Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter Mouton December 10, 2019

Dàgáárè complex constructions: Serial verb constructions, multi-aspectual constructions and coordination

  • Alexander Angsongna ORCID logo EMAIL logo

Abstract

The Serial Verb Construction (SVC) phenomenon is widely researched across many languages. It is generally regarded as a construction in which two or more verbs share the same arguments within a single clause. The verbs in the series must share some grammatical properties such as tense, aspect and polarity. However, there is a verb sequence construction in Dàgáárè that shows apparent similarities to SVCs but with different values for aspect on the verbs. This paper investigates the internal structure of Dàgáárè SVCs and other verb sequence constructions such as multi-aspectual constructions (MACs) and coordinate structures. Applying a variety of syntactic and semantic tests, the paper distinguishes SVCs from MACs and coordination and shows the relation between MACs and coordination. Based on the results of the tests, I argue that although MACs have some properties of SVCs, they are not SVCs. Rather; I conclude that MACs pattern with coordination or covert coordination in Dàgáárè and they are perceived to express distinct events.

Abbreviations

1

 = 

first person

AFF

 = 

Affirmative

AspP

 = 

Aspect Phrase

CONJ

 = 

Conjunction

DET

 = 

Determiner

DIR

 = 

Directional particle

FOC

 = 

Focus

FUT

 = 

Future

IPFV

 = 

Imperfective

MAC

 = 

Multi-Aspectual Construction

NEG

 = 

Negation

PFV

 = 

perfective

PL

 = 

Plural

PolP

 = 

Polarity Phrase

PP

 = 

Post-/ Pre- positional Phrase

PRES

 = 

Present

PROG

 = 

Progressive

PST

 = 

Past

SG

 = 

Singular

SVC

 = 

Serial Verb Construction

TP

 = 

Tense Phrase

V

 = 

Verb

VoiceP

 = 

Voice Phrase

VP

 = 

Verb Phrase

References

Agbedor, Paul. 1994. Verb serialization in Ewe. Nordic Journal of African Studies 3(1). 115–135.Search in Google Scholar

Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. 2006. Serial verb constructions in typological perspective. In Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald & RMW Dixon (eds.), Serial verb constructions: A cross-linguistic typology, 1–68. Oxford: Oxford University PressSearch in Google Scholar

Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. & R. M. W. Dixon. 2006. Serial verb constructions: A cross linguistic typology. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.Search in Google Scholar

Ameka, Felix. 2001. Multiverb constructions in a West African areal typological perspective. Online Proceedings of TROSS–Trondheim Summer School.Search in Google Scholar

Ameka, Felix. 2006. Ewe serial verb constructions in their grammatical context. In Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald & R. M. W. Dixon (eds.), Serial verb constructions:A cross-linguistic typology, 124–143. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press.Search in Google Scholar

Awobuluyi, Oladele. 1967. Studies in the syntax of the standard Yoruba verb. Columbia University Ph.D. thesis.Search in Google Scholar

Awobuluyi, Oladele. 1971. Splitting verb in Yoruba. Annnales de l’université d’Abidjan, Serie H: Linguistique 1. 151–164Search in Google Scholar

Awobuluyi, Oladele. 1973. The modifying serial construction: A critique. Studies in African Linguistics 4, 87–110.Search in Google Scholar

Baker, Mark. 1989. Object sharing and projection in serial verb constructions. Linguistic inquiry, 513–553.Search in Google Scholar

Baker, Mark & Osamuyimen T. Stewart. 2002. A serial verb construction without constructions. Manuscript, Rutgers University.Search in Google Scholar

Bamgbose, Ayo. 1973. The modifying serial construction: a reply. Studies in African Linguistics 4(tt2). 207–217.Search in Google Scholar

Bamgbose, Ayo. 1974. On serial verbs and verbal status. Journal of West African Languages 9. 17–48.Search in Google Scholar

Bisang, Walter. 2009. Serial verb constructions. Language and Linguistic Compass 3. 1749–1818.10.1111/j.1749-818X.2009.00128.xSearch in Google Scholar

Bodomo, Adams. 1993. Complex predicates and event structure: An integrated analysis of serial verb constructions in the Mabia languages of West Africa. Working Papers in Linguistics No. 20.Search in Google Scholar

