The usual suspects
-
T. Givón
Abstract
In the grammaticalization of verbs, a small group of lexical verbs is particularly prominent, invariably found on the short-list of ‘light verbs’ (Wilson 1999) that display peculiar grammatical properties. This chapter describes the behavior of a small group of such verbs in Ute. In addition to the properties noted above, these verbs in Ute display one conspicuous morphotactic irregularity: Unlike most lexical verbs that appear as the first element in the verbal word, these usual suspects can only appear as the second (or last) element in the complex verbal word. That is, in the characteristic position of Ute verbal suffixes.
Abstract
In the grammaticalization of verbs, a small group of lexical verbs is particularly prominent, invariably found on the short-list of ‘light verbs’ (Wilson 1999) that display peculiar grammatical properties. This chapter describes the behavior of a small group of such verbs in Ute. In addition to the properties noted above, these verbs in Ute display one conspicuous morphotactic irregularity: Unlike most lexical verbs that appear as the first element in the verbal word, these usual suspects can only appear as the second (or last) element in the complex verbal word. That is, in the characteristic position of Ute verbal suffixes.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Language contact and change in the Americas 1
-
Part I North America: California
- Yuki, Pomoan, Wintun, and Athabaskan 17
- The role of passives in the formation of hierarchical systems in Northern California 33
- Assessing the effects of language contact on Northeastern Pomo 67
- Synchronic and diachronic accounts of phonological features in Central Chumash languages 91
-
Part II North America: Athabaskan, Iroquoian, and Uto-Aztecan
- Contact and semantic shift in extreme language endangerment 107
- “Excorporation” in a Dene (Athabaskan) language 139
- Contact and change in Oneida 167
- Huron/Wendat interactions with the Seneca language 189
- The usual suspects 219
-
Part III Northern Mexico, Mesoamerica, and South America
- Language documentation and historical linguistics 249
- The Jakaltek Popti’ noun classifier system 273
- Language contact and word structure 297
- Auxiliation and typological shift 315
- Discourse pattern replication in South Conchucos Quechua and Andean Spanish 339
-
Part IV The Americas and beyond
- Measuring language typicality, with special reference to the Americas 365
- Words for ‘dog’ as a diagnostic of language contact in the Americas 385
- Index 411
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Language contact and change in the Americas 1
-
Part I North America: California
- Yuki, Pomoan, Wintun, and Athabaskan 17
- The role of passives in the formation of hierarchical systems in Northern California 33
- Assessing the effects of language contact on Northeastern Pomo 67
- Synchronic and diachronic accounts of phonological features in Central Chumash languages 91
-
Part II North America: Athabaskan, Iroquoian, and Uto-Aztecan
- Contact and semantic shift in extreme language endangerment 107
- “Excorporation” in a Dene (Athabaskan) language 139
- Contact and change in Oneida 167
- Huron/Wendat interactions with the Seneca language 189
- The usual suspects 219
-
Part III Northern Mexico, Mesoamerica, and South America
- Language documentation and historical linguistics 249
- The Jakaltek Popti’ noun classifier system 273
- Language contact and word structure 297
- Auxiliation and typological shift 315
- Discourse pattern replication in South Conchucos Quechua and Andean Spanish 339
-
Part IV The Americas and beyond
- Measuring language typicality, with special reference to the Americas 365
- Words for ‘dog’ as a diagnostic of language contact in the Americas 385
- Index 411
