Chapter 3. A syntactic interpretation of the applicative-causative syncretism
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Ludovico Franco
Abstract
We consider the applicative-causative syncretism, which is a pattern of morpheme polysemy attested in many different natural languages. We basically interpret the causative-applicative syncretism as based on a shared syntactic configuration. Specifically, we argue that the syncretic morpheme under investigation is the ‘applicative’ counterpart of an adpositional/case elementary relator (Manzini & Franco 2016; Franco & Manzini 2017a,b), attaching instrumental or benefactive obliques (High Applicatives, cf. Pylkkänen 2002, 2008) to the verbal spine. We follow Bellucci (2017), Manzini and Savoia (2018) in assuming that causees in causative constructions can be introduced as obliques, linked to the same structural position as High Appls. The causative reading of the sentence is driven by interpretive means (cf. Franco & Manzini 2017b). This readily explains the possibility of encoding causative and applicatives with the same lexical items.
Abstract
We consider the applicative-causative syncretism, which is a pattern of morpheme polysemy attested in many different natural languages. We basically interpret the causative-applicative syncretism as based on a shared syntactic configuration. Specifically, we argue that the syncretic morpheme under investigation is the ‘applicative’ counterpart of an adpositional/case elementary relator (Manzini & Franco 2016; Franco & Manzini 2017a,b), attaching instrumental or benefactive obliques (High Applicatives, cf. Pylkkänen 2002, 2008) to the verbal spine. We follow Bellucci (2017), Manzini and Savoia (2018) in assuming that causees in causative constructions can be introduced as obliques, linked to the same structural position as High Appls. The causative reading of the sentence is driven by interpretive means (cf. Franco & Manzini 2017b). This readily explains the possibility of encoding causative and applicatives with the same lexical items.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Preface ix
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Oblique serial verbs in Creole/Pidgin languages and beyond 16
- Chapter 3. A syntactic interpretation of the applicative-causative syncretism 49
- Chapter 4. Axial Parts beyond space 73
- Chapter 5. Existential sentences in Romance based Creoles 114
- Chapter 6. The morphosyntax of Italian ethnic adjectives 134
- Chapter 7. The morphosyntactic interaction of kinship terms with evaluative morphemes in Italian 169
- Chapter 8. Conclusions 186
- Bibliography 188
- Subject index 215
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Preface ix
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Oblique serial verbs in Creole/Pidgin languages and beyond 16
- Chapter 3. A syntactic interpretation of the applicative-causative syncretism 49
- Chapter 4. Axial Parts beyond space 73
- Chapter 5. Existential sentences in Romance based Creoles 114
- Chapter 6. The morphosyntax of Italian ethnic adjectives 134
- Chapter 7. The morphosyntactic interaction of kinship terms with evaluative morphemes in Italian 169
- Chapter 8. Conclusions 186
- Bibliography 188
- Subject index 215
