What grammaticalisation can reveal about same-subject control
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Debra Ziegeler
Abstract
The notion of an implicit infinitive subject for non-finite clauses has increasingly shifted from the focus of syntactic research to that of semantics. The present study addresses some examples from Colloquial Singaporean English (CSE) in which subject control relations appear to be absent. It is questioned how a grammaticalisation account can explain the relation of subject control with subject selection in the complement, and further hypothesised that the controlled subject must be selected by the complement verb. Subject selection properties of the complement verb are thus determined by the level of grammaticalisation of the main verb. It is also found that topic-prominent information structure removes the need for semantic relations holding between the verb and subject for speakers of that dialect.
Abstract
The notion of an implicit infinitive subject for non-finite clauses has increasingly shifted from the focus of syntactic research to that of semantics. The present study addresses some examples from Colloquial Singaporean English (CSE) in which subject control relations appear to be absent. It is questioned how a grammaticalisation account can explain the relation of subject control with subject selection in the complement, and further hypothesised that the controlled subject must be selected by the complement verb. Subject selection properties of the complement verb are thus determined by the level of grammaticalisation of the main verb. It is also found that topic-prominent information structure removes the need for semantic relations holding between the verb and subject for speakers of that dialect.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
part I Basic questions
- On some problem areas in grammaticalization studies 17
- Issues in constructional approaches to grammaticalization in English 51
- Reconsidering erosion in grammaticalization 73
- Grammaticalization, subjectification and objectification 101
- Degrammaticalization 123
- Degrammaticalization and obsolescent morphology 151
-
part II Grammaticalization and the explanation of language change
- An analogical approach to grammaticalization 181
- Does grammaticalisation need analogy? 221
- What grammaticalisation can reveal about same-subject control 241
- How the Latin neuter pronominal forms became markers of non-individuation in Spanish 273
-
part III Case studies of micro-processes of grammaticalization
- The Grammaticalization of the German adjectives lauter (and eitel ) 297
- Is German gehören an auxiliary? 323
- Micro-processes of grammaticalization 343
- List of contributors 373
- Index 375
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
part I Basic questions
- On some problem areas in grammaticalization studies 17
- Issues in constructional approaches to grammaticalization in English 51
- Reconsidering erosion in grammaticalization 73
- Grammaticalization, subjectification and objectification 101
- Degrammaticalization 123
- Degrammaticalization and obsolescent morphology 151
-
part II Grammaticalization and the explanation of language change
- An analogical approach to grammaticalization 181
- Does grammaticalisation need analogy? 221
- What grammaticalisation can reveal about same-subject control 241
- How the Latin neuter pronominal forms became markers of non-individuation in Spanish 273
-
part III Case studies of micro-processes of grammaticalization
- The Grammaticalization of the German adjectives lauter (and eitel ) 297
- Is German gehören an auxiliary? 323
- Micro-processes of grammaticalization 343
- List of contributors 373
- Index 375
