Basic valency orientation in Gothic
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Matteo Tarsi
Abstract
The article addresses the basic valency orientation of Gothic. The data is analyzed mainly qualitatively, but, differently from previous similar studies, an insight is given into a quantitative model further supporting the findings of the first analysis. Whereas the only transitivizing strategy found is causativization through Go. -ja- (< PIE *-éi̯e/o-), three detransitivizing strategies are employed: voice alternation, reflexivization, and na-derivation. The last-mentioned strategy pairs with ja-derivation to make up one of the two non-oriented means of encoding the anticausative alternation, the other being suppletion. A summary of the key findings is as follows. The passive voice appears to play a role, albeit marginal, as the noncausal element of the anticausative alternation. Out of the other two detransitivizing strategies, na-verbs are productive in East and North Germanic. Based on the Gothic evidence, na-verbs with specialized nonagentive meaning are formed primarily to roots whose semantics preferably selects for inanimate S/O’s. Following the extension to verbal roots of opposite alignment, the formation becomes a competitor to the reflexive construction. As a result of rise in productivity, na-verbs are selected to encode the noncausal end of the anticausative alternation, eventually ousting the reflexive construction as a competitor to the middle.
© 2025 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Titelei
- Contents
- Über die Herkunft des Obliquus Singular in manchen Nuristan- und Dardsprachen
- Voice and transitivity with perception verbs in Ancient Greek
- PIE nu-factitives in Balto-Slavic
- The Anatolian reflexes of Indo-European τομή-, φυγή-, τόμος-, and τομός-type nominals and their historical implications
- Lycian Ἐρευάτης in Stephanus of Byzantium
- Lycian zum̃mẽ/zum̃mã and possibly related Luwic words
- Pashto preverbs V
- The Goths in Taurica
- Basic valency orientation in Gothic
- Old English Elene 54a hleowon and Old Norse Grímnismál 29,9 hlóa; two texts, one verb
- Latin placēre ‘like, please’ as an alternating Dat-Nom/Nom-Dat verb
- Albanian dash ‘ram’
- prāvepá- und pravātejā́-/°já-
- Les dérivés adjectivaux grecs et louvites en *-eh₂-i̯o-
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Titelei
- Contents
- Über die Herkunft des Obliquus Singular in manchen Nuristan- und Dardsprachen
- Voice and transitivity with perception verbs in Ancient Greek
- PIE nu-factitives in Balto-Slavic
- The Anatolian reflexes of Indo-European τομή-, φυγή-, τόμος-, and τομός-type nominals and their historical implications
- Lycian Ἐρευάτης in Stephanus of Byzantium
- Lycian zum̃mẽ/zum̃mã and possibly related Luwic words
- Pashto preverbs V
- The Goths in Taurica
- Basic valency orientation in Gothic
- Old English Elene 54a hleowon and Old Norse Grímnismál 29,9 hlóa; two texts, one verb
- Latin placēre ‘like, please’ as an alternating Dat-Nom/Nom-Dat verb
- Albanian dash ‘ram’
- prāvepá- und pravātejā́-/°já-
- Les dérivés adjectivaux grecs et louvites en *-eh₂-i̯o-
