Cover not available
Part of
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. 80–117

Chapter 3
Serial verb constructions and event structure representations

| University of Naples “L’Orientale”

A survey of the relevant literature on serial verb constructions (SVCs) shows that the label ‘SVC’ is often used as an umbrella term that inappropriately encompasses various verb phrase sequences which are essentially different from traditional SVCs. The aim of this chapter is to highlight and discuss some syntactic and semantic characteristics of SVCs, which researchers have described over the years, within the syntax-semantics interface developed by the Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) framework (Van Valin & LaPolla 1997; Van Valin 2005). The resulting analysis demonstrates that RRG provides a useful theoretical perspective able to embody the peculiarities of traditional SVCs, by distinguishing them from other multi-verb constructions that in the relevant literature are often classified as members of the SVC category.

Keywords: multi-verb constructions, Role and Reference Grammar, serial verb constructions, syntax-to-semantics linking, typological studies
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.SVCs in the relevant literature
  • 3.Verbal status of serial verbs
  • 4.Composition and conceptual structures of SVCs
  • 5.An RRG analysis of SVCs
    • 5.1Role and reference grammar
    • 5.2.Syntactic representations of SVCs
      • 5.2.1Syntactic representations of Non-SVCs
    • 5.3Linking syntax and semantics in SVCs
  • 6.Concluding remarks
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 26 January 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.180.03ric
References

References

Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y.
1999 Serial constructions and verb compounding: Evidence from Tariana (North Arawak). Studies in Language 23(3): 469–498. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2006 Serial verb constructions in typological perspective. In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 1–68.Google Scholar
2010 Multi-verb constructions: Setting the scene. In Aikhenvald, Muysken & Birchall (eds), 1–26.Google Scholar
Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. & Dixon, Robert M.W.
(eds) 2006 Serial Verb Constructions: A Cross-Linguistic Typology [Explorations in Linguistic Typology 2]. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar
Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y., Muysken, Pieter & Birchall, Joshua
(eds) 2010 Multi-verb Constructions: A View from the Americas. Leiden: Brill. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ameka, Felix K.
2005 Multiverb constructions on the West African littoral: Microvariation and areal typology. In Grammar and Beyond: Essays in Honour of Lars Hellan, Mila Vulchanova & Tor A. Åfarli (eds), 15–42. Oslo: Novus Pres.Google Scholar
2006 Ewe serial verb constructions in their grammatical context. In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 125–143.Google Scholar
Ansre, Gübert
1966 The verbid: A caveat to serial verbal constructions. Journal of West African Languages 3(1): 29–32.Google Scholar
Awoyale, Yiwola
1987 Perspectives on verb serialization. Paper Presented at the First Workshop in Niger-Congo Syntax and Semantics, MIT.
1988 Complex Predicates and Verb Serialization [MIT Lexicon Project Working Papers 28]. Cambridge MA: MIT Center for Cognitive Science.Google Scholar
Azeb, Amha & Dimmendaal, Gerrit Jan
2006 Verbal compounding in Wolaitta. In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 319–337.Google Scholar
Baker, Brett & Harvey, Mark
2010 Complex predicate formation. In Complex Predicates: Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Event Structure, Mengistu Amberber, Brett Baker & Mark Harve, (eds) 2010, 13–47. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Baker, Mark
1989 Object sharing and projection in serial verb constructions. Linguistic Inquiry 20: 513–553.Google Scholar
1991 On the relation of serialization to verb extensions. In Lefebvre (ed.), 79–102.Google Scholar
Balmer, William Turnbull & Grant, Francis C.F.
1929 A Grammar of the Fante-Akan Language. London: Altantis Press.Google Scholar
Bamgbose, Ayo
1974 On serial verbs and verbal status. Journal of West African Languages 9(1): 17–48.Google Scholar
1982 Issues in the analysis of serial verbal constructions. Journal of West African Languages 12(2): 3–21.Google Scholar
Bisang, Walter
1986 Die Verb-Serialisierung im Jabêm. Lingua 70: 131–162. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2009 Serial verb constructions. Language and Linguistics Compass 3(3): 792–814. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bohnemeyer, Jürgen, Enfield, Nicholas J., Essegbey, James, Ibarretxe-Antufiano, Iraide, Kita, Sotaro, Lüpke, Friederike & Ameka, Felix
2007 Principles of event segmentation in language: The case of motion events. Language 83(3): 495–532. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bohnemeyer, Jürgen & Van Valin, Robert D. Jr.
