Programm 79. StuTS

A light verb construction (LVC) is a complex predicate composed of a semantically light verb and a second predicational element, usually a noun or coverb. The two combine semi-compositionally in such a way that the light verb is used to inflect and the predicational element is used to contribute the semantic core of the predication (cf. Family 2011). Interestingly, LVCs are used in some languages (e.g. English, German, Swedish) as a way of paraphrasing simplex verbs, often even derived from them more or less directly. In other languages (e.g. Persian, Jaminjung, Korean), LVCs are not primarily used for paraphrase and constitute the or one of the main mechanisms for predication. Generally, LVCs are constructions that seem ubiquitous, with little areal or typological restriction regarding what language they can appear in. For my Master's thesis, I investigate possible functional motivations behind the use of LVCs: What linguistic factors does the existence of LVCs in a language correlate with? I examine factors like contact situations, register variation, valency alternations and potential for modification.

In this talk, I present my preliminary findings in a (hopefully) entertaining format, ranking what functional motivations can be found in the literature published since the early 20th century from S-tier (empirically grounded/theoretically sound/plausible) to F-tier (unscientific/unfounded/prescriptivist).

References:
Family, Neiloufar. 2011. Verbal islands in Persian. Folia linguistica 45/1. 1-30.

Info

Tag: 16.05.2026
Anfangszeit: 14:30
Dauer: 00:30
Raum: DOR 24 1.501
Track: Syntax
Sprache: en

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