The Estonian partitive evidential
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Anne Tamm
Abstract
This article shows that the Estonian partitive evidential marks predicates in sentences that express incomplete evidence. Partitive occurs in the categories of aspect, epistemic modality, and evidentiality, marking objects and present participles. Despite the difference in syntax, the semantics of these categories is based on parallel relationships. More specifically, the aspectual partitive marks objects in sentences describing incomplete events, and the partitive evidential appears in sentences that encode incomplete evidence compared to the expectation of complete evidence.
Abstract
This article shows that the Estonian partitive evidential marks predicates in sentences that express incomplete evidence. Partitive occurs in the categories of aspect, epistemic modality, and evidentiality, marking objects and present participles. Despite the difference in syntax, the semantics of these categories is based on parallel relationships. More specifically, the aspectual partitive marks objects in sentences describing incomplete events, and the partitive evidential appears in sentences that encode incomplete evidence compared to the expectation of complete evidence.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The semantics of tense, aspect and modality in the languages of the world 1
- Incompatible categories 13
- The perfective/imperfective distinction 33
- Lexical and compositional factors in the aspectual system of Adyghe 55
- Event structure of non-culminating accomplishments 83
- The grammaticalised use of the Burmese verbs la ‘come’ and thwà ‘go’ 131
- Irrealis in Yurakaré and other languages 155
- On the selection of mood in complement clauses 179
- ‘Out of control’ marking as circumstantial modality in St’át’imcets 205
- Modal geometry 245
- Acquisitive modals 271
- Conflicting constraints on the interpretation of modal auxiliaries 303
- Modality and context dependence 317
- Verbal semantic shifts under negation, intensionality, and imperfectivity 341
- The Estonian partitive evidential 365
- Index 403
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The semantics of tense, aspect and modality in the languages of the world 1
- Incompatible categories 13
- The perfective/imperfective distinction 33
- Lexical and compositional factors in the aspectual system of Adyghe 55
- Event structure of non-culminating accomplishments 83
- The grammaticalised use of the Burmese verbs la ‘come’ and thwà ‘go’ 131
- Irrealis in Yurakaré and other languages 155
- On the selection of mood in complement clauses 179
- ‘Out of control’ marking as circumstantial modality in St’át’imcets 205
- Modal geometry 245
- Acquisitive modals 271
- Conflicting constraints on the interpretation of modal auxiliaries 303
- Modality and context dependence 317
- Verbal semantic shifts under negation, intensionality, and imperfectivity 341
- The Estonian partitive evidential 365
- Index 403