2009 The macro-event property and the layered structure of the clause. Paper presented at the 2009 International Conference on Role and Reference Grammar. August 7–9, University of Berkeley CA.
Bril, Isabelle
2004 Complex verbs and dependency strategies in Nêlêmwa (New Caledonia). In Bril & Ozanne-Rivierre (eds), 167–198.Google Scholar
Bril, Isabelle & Ozanne-Rivierre, Francoise
(eds) 2004 Complex Predicates in Oceanic Languages. Studies in the Dynamics of Binding and Boundness. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bruce, Leslie P.
1988 Serialization: From syntax to lexicon. Studies in Language 12(1): 19–49. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Butt, Miriam
1995 The Structure of Complex Predicates in Urdu. Stanford CA: CSLI.Google Scholar
2010 The light verb jungle: Still hacking away. In Complex Predicates: Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Event Structure, Mengistu Amberber, Brett Baker & Mark Harve, (eds) 2010, 47–78. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Byrne, Francis
1992 Tense, scope and spreading in Saramaccan. Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages 7(2): 195–221. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Carlson, Robert
1994 A Grammar of Supyire. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chomsky, Noam
1957 Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton.Google Scholar
1965 Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.Google Scholar
Christaller, Rev. J.G.
1875 A Grammar of the Asante and Fante Language called Tshi [Chwee, Twi] based on the Akuapem dialect with references to the other (Akan and Fante) dialects. Basel: Basel Evang. Missionary Society.Google Scholar
Collins, Chris
1997 Argument sharing in serial verb constructions. Linguistic Inquiry 28(46): 1–497.Google Scholar
Craig, Colette G. & Hale, Ken
1988 Relational preverbs in some languages of the Americas: Typological and historical perspectives. Language 64: 312–343. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Crowley, Terry
2002 Serial Verbs in Oceanic: A Descriptive Typology. Oxford: OUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2004 Bislama Reference Grammar [Oceanic Linguistics Special Publication 31]. Honolulu HI: University of Hawai’i Press.Google Scholar
de Reuse, Willem J.
2006 Serial verbs in Lakota (Siouan). In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 301–18.Google Scholar
Déchaine, Rose-Marie A.
1987 Towards a unified account of serial constructions. In Niger-Congo Syntax and Semantics, Victor Manfredi & Karl Reynolds (eds), 419–464. Boston MA: Boston University African Studies Center.Google Scholar
1993 Serial Verbs Constructions. In Syntax: An International Handbook of Contemporary Research, Joachim Jacobs, Arnid von Stechow, Wolfgang Sternefeld & Theo Vennemann (eds), 799–825. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Donohue, Mark
2004 A Grammar of the Skou Language of New Guinea. Singapore: National University of Singapore.Google Scholar
Dowty, David R.
1979 Word Meaning and Montague Grammar. Dordrecht: Foris. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Durie, Mark
1997 Grammatical structures in verb serialization. In Complex Predicates, Alex Alsina, Joan Bresnan & Peter Sells (eds), 289–354. Stanford CA: CSLI.Google Scholar
Fagard, Benjamin, Zlatev, Jordan, Kopecka, Anetta, Cerruti, Massimo & Blomberg, Johan
2013 A Quantitative Study of Six Typologically Varied Languages. Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society, [S.l.], p. 364–379, #x202f;http://dx.doi.org/DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Foley, William A. & Olson, Michael L.
1985 Clausehood and verb serialization. In Grammar Inside and Outside the Clause, Johanna Nichols & Anthony C. Woodbury (eds), 17–60. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Givón, Talmy
1975 Serial verbs and syntactic change: Niger-Congo. In Word Order and Word Order Change, Charles N. Li (ed.), 47–111. Austin TX: University of Texas Press.Google Scholar
1979 On Understanding Grammar. New York NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Gunter, Senft
2008 Serial Verb Constructions in Austronesian and Papuan Languages [Pacific Linguistics 594]. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.Google Scholar
Hajek, John
2006 Serial verbs in Tetun Dili. In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 239–253.Google Scholar
Hamel, Patricia J.
