 293
  23. Atomizing linguistic change 317
  24. Part V. Corpus linguistics & morphosyntax
  25. The rich get richer 343
  26. Expletives in Icelandic 363
  27. Part VI. Languages in contact
  28. Contact and change in Neo-Aramaic dialects 387
  29. Copying of argument structure 409
  30. Contact-induced change and the phonemicization of the vowel /ɑ/ in Quảng Nam Vietnamese 431
  31. The future markers in Palestinian Arabic: 453
  32. Neuters to none 473
  33. Index 489
  34. Languages & language families 493
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.350.19tri

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword & Acknowledgements ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Case & argument structure
  6. Strategies for aligning syntactic roles and case marking with semantic properties 9
  7. Criteria for subjecthood and non-canonical subjects in Classical Greek 29
  8. Parallel syncretism in early Indo-European 49
  9. Dative possessor in ditransitive Spanish predication, in diachronic perspective 65
  10. ‘Liking’ constructions in Spanish 81
  11. Part II. Alignment & Diathesis
  12. The actualization of new voice patterns in Romance 109
  13. Ergative from passive in Proto-Basque 143
  14. Part III. Patterns, paradigms, & restructuring
  15. Synchrony, diachrony, and indexicality 163
  16. Ablaut pattern extension as partial regularization strategy in German and Luxembourgish 183
  17. Remotivating inflectional classes 205
  18. From noun to quantifier 229
  19. Part IV. Grammaticalization & construction grammar
  20. Old French si , grammaticalisation, and the interconnectedness of change 253
  21. The rise of the analytic Perfect aspect in the West Iranian languages 273
  22. On the grammaticalization of the -(v)ši- resultative in North Slavic 293
  23. Atomizing linguistic change 317
  24. Part V. Corpus linguistics & morphosyntax
  25. The rich get richer 343
  26. Expletives in Icelandic 363
  27. Part VI. Languages in contact
  28. Contact and change in Neo-Aramaic dialects 387
  29. Copying of argument structure 409
  30. Contact-induced change and the phonemicization of the vowel /ɑ/ in Quảng Nam Vietnamese 431
  31. The future markers in Palestinian Arabic: 453
  32. Neuters to none 473
  33. Index 489
  34. Languages & language families 493
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