[lingtalks] TODAY: Mark Harvey (Linguistics Colloquium)
Klinton Bicknell
kbicknell at ucsd.edu
Mon Oct 29 11:18:20 PDT 2007
TODAY at 3pm, Mark Harvey (University of Newcastle, Australia) will give
a colloquium in the UCSD Linguistics Department, in AP&M 4301.
:: Abstract ::
Complex Predicates and Argument Structure
This paper contrasts data from coverb (= preverb) constructions in
Australian languages with data from serial verb constructions to argue
that complex predicates fall into two classes in terms of argument
structure. In coverb constructions, the contributing predicates 'merge'
to form single predicates at 'Lexical Conceptual Structure' (LCS;
Jackendoff 1990) which have the semantic range of monomorphemic verbs in
English. In many serial verb constructions, by contrast, the
contributing predicates do not merge. This allows for a much wider range
of LCSs. However, none of the current analyses of complex predicates
(e.g. Foley and Van Valin 1984, Hale & Keyser 1993, 2002, Butt 2003,
Ramchand & Svenonius 2002) predict these two classes. We argue that
these differences fall out from the method of composition of the LCSs of
each type.
Examples and further information from Harvey's abstract can be found at
http://ling.ucsd.edu/events/colloquia/07-08/Harvey_ComplexPreds.pdf .
--
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series, including the schedule of future events, please visit
http://ling.ucsd.edu/events/colloquia.html .
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