Coordinated phrases as dvandvas
-
Kazuya Nishimaki
Abstract
It is generally accepted that coordinated compounds known as dvandvas are attested in some languages but not in others. For instance, they are very common in Japanese (e.g. dan-zyo ‘lit. male-female = male and female’) but unattested in English (e.g. * male-female), which instead requires phrasal coordination. The present paper uses Competition Theory to explore where this cross-linguistic variation comes from, focusing on the unattestedness of dvandvas in English. This theory assumes that cross-linguistic variations occur when morphology and syntax compete to realize an underlying structure; languages are classified into two types in a macroparametric manner, depending on whether they prefer morphological or syntactic realization. Taking a competition-theoretic approach, this paper claims that the unattestedness reflects the nature of English as a particular type of language, which is determined by a macroparameter. Furthermore, Competition Theory predicts that dvandvas have phrasal counterparts in English. The correctness of this prediction will be verified by observing that a particular type of coordinated phrase exhibits the defining property of a dvandva regardless of their different surface forms. It will be proposed that the relevant type is derived in a specific way, which results in its dvandva status.
Abstract
It is generally accepted that coordinated compounds known as dvandvas are attested in some languages but not in others. For instance, they are very common in Japanese (e.g. dan-zyo ‘lit. male-female = male and female’) but unattested in English (e.g. * male-female), which instead requires phrasal coordination. The present paper uses Competition Theory to explore where this cross-linguistic variation comes from, focusing on the unattestedness of dvandvas in English. This theory assumes that cross-linguistic variations occur when morphology and syntax compete to realize an underlying structure; languages are classified into two types in a macroparametric manner, depending on whether they prefer morphological or syntactic realization. Taking a competition-theoretic approach, this paper claims that the unattestedness reflects the nature of English as a particular type of language, which is determined by a macroparameter. Furthermore, Competition Theory predicts that dvandvas have phrasal counterparts in English. The correctness of this prediction will be verified by observing that a particular type of coordinated phrase exhibits the defining property of a dvandva regardless of their different surface forms. It will be proposed that the relevant type is derived in a specific way, which results in its dvandva status.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Major trends in research on the English NP 1
-
Determination, modification & complementation
- Refining and re-defining secondary determiners in relation to primary determiners 27
- The rivalry between definiteness and specificity 79
- Post-head compression in noun phrase referring expressions 107
- From noun to verb 135
-
Shell nouns & the X-is construction
- Shell nouns as epistemic stance devices in English 171
- Constructional variation and change in N-is focaliser constructions 205
- Premodification in X-is constructions 235
-
Binominal constructions
- From an icy hell of a night to a hell of a fine story 279
- Time-measurement constructions in English 311
- Day to day and night after night 363
- Coordinated phrases as dvandvas 395
- Index 429
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Major trends in research on the English NP 1
-
Determination, modification & complementation
- Refining and re-defining secondary determiners in relation to primary determiners 27
- The rivalry between definiteness and specificity 79
- Post-head compression in noun phrase referring expressions 107
- From noun to verb 135
-
Shell nouns & the X-is construction
- Shell nouns as epistemic stance devices in English 171
- Constructional variation and change in N-is focaliser constructions 205
- Premodification in X-is constructions 235
-
Binominal constructions
- From an icy hell of a night to a hell of a fine story 279
- Time-measurement constructions in English 311
- Day to day and night after night 363
- Coordinated phrases as dvandvas 395
- Index 429
