Non-zero/non-zero alternations in differential object marking
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Stefan Keine
Abstract
This article presents an extension of the theory of differential argument encoding developed in Aissen (1999, 2003). It is based on the empirical observation that the yes/no alternations envisaged in Aissen’s system are only part of a much broader less/more pattern. We maintain Aissen’s hypothesis that the effects of differential argument encoding can be derived from harmonic alignment of markedness scales, but we argue that differential encoding should best be viewed as a purely morphological phenomenon (rather than as a syntactic phenomenon, as in Aissen’s approach). More specifically, we suggest that harmonic alignment of scales may bring about impoverishment operations that reduce syntactic inputs for morphological realization (see Halle & Marantz (1993)). The result is a unified account for differential argument encoding that comprises alternations between two or more overt markers, which fall out of Aissen’s systems. The empirical evidence for our approach comes from Hindi, Mannheim German, Trumai, and Cavineña.
Abstract
This article presents an extension of the theory of differential argument encoding developed in Aissen (1999, 2003). It is based on the empirical observation that the yes/no alternations envisaged in Aissen’s system are only part of a much broader less/more pattern. We maintain Aissen’s hypothesis that the effects of differential argument encoding can be derived from harmonic alignment of markedness scales, but we argue that differential encoding should best be viewed as a purely morphological phenomenon (rather than as a syntactic phenomenon, as in Aissen’s approach). More specifically, we suggest that harmonic alignment of scales may bring about impoverishment operations that reduce syntactic inputs for morphological realization (see Halle & Marantz (1993)). The result is a unified account for differential argument encoding that comprises alternations between two or more overt markers, which fall out of Aissen’s systems. The empirical evidence for our approach comes from Hindi, Mannheim German, Trumai, and Cavineña.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Trans-duction 1
-
Part I. Form and Meaning
- Types of transitivity, intransitive objects, and untransitivity – and the logic of their structural designs 15
- The interaction of transitivity features in the sinhala involitive 69
- Transitivity in Chinese experiencer object verbs 95
- Non-zero/non-zero alternations in differential object marking 119
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Part II. Acquisition and processing
- Children and transitivity 143
- Grammatical transitivity vs. interpretive distinctness 161
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Part III. Transitivity and diathesis
- The space between one and two 191
- Event-structure and individuation in impersonal passives 209
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Part IV. Crosslinguistic and crosscategorical considerations
- Lability and spontaneity 237
- Transitivity of deverbal nominals and aspectual modifiers of the verbal stem (evidence from Russian) 257
- Individuation and semantic role interpretation in the adpositional domain 279
- Language index 301
- Subject index 303
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Trans-duction 1
-
Part I. Form and Meaning
- Types of transitivity, intransitive objects, and untransitivity – and the logic of their structural designs 15
- The interaction of transitivity features in the sinhala involitive 69
- Transitivity in Chinese experiencer object verbs 95
- Non-zero/non-zero alternations in differential object marking 119
-
Part II. Acquisition and processing
- Children and transitivity 143
- Grammatical transitivity vs. interpretive distinctness 161
-
Part III. Transitivity and diathesis
- The space between one and two 191
- Event-structure and individuation in impersonal passives 209
-
Part IV. Crosslinguistic and crosscategorical considerations
- Lability and spontaneity 237
- Transitivity of deverbal nominals and aspectual modifiers of the verbal stem (evidence from Russian) 257
- Individuation and semantic role interpretation in the adpositional domain 279
- Language index 301
- Subject index 303
