Turkish and Turkic complex noun phrase constructions
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Jaklin Kornfilt
Abstract
We propose an account for two different language types, with data from two Turkic languages. One type (Sakha) allows NMCCs with loose semantic and formal connections between the noun and the clause. The other type (Turkish) does not allow such constructions. In Turkish-type Turkic, the head’s semantic features in NMCCs impose requirements on the morpho-syntax of a complement clause; in RCs, the subjecthood versus non-subjecthood of the target dictates different morphological properties onto the clause’s predicate. The Sakha type languages do not exhibit such constraints, given the clause’s status as an adjunct in both constructions. We further show that not only Turkish-type languages, but also Sakha-type languages obey syntactic island constraints, as adjuncts are more opaque for extractions than complements; hence even this type of language can be sensitive to islands.
Abstract
We propose an account for two different language types, with data from two Turkic languages. One type (Sakha) allows NMCCs with loose semantic and formal connections between the noun and the clause. The other type (Turkish) does not allow such constructions. In Turkish-type Turkic, the head’s semantic features in NMCCs impose requirements on the morpho-syntax of a complement clause; in RCs, the subjecthood versus non-subjecthood of the target dictates different morphological properties onto the clause’s predicate. The Sakha type languages do not exhibit such constraints, given the clause’s status as an adjunct in both constructions. We further show that not only Turkish-type languages, but also Sakha-type languages obey syntactic island constraints, as adjuncts are more opaque for extractions than complements; hence even this type of language can be sensitive to islands.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in languages of Eurasia 3
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese 23
- The attributive versus final distinction and the manifestation of “main clause phenomena” in Japanese and Korean noun modifying clause constructions 45
- Noun-modifying constructions in Korean 59
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Sino-Tibetan languages 91
- Noun-modifying clauses in Cantonese 105
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Hinuq and Bezhta, with a note on other Daghestanian languages 121
- The general noun-modifying clause construction in Tundra Nenets and its possible origin 147
- Noun-modifying constructions and relativization in the central and western Caucasus 179
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Ainu 203
- Turkish and Turkic complex noun phrase constructions 251
- Noun-modifying constructions in Marathi 293
- Conclusion 331
- Examples to explore in noun-modifying constructions 339
- Relative clauses and noun-modifying clauses in Chantyal 355
- Language index 371
- Name index 373
- Subject index 377
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in languages of Eurasia 3
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese 23
- The attributive versus final distinction and the manifestation of “main clause phenomena” in Japanese and Korean noun modifying clause constructions 45
- Noun-modifying constructions in Korean 59
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Sino-Tibetan languages 91
- Noun-modifying clauses in Cantonese 105
- General noun-modifying clause constructions in Hinuq and Bezhta, with a note on other Daghestanian languages 121
- The general noun-modifying clause construction in Tundra Nenets and its possible origin 147
- Noun-modifying constructions and relativization in the central and western Caucasus 179
- Noun-modifying clause constructions in Ainu 203
- Turkish and Turkic complex noun phrase constructions 251
- Noun-modifying constructions in Marathi 293
- Conclusion 331
- Examples to explore in noun-modifying constructions 339
- Relative clauses and noun-modifying clauses in Chantyal 355
- Language index 371
- Name index 373
- Subject index 377
