Cross-linguistic categorization of benefactives by event structure
-
Tomoko Yamashita Smith
Abstract
The first of its kind, this study classifies the semantics of benefactive constructions from over sixty languages according to event structure types, identifying two basic types. The “agentive benefactive” construction, always includes an agent and expresses that the agent intentionally carries out the act for the sake of the affectee. The “event benefactive” construction, on the other hand, expresses that the affecting event may or may not have an agent, and includes windfall situations. The subtypes of the agentive benefactive are: “unrestricted agentive benefactive” (agent can be anybody), “non-self-benefactive” (agent is not an affectee), “selfbenefactive” (agent and affectee are identical), and “shared-benefit construction” (which expresses that ‘X does something for the benefit of X himself and Y’).
Abstract
The first of its kind, this study classifies the semantics of benefactive constructions from over sixty languages according to event structure types, identifying two basic types. The “agentive benefactive” construction, always includes an agent and expresses that the agent intentionally carries out the act for the sake of the affectee. The “event benefactive” construction, on the other hand, expresses that the affecting event may or may not have an agent, and includes windfall situations. The subtypes of the agentive benefactive are: “unrestricted agentive benefactive” (agent can be anybody), “non-self-benefactive” (agent is not an affectee), “selfbenefactive” (agent and affectee are identical), and “shared-benefit construction” (which expresses that ‘X does something for the benefit of X himself and Y’).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
- Benefactive applicative periphrases 29
- Cross-linguistic categorization of benefactives by event structure 71
- An areal and cross-linguistic study of benefactive and malefactive constructions 97
- The role of benefactives and related notions in the typology of purpose clauses 121
- Benefactive and malefactive uses of Salish applicatives 147
- Beneficiaries and recipients in Toba (Guaycurú) 185
- Benefactive and malefactive applicativization in Mapudungun 203
- The benefactive semantic potential of ‘caused reception’ constructions 219
- Beneficiary coding in Finnish 245
- Benefactives in Laz 271
- Benefactive and malefactive verb extensions in the Koalib very system 295
- Benefactives and malefactives in Gumer (Gurage) 317
- A “reflexive benefactive” in Chamba-Daka (Adamawa branch, Niger-Congo family) 331
- Beneficiary and other roles of the dative in Tashelhiyt 351
- Benefactive strategies in Thai 377
- Korean benefactive particles and their meanings 393
- Malefactivity in Japanese 419
- Index 437
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- List of contributors ix
- Introduction 1
- Benefactive applicative periphrases 29
- Cross-linguistic categorization of benefactives by event structure 71
- An areal and cross-linguistic study of benefactive and malefactive constructions 97
- The role of benefactives and related notions in the typology of purpose clauses 121
- Benefactive and malefactive uses of Salish applicatives 147
- Beneficiaries and recipients in Toba (Guaycurú) 185
- Benefactive and malefactive applicativization in Mapudungun 203
- The benefactive semantic potential of ‘caused reception’ constructions 219
- Beneficiary coding in Finnish 245
- Benefactives in Laz 271
- Benefactive and malefactive verb extensions in the Koalib very system 295
- Benefactives and malefactives in Gumer (Gurage) 317
- A “reflexive benefactive” in Chamba-Daka (Adamawa branch, Niger-Congo family) 331
- Beneficiary and other roles of the dative in Tashelhiyt 351
- Benefactive strategies in Thai 377
- Korean benefactive particles and their meanings 393
- Malefactivity in Japanese 419
- Index 437
