Cover not available

In:Argument Realisation in Complex Predicates and Complex Events: Verb-verb constructions at the syntax-semantic interface
Edited by Brian Nolan and Elke Diedrichsen
[Studies in Language Companion Series 180] 2017
► pp. 137–168

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload Book PDF
EPUB logo with download linkDownload Book EPUB
authorization required

Chapter 5
Complex predicates in Lithuanian

 | Trinity College Dublin
Published online: 26 January 2017
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.180.05bru
Abstract
Lithuanian is a highly synthetic language that is morphologically rich. This research revisits a set of specific classification of Lithuanian predicates into complex predicate constructions. The data for the analysis was collected from the publically accessible corpus of Lithuanian language and the examples were analysed using the RRG framework. The discussion revealed that the V + V constructions classified in the traditional Lithuanian grammar need to be reclassified as complex predicate constructions. Furthermore, the research revealed the existence of a type of serial verb construction in the Lithuanian complex predicates. This study discussed nominal complex predicates [V + NP] and verbal complex predicates [V + V inf ]; this research argued that there is a type of complex verbal predicate [V + V inf  + V inf …] which, in some cases, have a serial verb construction embedded in the predication [V + SVC]. The analyses revealed the diverse and layered constructions of Lithuanian predicates where semantics, syntax and morphology play an equally important role.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Framework, methodology and data
    • 2.1Data
    • 2.2Methodology
    • 2.3Role and reference grammar
  • 3.Types of predicates in Lithuanian
    • 3.1Simple predicates
    • 3.2Complex predicates
      • 3.2.1Nominal complex predicates
      • 3.2.2Verbal complex predicates
      • 3.2.3Serial verb constructions in Lithuanian
  • 4.Discussion
  • Note
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (26)
References
Aikhenvald, Alexandra & Dixon, Robert M.W. (eds). 2006. Serial Verb Constructions: A Cross-Linguistic Typology [Explorations in Linguistic Typology 2]. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ambrazas, Vytautas (ed.). 2006. Lithuanian Grammar: Lietuvių Kalbos Gramatika, 2nd edn. Vilnius: Baltos Lankos.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ambrazas, Vytautas, Garšva, Kazimieras & Girdenis, Aleksas (eds). 2005. Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos gramatika (The grammar of modern Lithuanian). Vilnius: Mokslo ir Enciklopedijų Leidybos Centras.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Armoskaite, Solveiga & Koskinen, Païvi. 2014. Serial verbs in Finnish. Linguistic Discovery 12(1): 1–27. .1537–0852.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Balkevičius, Jonas. 1998. Lietuviu klabos predikatinių konstrukcijų sintaksė (The syntax of the predicative constructions in the Lithuanian language). Vilnius: Mokslo ir Enciklopedijų Leidybos Institutas.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Butt, Miriam. 1995. The Structure of Complex Predicates. Stanford CA: CSLI.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Butt, Miriam & Geuder, Wilhelm. 2001. On the (semi) lexical status of light verbs. In Corver & van Riemsdijk (eds), 323–414.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Geniušienė, Emma. 1971. Lietuvių klabos veiksmažodžių sintaksinė klasifikacija (The syntactic classification of Lithuanian verbs). Kalbotyra 23(1): 7–16.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hagemeijer, Tjerk. 2001. Underspecification in serial verb constructions. Corver & van Riemsdijk (eds), 415–451.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Heim, Irene. 2002. On the projection problem for presuppositions. In Formal Semantics: The Essential Readings, Paul Portner & Barbara H. Partee (eds), 249–260. Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Labutis, Vitas. 2002. Lietuvių kalbos sintaksė (The syntax of Lithuanian). Vilnius: Vinliaus Universiteto Leidykla.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Muysken, Pieter & Veenstra, Tonjes. 2006. Serial verb constructions. In The Syntax Companion, Martin Everaert & Henk van Riemsdijk (eds), 234–271. Oxford: Blackwell. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1995. Serial verb constructions. In Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction [Creole Language Library 15], Jacques Arends, Pieter Muysken & Norval Smith (eds), 289–301. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nolan, Brian. 2012. The Structure of Modern Irish. Sheffield: Equinox.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pavey, Emma L. 2010. The Structure of Language: An Introduction to Grammatical Analysis. Cambridge: CUP. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pawley, Andrew. 2011. Event representation in serial verb constructions. In Event Representation in Language and Cognition, Jürgen Bohnemeyer & Eric Pederson (eds). Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pustejovsky, James. 1995. The Generative Lexicon. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Seiss, Melanie. 2009. On the difference between the auxiliaries, serial verbs and light verbs. In The Proceedings of the LFG09 Conference, Miriam Butt & Tracy Holloway King (eds), 501–519. Stanford CA: CSLI.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Senn, Alfred. 1944. Standard Lithuanian in the making. Slavonic and East European Review. American Series 3(2):102–116. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sirtautas, Vytautas & Česys. Grenda. 1988. Lietuvių kalbos sintaksė (The syntax of the Lithuanian Language). Vilnius: MokslasGoogle Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stalnaker, Robert. 2002. Common ground. Linguistics and Philosophy 25: 701–721. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ulvydas, Kazys (ed.). 1976. Lietuvių kalbos gramatika III [Grammar of the Lithuanian language III]. Vilnius: Mintis.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Utka, Andrius. 2009. Dažninis rašytinės Lietuvių kalbos žodynas: 1 milijono žodžių morfologiškai anotuoto tekstyno pagrindu (The dictionary of the frequanty used words in written Lithuanian: Based on the morphologically anotaded corpus of 1 million words). Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo Universiteto leidykla. Kompiuterinės Lingvistikos Centras.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Van Valin Jr., Robert D. 2010. Role and Reference Grammar as a framework for linguistic analysis. In The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Analysis, Bernd Heine & Heiko Narrog (eds), 703–738. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Van Valin Jr., Robert D. & LaPolla, Randy J. 1997. Syntax: Structure, Meaning, and Function. Cambridge: CUP. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wójcik, Pawel. 2003. Early verb inflection in Lithuanian. In Development of Verb Inflection in First Language Acquisition: A Cross-linguistic Perspective, Dagmar Bittner, Wolfgang U. Dressler & Marianne Kilani-Schoch (eds), 401–420. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue