LINGUIST List 23.1408: Diss: Historical Ling/Semantics/Syntax/Sanskrit: Lowe: 'The Syntax and Semantics of Tense-Aspect Stem Participles in Early Rgvedic Sanskrit'

LINGUIST List 23.1408
Tue Mar 20 2012 Diss: Historical Ling/Semantics/Syntax/Sanskrit: Lowe: 'The Syntax and Semantics of Tense-Aspect Stem Participles in Early Rgvedic Sanskrit' Editor for this issue: Xiyan Wang <xiyanlinguistlist.org>
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Date: 20-Mar-2012 From: John Lowe <johnjlowegmail.com> Subject: The Syntax and Semantics of Tense-Aspect Stem Participles in Early Rgvedic Sanskrit E-mail this message to a friend Institution: University of Oxford Program: D.Phil. in Linguistics Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 2012 Author: John Jeffrey Lowe Dissertation Title: The Syntax and Semantics of Tense-Aspect Stem Participles in Early Rgvedic Sanskrit Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics Semantics Syntax Subject Language(s): Sanskrit (san) Language Family(ies): Indo-European Dissertation Director: Elizabeth Tucker Andreas Willi Dissertation Abstract: In this thesis I investigate the syntax and semantics of tense-aspect stem participles in the Rgveda, focusing primarily on the data from the earlier books II-VII and IX, seeking to establish a comprehensive and coherent analysis of this category within the linguistic system of Rgvedic Sanskrit. In recent literature tense-aspect stem participles are usually treated as semantically equivalent to finite verbs wherever possible, but contradictorily where they differ from finite verbs their adjectival nature is emphasized. I argue that tense-aspect stem participles are a fundamentally verbal formation and can be treated as inflectional verb forms: they are adjectival verbs rather than verbal adjectives. At the same time, however, they constitute an independent sub-category of verb form which is not necessarily semantically dependent on corresponding finite stems. I examine the syntactic and semantic properties of tense-aspect stem participles both in relation to finite verbal forms and their wider syntactic context, formalizing the evidence in the framework of Lexical-Functional Grammar. Consequently I am able to categorize the syntactic and semantic deviations which many participles exhibit in comparison to finite verbal forms. I contend that many such forms cannot be treated synchronically (and sometimes diachronically) as participles, but form distinct synchronic categories. My analysis permits a considerably more refined definition of the category of tense-aspect stem participles, dependent on clear morphological, syntactic and semantic criteria, as opposed to the usual, purely morphological, definition. From a diachronic perspective I argue that the category of tense-aspect stem participles as found in the Rgveda more closely reflects an inherited Proto Indo-European category of tense-aspect stem participles than is usually assumed. I also reconsider theoretical treatments of participial syntax and semantics, and develop a more precise typology of non-finite verb systems which adequately accounts for Sanskrit participles. This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $67,000. This money will go to help keep the List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming year. See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out Fund Drive 2012 site! http://linguistlist.org/fund-drive/2012/ There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST! You can donate right now using our secure credit card form at https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later. To do so, go to: https://linguistlist.org/donation/pledge/pledge1.cfm For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to donate by check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit: http://linguistlist.org/donation/ The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax return (U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact your financial advisor. Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a simple administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to LINGUIST, without costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if your company operates such a program. Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST! Read more issues\|LINGUIST home page\|Top of issue

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