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Verbal prefixation and argument structure in Lithuanian

  • Kirill Kozhanov
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Argument Realization in Baltic
This chapter is in the book Argument Realization in Baltic

Abstract

This paper describes the possible changes affecting a verb’s argument structure when a prefix is added. The analyzed data show that most often attachment of a prefix adds a new slot to a verb’s valency, namely a peripheral adjunct becomes a core argument usually marked by the accusative. This process can be called applicativization, and prefixal derivation thus belongs to the group of valence-increasing formations. The syntactic status of the added arguments is analyzed by applying various transitivity tests. These tests show that most of the added arguments behave as direct objects and the change of the verb’s argument structure can be regarded as transitivization. However, some arguments behave as direct objects only with originally intransitive verbs but look like obligatory accusative-marked adjuncts with other verbs. The article also discusses cases where prefixation changes case marking, rearranges a verb’s arguments, or licenses syntactic alternations.

Abstract

This paper describes the possible changes affecting a verb’s argument structure when a prefix is added. The analyzed data show that most often attachment of a prefix adds a new slot to a verb’s valency, namely a peripheral adjunct becomes a core argument usually marked by the accusative. This process can be called applicativization, and prefixal derivation thus belongs to the group of valence-increasing formations. The syntactic status of the added arguments is analyzed by applying various transitivity tests. These tests show that most of the added arguments behave as direct objects and the change of the verb’s argument structure can be regarded as transitivization. However, some arguments behave as direct objects only with originally intransitive verbs but look like obligatory accusative-marked adjuncts with other verbs. The article also discusses cases where prefixation changes case marking, rearranges a verb’s arguments, or licenses syntactic alternations.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Case marking and case alternations
  6. Long-distance Genitive of Negation in Lithuanian 37
  7. Argument marking in Baltic and Slavonic pain-verb constructions 83
  8. Variable argument realization in Lithuanian impersonals 107
  9. The nominative case in Baltic in a typological perspective 137
  10. Differential Argument Marking with the Latvian debitive 199
  11. Contexts for the choice of genitive vs. instrumental in contemporary Lithuanian 259
  12. The directive/locative alternation in Lithuanian and elsewhere 333
  13. Extending argument structure
  14. Verbal prefixation and argument structure in Lithuanian 363
  15. Resultative secondary predicates in the Baltic languages 403
  16. On periphrastic causative constructions in Lithuanian and Latvian 427
  17. Nominalizations and their arugument structure
  18. Argument realization in Latvian action nominal constructions 461
  19. Lithuanian nominalizations and the case marking of their arguments 523
  20. Language index 551
  21. Name index 553
  22. Subject index 555
https://doi.org/10.1075/vargreb.3.08koz

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Case marking and case alternations
  6. Long-distance Genitive of Negation in Lithuanian 37
  7. Argument marking in Baltic and Slavonic pain-verb constructions 83
  8. Variable argument realization in Lithuanian impersonals 107
  9. The nominative case in Baltic in a typological perspective 137
  10. Differential Argument Marking with the Latvian debitive 199
  11. Contexts for the choice of genitive vs. instrumental in contemporary Lithuanian 259
  12. The directive/locative alternation in Lithuanian and elsewhere 333
  13. Extending argument structure
  14. Verbal prefixation and argument structure in Lithuanian 363
  15. Resultative secondary predicates in the Baltic languages 403
  16. On periphrastic causative constructions in Lithuanian and Latvian 427
  17. Nominalizations and their arugument structure
  18. Argument realization in Latvian action nominal constructions 461
  19. Lithuanian nominalizations and the case marking of their arguments 523
  20. Language index 551
  21. Name index 553
  22. Subject index 555
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