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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. 213–244

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Chapter 8
Complex verbs in Bohairic Coptic

Language contact and valency

 | University of Amsterdam
Published online: 26 January 2017
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.180.08zak
Abstract
This chapter discusses second argument markers in Bohairic Coptic complex verbs constructed with the light verbs er‑ ‘do, make’ and ti- ‘give’ and typically used to integrate verbal borrowings from Greek. The question is examined if Coptic argument marking can be considered a replica of Greek valency patterns. Enhancement of already existing marking strategies seems more plausible, however, whereby the rise of complex verbs has contributed to a radical restructuring of the transitivity system in Coptic. Two competing subsystems of transitivity are distinguished: a recessive one characterized by head marking and emphasis on the discriminating function of case and a productive one in which the characterizing function of case becomes prominent thanks to dependent marking by means of a preposition.
Article outline
  • 1.Subject and aims of the present chapter
  • 2.Structure of the chapter
  • 3.Introduction
    • 3.1Basic information about Egyptian-Coptic and the corpus examined
    • 3.2Egyptian and Greek in contact
    • 3.3Case: some preliminaries
      • 3.3.1Case, its marking and its functions
      • 3.3.2Case and language contact
      • 3.3.3Case in Ancient Greek
  • 4.Complex verbs and their arguments in Bohairic Coptic
    • 4.1Formation strategies of complex verbs
    • 4.2Complex verbs and their valency: An overview
    • 4.3Greek valency patterns in Coptic?
    • 4.4Discussion
  • 5.Conclusions: Two subsystems of transitivity in Bohairic Coptic
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
  • Appendix
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Fendel, Victoria Beatrix
2023. Support‐Verb Constructions with Objects:Greek‐CopticInterference in the Documentary Papyri?1. Transactions of the Philological Society 121:3 ► pp. 382 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Introduction. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 3 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Summary and Conclusion. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 445 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, DOI logo
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2022. Concepts, Contexts, Corpora. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 23 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Copyright Page. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. iv ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Discourse Markers. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 323 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. List of Abbreviations. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. xi ff. DOI logo
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2022. Formulaic Language. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 365 ff. DOI logo
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2022. Semi-formulaic Phrases. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 413 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Sigla. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. xiii ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Verb Phrases. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 237 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. The Basics of Coptic Grammar. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 99 ff. DOI logo
Fendel, Victoria Beatrix Maria
2022. Adverbial Phrases. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 295 ff. DOI logo
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2022. Dedication. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. v ff. DOI logo
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2022. The Grammar of the Corpus (Standard and Variation). In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 131 ff. DOI logo
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2022.  Corpus of Texts. In Coptic Interference in the Syntax of Greek Letters from Egypt, ► pp. 485 ff. DOI logo

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