Bodomo, Adams. 1997a. The structure of Dagaare. Stanford Calif.: CSLI Publications.Search in Google Scholar

Bodomo, Adams. 1997b. Paths and pathfinders: exploring the syntax and semantics of complex verbal predicates in Dagaare and other languages. Trondheim: Norwegian University of Science and Technology Ph.D. thesis.Search in Google Scholar

Bodomo, Adams. 1998. Serial verbs as complex predicates in Dagaare and Akan. Trends in African Linguistics 2. 195–204.Search in Google Scholar

Christaller, Johann. G. 1875. A grammar of the Asante and Fante language called Tshi (Chwe, Twi). Basel: Basel Evangelical Missionary Society.Search in Google Scholar

Collins, Chris. 1997. Argument sharing in serial verb constructions. Linguistic Inquiry 28. 461–497.Search in Google Scholar

Dolphyne, Florence. A. 1987. On negating the consecutive verb in Akan. Journal of West African Languages 19(1). 70–80.Search in Google Scholar

Hiraiwa, Ken & Adams Bodomo. 2008. Object-sharing as symmetric sharing: Predicate clefting and serial verbs in Dàgáárè. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 26(4). 795–832.10.1007/s11049-008-9056-ySearch in Google Scholar

Kayne, Richard. 1994. The antisymmetry of syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Search in Google Scholar

Kratzer, Angelika. 1996. Severing the external argument from its verb. In Johan Rooryck & Zaring Laurie (eds.), Phrase structure and the lexicon, 109–138. Dordrecht: Kluwer.10.1007/978-94-015-8617-7_5Search in Google Scholar

Lord, Carol. 1993. Historical change in serial verb constructions. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.10.1075/tsl.26Search in Google Scholar

Luke, Kang Kwong & Adams Bodomo. 2000. A comparative study of the semantics of serial verb constructions in Dagaare and Cantonese. Languages in Contrast 3(2). 165–180.10.1075/lic.3.2.02lukSearch in Google Scholar

Munn, Alan. 1992. A null operator analysis of ATB gaps. Linguistic Review 9(1). 1–26.10.1515/tlir.1992.9.1.1Search in Google Scholar

Osam, E. Kweku. 2003. An introduction to the verbal and multi-verbal system of Akan. In Proceedings of the workshop on Multi-Verb Constructions Trondheim Summer School, 1–29.Search in Google Scholar

Schiller, Eric. 1991. An autolexical account of subordinating serial verb constructions. Ph.D. thesis. University of Chicago.Search in Google Scholar

Sebba, Mark. 1987. The syntax of serial verb constructions: An investigation into serialization in Sranan and other languages. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.10.1075/cll.2Search in Google Scholar

SIL International. 2004. htt://www.sil.org/linguistics glossary of linguistic terms/ what is a Serial verb construction.htm.Search in Google Scholar

Stewart, John. M. 1971. Niger-Congo Kwa. In Thomas Sebeok (ed.), Current trends in Linguistics, vol. 2, 145–149. The Hague: Mouton. Languages.Search in Google Scholar

Stewart, Osamuyimen T. 1996. Adverb placement and the structure of the serial verb construction. Proceedings of NELS 26 409–423, MIT/Harvard GLSA.Search in Google Scholar

Stewart, Osamuyimen T. 1998. The serial verb construction parameter. Ph.D. thesis. Montreal: McGill University.Search in Google Scholar

Westermann, Diedrich H. 1907. Grammatik der Ewe-Sprache. Berlin: Diedrich Reimer.10.1515/9783111694191Search in Google Scholar

Wong, Kwong C. 2006. Serial verb constructions in Cantonese and Dagaare: A head-driven phrase structure analysis. University of Hong Kong MA thesis.Search in Google Scholar

Zoerner, Edward. 1996. The case of &’-adjunction to VP. In A.-M. Di Sciullo (ed.), Configurations: Essays on structure and interpretation, 211–228. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.Search in Google Scholar

Zoerner, Edward. 1995. Coordination: The syntax of NP. ILSA Ph.D. thesis.Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2019-12-10
Published in Print: 2019-12-18

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 16.4.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jall-2019-0009/html
Scroll to top button