1994 A Grammar and Lexicon of Loniu. Papua New Guinea. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.Google Scholar
Haspelmath, Martin
2016 The serial verb construction: Comparative concept and cross-linguistic generalizations. Language and Linguistics 17: 291–319. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Iwasaki, Shoichi & Inkapiromu, Puriyā Horie
2005 A Reference Grammar of Thai. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Jarkey, Nerida
2010 Cotemporal serial verb constructions in White Hmong. In Complex Predicates: Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Event Structure, Mengistu Amberber, Brett Baker & Mark Harve, (eds) 2010, 110–134. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Jensen. Joshua
2014 Clauses and Noun Phrases: Syntactic Structures in an Austronesian Language. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Kailuweit, Rolf & Hummel, Martin
Semantische Rollen [Tübinger Beiträge zur Linguistik 472]. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.
Kari, Ethelbert E.
2003 Serial verb constructions in Degema, Nigeria. African Study Monographs 24(4): 271–289.Google Scholar
Lane, Jonathan
2007 Kalam Serial Verb Constructions. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University.Google Scholar
Lefebvre, Claire
1991 Serial Verbs: Grammatical, Comparative, and Cognitive Approaches [Studies in the Sciences of Language Series 8]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Li, Charles N. & Thompson, Sandra A.
1981 Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar. Berkeley CA: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Lichtenberk, Frantisek
2002 Posture verbs in Oceanic. In The Linguistics of Sitting, Standing and Lying [Typological Studies in Language 51], John Newman (ed.), 269–314. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lin, Jingxia
2011 The Encoding of Motion Events in Chinese: Multi-morpheme Motion Constructions. PhD dissertation, Stanford University.Google Scholar
Lord, Carol
1993 Historical Change in Serial Verb Constructions [Typological Studies in Language 26]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Major, Travis
2014 Serial verbs in Ibibio. Kansas Working Papers in Linguistics 35: 129–148.Google Scholar
Manfredi, Victor
1991 Agbo and Ehugbo: Igbo Linguistics, Consciousness, its Origin and Limits. PhD dissertation, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Margetts, Anna & Austin, Peter K.
2007 Three-participant events in Oceanic languages. Oceanic Linguistics 46(1): 71–127. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Marosán, Lajos
2006 The Meaning of Word Classes. Bern: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Matisoff, James A.
1969 Verb concatenation in Lahu: The syntax and semantics of ‘simple’ juxtaposition. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia 12: 69–120. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Matthews, Stephen & Yip, Virginia
1994 Cantonese: A Comprehensive Grammar. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
McGregor, William
2002 Verb Classification in Australian Languages. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
McWhorter, John & Good, Jeff
2012 A Grammar of Saramaccan Creole. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Muysken, Pieter & Veenstra, Tonjes
1995 Serial Verbs. In Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction [Creole Language Library 15], Jacques Arends, Pieter Muysken & Norval Smith (eds), 298–301. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar
Pawley, Andrew
2008 Compact versus narrative serial verb constructions in Kalam. In Serial verb constructions in Austronesian and Papuan languages, Pacific Linguistics, Gunter Senft (ed.), 171–202. Canberra Australia.Google Scholar
1987 Encoding events in Kalam and English: Different logics for reporting experience. In Coherence and Grounding in Discourse [Typological Studies in Language 11], Russell S. Tomlin (ed.), 329–360. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2009 On the origins of serial verb constructions in Kalam. In Syntactic Complexity. Diachrony, Acquisition, Neuro-cognition, Evolution, Talmy Givón & Masayoshi Shibatani (eds), 119–144. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Payne, Doris L. & Payne, Thomas
1990 Yagua. In Handbook of Amazonian Languages 2, Desmond C. Derbyshire & Geoffrey K. Pullum (eds), 249–474. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Riccio, Anna
2011 Three-participant events in serial verb constructions and the syntax semantics interface. In New Perspectives in Role and Reference Grammar, Wataru Nakamura (ed.), 143–167. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.Google Scholar
Rijkhoff, Jan & van Lier, Eva
2013 Flexible Word Classes: Typological Studies of Underspecified Parts of Speech. Oxford: OUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Salamanca, Danilo
1988 Elementos de gramaticà del Miskitu. PhD dissertation, MIT.Google Scholar
Schachter, Paul
1974 A non-transformational account of serial verbs. Studies in African Linguistics. Supplement 5: 252–270.Google Scholar
Schultze-Berndt, Eva
2000 Simple and Complex Predicates in Jaminjung: A Study of Event Categorisation in an Australian Language [MPI Series in Psycholinguistics 14. Nijmegen: University of Nijmegen.Google Scholar
Sebba, Mark
1987 The Syntax of Serial verbs. An Investigation into Serialisation in Sranan and Other Languages [Creole Language Library 2]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Siegel, Jeff
1984 An introduction to the Labu language. Papers in New Guinea linguistics 23: 83–159.Google Scholar
Simone, Raffaele & Masini, Francesca
2014 Word Classes: Nature, Typology and Representations [Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 332]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar
Solnit, David B.
