Serial verbs and complex predicates have a long history of research, yet there is comparatively little documentation on Oceanic languages. This volume presents new data for further typological studies.While previous research on serial verbs in Oceanic languages was mostly devoted to "core" serial constructions (with non-contiguous sV(o)sV(o) nuclei), this volume contributes a more detailed investigation of the "nuclear" type of complex predicates involving contiguous sVV(o) nuclei. Complex predicates of the form VV may correspond to two different syntactic structures, either co-ranking or hierarchized (head-modifier).Though the VV pattern does evidence a tendency to-wards structural compression, often entailing the fusion of the argument structures of two or more nuclei, yet it cannot be reduced to cases of co-lexicalization, com-pounding or grammaticalization.The data also show the "nuclear" type to be compatible with all types of basic word orders (VSO, VOS, SVO, SOV), with no evidence that this results from any word order change. This challenges the claim that "nuclear" serialization correlates with verb-final order, and "core" serialization with verb-medial order.FROM THE CONTENTS:Complex nuclei in Oceanic languages: contribution to an areal typology ISABELLE BRILWhat do we really know about serial verb constructions in Austronesian and Papuan languages? GUNTER SENFTCore-layer junctures in Saliba (Saliba Island, Milne Bay province of Papua New Guinea) ANNA MARGETTSSerial and Complex Verb Constructions in Teop (North Bougainville) JESSIKA REINIGChains of freedom: Constraints and creativity in the macro-verb strategies of Mwotlap (Vanuatu) ALEXANDRE FRANÇOISSerial and compound verbs in Anejom (Vanuatu) JOHN LYNCHComplex verb constructions and dependency-marking strategies in Nêlêmwa (New Caledonia) ISABELLE BRILComplex predicate constructions in East Uvean (Wallis) CLAIRE MOYSE-FAURIESerial verbs and complex constructions in Pileni (Solomon Islands)ÅSHILD NÆSS Complex predicates in Tahitian: a particular case of qualitative modificationMIROSE PAIA AND JACUES VERNAUDONComplex predicates and Juxtapositional Constructions in Samoan ULRIKE MOSELThe grammaticization of directional verbs in Oceanic languages MALCOLM ROSSThe evolution of the verb 'take' in New Caledonian languages FRANÇOISE OZANNE-RIVIERREVerbal compounds and lexical prefixes in the languages of New CaledoniaFRANÇOISE OZANNE-RIVIERRE AND JEAN-CLAUDE RIVIERRESIGN UP FOR OUR FREE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER AT www.degruyter.de/newsletterTo order, please contact SFG-Servicecenter-FachverlagePostfach 434372774 Reutlingen, GermanyFax: +49 (0)7071 - 93 53 - 33E-mail: deGruyter@s-f-g.com For USA, Canada and Mexico:Walter de Gruyter, Inc.200 Saw Mill River RoadHawthorne, NY 10532, USAFax: +1 (914) 747-1326E-mail: cs@degruyterny.comPlease visit our website for other publications by Mouton de Gruyter: www.mouton-publishers.com