Variation and change in the presentational constructions of north-western Italo-Romance varieties
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M. Mair Parry
Abstract
This paper examines variation and change in argument realization shown by the evolution of presentational, existential and event-reporting structures in the indigenous linguistic varieties of north-west Italy from the medieval period to the present. The common function of these constructions, namely the introduction of a new entity or situation into the world of discourse, both justifies their all being considered ‘presentational’ and accounts for the fact that their realizations in the vernaculars and dialects examined are historically related. The diachronic analysis discusses changes affecting three key morphosyntactic domains: (i) presence and role of a locative clitic; (ii) word order (preverbal vs. postverbal nominal subject/pivot); (iii) subject/pivot – verb agreement patterns, which eventually lead to the grammaticalization of dedicated presentational structures.
Abstract
This paper examines variation and change in argument realization shown by the evolution of presentational, existential and event-reporting structures in the indigenous linguistic varieties of north-west Italy from the medieval period to the present. The common function of these constructions, namely the introduction of a new entity or situation into the world of discourse, both justifies their all being considered ‘presentational’ and accounts for the fact that their realizations in the vernaculars and dialects examined are historically related. The diachronic analysis discusses changes affecting three key morphosyntactic domains: (i) presence and role of a locative clitic; (ii) word order (preverbal vs. postverbal nominal subject/pivot); (iii) subject/pivot – verb agreement patterns, which eventually lead to the grammaticalization of dedicated presentational structures.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Argument structure in flux 1
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Part I. Argument structure and encoding strategies
- Non-canonical subjects in clauses with noun predicates 15
- Differential agent marking in Hinuq 33
- Case variation and case alternation in Indo-European and beyond 53
- Constructional polysemy and argument realisation with the Irish GET verb 87
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Part II. Argument structure and verb classes
- Latin preverbs and verb argument structure 119
- Experiencing linking 135
- Introduce 169
- On the relationship between lexical aspect, verbal meaning, and (lexical) argument structure 201
- Four Romanian verbs of occurring 231
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Part III. Unexpressed arguments
- The pro cycle 257
- Argument promotion and SE-constructions in Brazilian Portuguese 285
- Unaccusativity and the diachrony of null and cognate objects in Greek 307
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Part IV. Split intransitivity
- Split intransitivity in Irish and the syntax-semantics interface 345
- Semantic constraints on the Latin impersonal passive 373
- Auxiliary selection in German 405
- Tornar and volver 435
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Part V. Existential and presentational constructions
- Control and the evolution of possessive and existential constructions 461
- Existential constructions 477
- Variation and change in the presentational constructions of north-western Italo-Romance varieties 511
- Argument realization and existential pro-forms in early Italo-Romance 549
- Author index 567
- Language and topic index 573
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Argument structure in flux 1
-
Part I. Argument structure and encoding strategies
- Non-canonical subjects in clauses with noun predicates 15
- Differential agent marking in Hinuq 33
- Case variation and case alternation in Indo-European and beyond 53
- Constructional polysemy and argument realisation with the Irish GET verb 87
-
Part II. Argument structure and verb classes
- Latin preverbs and verb argument structure 119
- Experiencing linking 135
- Introduce 169
- On the relationship between lexical aspect, verbal meaning, and (lexical) argument structure 201
- Four Romanian verbs of occurring 231
-
Part III. Unexpressed arguments
- The pro cycle 257
- Argument promotion and SE-constructions in Brazilian Portuguese 285
- Unaccusativity and the diachrony of null and cognate objects in Greek 307
-
Part IV. Split intransitivity
- Split intransitivity in Irish and the syntax-semantics interface 345
- Semantic constraints on the Latin impersonal passive 373
- Auxiliary selection in German 405
- Tornar and volver 435
-
Part V. Existential and presentational constructions
- Control and the evolution of possessive and existential constructions 461
- Existential constructions 477
- Variation and change in the presentational constructions of north-western Italo-Romance varieties 511
- Argument realization and existential pro-forms in early Italo-Romance 549
- Author index 567
- Language and topic index 573