2006 Verb serialization in Eastern Kayah Li. In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 144–159.Google Scholar
Stahlke, Herbert
1970 Serial verbs. Studies in African Linguistics 1(1): 60–99.Google Scholar
Stewart, John M.
1963 Some restrictions on objects in Twi. Journal of African Languages 2(2): 145–149.Google Scholar
Stewart, Osamuyimen T.
2001 The Serial Verb Construction Parameter. New York NY: Garland.Google Scholar
2013 The Serial Verb Construction Parameter. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Talmy, Leonard
1985 Lexicalization patterns. Semantic structure in lexical form. In Language Typology and Syntactic Description, Vol. 3, Timothy Shopen (ed.), 36–149. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
2000 Lexicalization patterns. In Toward a Cognitive Semantics, 2: Typology and Process in Concept Structuring, Leonard Talmy (ed.), 21–146. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Thepkanjana, Kingkarn
1986 Serial Verb Constructions in Thai. PhD dissertation, University of Michigan.Google Scholar
Van Valin Jr., Robert D.
2000 A concise introduction to Role and Reference Grammar. Fluminensia 12: 47–78.Google Scholar
2004 Semantic macroroles in Role and Reference Grammar. In Kailuweit & Hummel (eds), 62–82.Google Scholar
2005 Exploring the Syntax-semantics Interface. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2013 Lexical representation, co-composition, and linking syntax and semantics. In Advances in Generative Lexicon Theory, Text, Speech and Language Technology, James Pustejovsky, Pierrette Bouillon, Hitoshi Isahara, Kyoko Kanzaki & Chungmin Lee (eds), 67–107. Dordrecht: Springer. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Van Valin Jr., Robert D. & Bohnemeyer, Jürgen
2009 The macro-event property and the LSC. Talk presented at the 10th International Conference on Role and Reference Grammar (RRG 2009), UC Berkeley, August 7–9.
Van Valin Jr., Robert D. & LaPolla, Randy J.
1997 Syntax: Structure, Meaning, and Function. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Van Valin, Robert D. Jr.
2006 Semantic macroroles and language processing. In Semantic Role Universals and Argument Linking, Ina Bornkessel, Matthias Schlesewsky, Bernard Comrie, Angela D. Friederici (eds.), 327–353. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Veenstra, Tonjes
1996 Serial Verbs in Saramaccan: Predication and Creole Genesis. The Hague: HAG.Google Scholar
Vendler, Zeno
1967 Linguistics in Philosophy. Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Vogel, Petra Maria & Comrie, Bernard
2000 Approaches to the Typology of Word Classes, Empirical Approaches to Language Typology. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Westermann, Diedrich H.
1930 A Study of the Ewe language. London: OUP.Google Scholar
Williams, Wayne
1971 Serial verb constructions in Krio. Studies in African Linguistics 2: 47–65.Google Scholar
Wu, Chunming
2006 Verb Serialization in Kanakanavu [UST Working Papers in Linguistics 2], 109–139. [URL]
Yakpo, Kofi & Bruyn, Adrienne
2015 Transatlantic patterns: The relexification of locative constructions in Sranan. In Surviving the Middle Passage: The Benin-Surinam Sprachbund, Pieter Muysken & Norval Smith (eds), 135–174. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Young, M.S.
1975 Aspect and resultative verbs in Mandarin Chinese. PhD Washington.Google Scholar
Zavala, Roberto
2006 Serial verbs in Olutec (Mixean). In Aikhenvald & Dixon (eds), 1–68.Google Scholar
Zlatev, Jordan & Yangklang, Peerapat
2004 A third way to travel: The place of Thai (and other serial verb languages) in motion event typology. In Relating Events in Narrative: Typological and Contextual Perspectives, Sven Strömqvist & Ludo Verhoeven (eds), 159–190. Mahwah NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar