LINGUIST List 11.850

Wed Apr 12 2000

Books: Morphology/Syntax/Semantics

Editor for this issue: Scott Fults <scottlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. LINCOM EUROPA, Morphology/Syntax/Semantics: Verb Semantics, Diathesis & Aspect

VERB SEMANTICS, DIATHESIS AND ASPECT 
Mila Dimitrova-Vulchanova, NTNU, Trondheim

This work addresses issues of the interface between the lexical
specification of verbs and the level of Morpho-syntactic structure and
verbal Aspect. The main claim is that the properties of constructions
are largely predictable from the semantic properties of the head verb.
This claim also extends to predictions concerning the aspectual
properties of constructions. The languages on which this study is
based include Germanic (English, Norwegian and German) and Slavic
(Bulgarian and Russian). The analysis is carried out within a
framework of grammar called 'The Sign Model', currently under
development. The discussion focuses on a number of aspectual processes
attested cross-linguistically and the problems they pose for a unified
treatment. In the course of presentation an illustration is given of
the systematic interrelation between the morpho-syntactic realization
of constructions and their aspectual properties. While providing a
discussion of the relevant existing proposals for the treatment of
Aspect (Aspectuality) in view of the syntactic properties of
constructions, the work also indicates a system geared towards a
unified analysis.

A considerable part of the book is devoted to the implementation of
the Sign Model to the analysis of passive constructions based on a
notional definition of PASSIVE. A number of construction types
cross-linguistically are matched against this definition, such as
middles in English, impersonals in Germanic, and the Bulgarian
constructions involving the reflexive clitic se. An attempt is made at
defining the constraints for each of the above construction types
which arise from the lexical specification of the head verbs. The book
also includes a proposal concerning the aspectual properties of
passives and the role palyed by passive morphology in aspect
construal.

ISBN 3 89586 572 9. 
LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Linguistics 08. 
Ca. 200 pp. USD 68 / DM 102 / � 38. 3rd printing April 2000.

Ordering information for individuals: Please give us your creditcard
no. / expiry date. Prices in this information include shipment
worldwide by airmail. A standing order for this series is available
with special discounts offered to individual subscribers.

Free copies of LINCOM'S newsflashes 18 & 19 and the update of our
catalogue project line 10 are now available from
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.

LINCOM EUROPA
Freibadstr. 3
D-81543 Muenchen
Germany
FAX +49 89 62269494
http://www.lincom-europa.com
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.