Argument realization in Latvian action nominal constructions
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Nicole Nau
Abstract
This paper presents a study of the Latvian action noun derived by the suffix -šan-. The formation is completely regular, general and productive, and unlike other nouns may include affixes that express verbal categories (negation, aktionsart, voice). The focus of the study is on the realization of arguments in constructions with this action noun. The main option is for arguments corresponding to S, P, and A of the base verb to be expressed as prenominal genitives. In the typological literature Latvian has therefore been classified as representing the Double-Possessive type. The study of a large number of action nominal constructions in corpora and selected texts however revealed that the Double-Possessive construction is very rare and occurs only in certain genres of written language. Nominalizations of transitive verbs as a rule appear with a complement expressing P, while nominalizations of intransitive verbs often have a complement expressing S. The expression of A is generally avoided with this action noun, though not with other types of event nouns. In nominalizations of verbs with non-canonical argument marking, nominative, genitive and accusative arguments of the verb may be genitivized, while the expression of dative experiencers and possessors is possible only when the other argument is foregrounded (such as when patikt expresses ‘please’, but not ‘like’).
Abstract
This paper presents a study of the Latvian action noun derived by the suffix -šan-. The formation is completely regular, general and productive, and unlike other nouns may include affixes that express verbal categories (negation, aktionsart, voice). The focus of the study is on the realization of arguments in constructions with this action noun. The main option is for arguments corresponding to S, P, and A of the base verb to be expressed as prenominal genitives. In the typological literature Latvian has therefore been classified as representing the Double-Possessive type. The study of a large number of action nominal constructions in corpora and selected texts however revealed that the Double-Possessive construction is very rare and occurs only in certain genres of written language. Nominalizations of transitive verbs as a rule appear with a complement expressing P, while nominalizations of intransitive verbs often have a complement expressing S. The expression of A is generally avoided with this action noun, though not with other types of event nouns. In nominalizations of verbs with non-canonical argument marking, nominative, genitive and accusative arguments of the verb may be genitivized, while the expression of dative experiencers and possessors is possible only when the other argument is foregrounded (such as when patikt expresses ‘please’, but not ‘like’).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
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Case marking and case alternations
- Long-distance Genitive of Negation in Lithuanian 37
- Argument marking in Baltic and Slavonic pain-verb constructions 83
- Variable argument realization in Lithuanian impersonals 107
- The nominative case in Baltic in a typological perspective 137
- Differential Argument Marking with the Latvian debitive 199
- Contexts for the choice of genitive vs. instrumental in contemporary Lithuanian 259
- The directive/locative alternation in Lithuanian and elsewhere 333
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Extending argument structure
- Verbal prefixation and argument structure in Lithuanian 363
- Resultative secondary predicates in the Baltic languages 403
- On periphrastic causative constructions in Lithuanian and Latvian 427
-
Nominalizations and their arugument structure
- Argument realization in Latvian action nominal constructions 461
- Lithuanian nominalizations and the case marking of their arguments 523
- Language index 551
- Name index 553
- Subject index 555
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Case marking and case alternations
- Long-distance Genitive of Negation in Lithuanian 37
- Argument marking in Baltic and Slavonic pain-verb constructions 83
- Variable argument realization in Lithuanian impersonals 107
- The nominative case in Baltic in a typological perspective 137
- Differential Argument Marking with the Latvian debitive 199
- Contexts for the choice of genitive vs. instrumental in contemporary Lithuanian 259
- The directive/locative alternation in Lithuanian and elsewhere 333
-
Extending argument structure
- Verbal prefixation and argument structure in Lithuanian 363
- Resultative secondary predicates in the Baltic languages 403
- On periphrastic causative constructions in Lithuanian and Latvian 427
-
Nominalizations and their arugument structure
- Argument realization in Latvian action nominal constructions 461
- Lithuanian nominalizations and the case marking of their arguments 523
- Language index 551
- Name index 553
- Subject index 555
