Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy
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Jens E. L. Van Gysel
Abstract
In many languages, one morpheme functions both as a causative and as an applicative. Researchers such as Croft (1991) and Tuggy (1988) have noted the conceptual similarities between these functions, but the origins and conceptual mechanisms of change which cross-linguistically lead towards such polysemies have not been studied. This study investigates 88 languages, in which 11 polysemous causative-applicative morphemes were found. Extensions from etymological applicatives towards a causative function, and vice versa, are attested, although no etymological causatives which have become productive as applicatives were found. I argue that the conventionalisation of implicatures and other mechanisms of change allow such extensions to advance gradually over a continuum of valency-increasing functions, or more directly between conceptually further removed causatives and benefactive applicatives.
Abstract
In many languages, one morpheme functions both as a causative and as an applicative. Researchers such as Croft (1991) and Tuggy (1988) have noted the conceptual similarities between these functions, but the origins and conceptual mechanisms of change which cross-linguistically lead towards such polysemies have not been studied. This study investigates 88 languages, in which 11 polysemous causative-applicative morphemes were found. Extensions from etymological applicatives towards a causative function, and vice versa, are attested, although no etymological causatives which have become productive as applicatives were found. I argue that the conventionalisation of implicatures and other mechanisms of change allow such extensions to advance gradually over a continuum of valency-increasing functions, or more directly between conceptually further removed causatives and benefactive applicatives.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
