Complex Predicates in Languages: Emergence, Typology, Evolution

虽然“复合谓词”这一术语在语言学中已经确立，但它仍然是一个理论上的挑战。复合谓词通常被定义为语音独立的单词序列，它们在一起表现得像一个谓词；但这一定义涵盖了范围广泛的结构，其边界并不明确。出于这个原因，我们将重点放在基于动词的复杂谓词（VCP）上，它被定义为作为单个主语的谓词的语法结构，并且涉及至少两个属于动词类的词汇项，无论是同步的还是历时的。这个定义包括连续动词、转换动词、轻动词和助动词：它们具有一定的功能属性，有时遵循平行的历史动态。“ComPLETE”项目旨在从共时性、历时性和现实性的角度，对形式和语义基础上的复杂谓词进行系统的分析。由于可用的数据仅限于某些语族和地理区域，ComPLETE将根据参与者的专业知识，以广泛的语族为基础进行分析。首先，该项目将开发一个类型学问卷，以保证跨语言的可比性。基于语言学专家提供的答案，将解决三个研究问题：(1)我们能否识别与复杂谓词（如时态-方面-语气、空间方向）相关的语义域与特定形式属性之间的跨语言依赖关系？(2)我们如何从语法化和词汇化的角度来模拟这些结构的历时演变？(3)复杂谓词在世界语言区域或语言门类中是如何分布的？来自法国和德国的核心小组由四名在语言实地考察、跨语言比较和类型学方面具有长期经验的语言学家组成。每个国家招收博士生1人，博士后1人。德国招收博士后（50%）负责协调；在法国，他/她将对一个语言学领域进行综合研究，并引进统计方面的专门知识。他们将与计算机工程师合作建立一个数据库。ComPLETE团队还将收到来自14名正式参与者和14名外部合作伙伴的贡献，这些合作伙伴是具有大量语言家族和广泛理论问题专业知识的语言学家。在三年结束时，ComPLETE项目将提交一份联合卷，其中包含所有贡献者的立场文件和章节。我们的数据库和分析将通过跨语言关联数据（CLLD）的开源平台在网上公开。

Although the term “complex predicates” is well established in linguistics, it is still a theoretical challenge. Complex predicates are generally defined as sequences of phonologically independent words, which together behave like a single predicate; but this definition covers a broad range of constructions whose boundaries are not clear. For that reason, we focus on verb-based complex predicates (VCP), defined as grammatical constructions serving as a predicate to a single subject, and involving at least two lexical items belonging, synchronically or diachronically, to the class of verbs. This definition includes serial verbs, converbs, light verbs and auxiliaries: these share certain functional properties and sometimes follow parallel historical dynamics. The “ComPLETE” project aims to carry out a systematic analysis of complex predicates on formal and semantic grounds, from the perspectives of synchrony, diachrony and areality.As the available data is limited to certain language families and geographic areas, ComPLETE will base its analyses on a wide range of language families, in line with the expertise of the participants. First, the project will develop a typological questionnaire for guaranteeing cross-linguistic comparability. Based on the answers provided by linguistic experts, three research questions will be addressed: (1) Can we identify cross-linguistic dependencies between the semantic domains associated with complex predicates (e.g. tense-aspect-mood, spatial orientation) and specific formal properties? (2) How can we model the diachronic evolution of these structures, in terms of grammaticalization and lexicalization? (3) How are complex predicates distributed across the world’s linguistic areas or language phyla?The core teams from France and Germany are composed of four linguists with a long experience in linguistic fieldwork, cross-linguistic comparison and typology. Each country will recruit one PhD student and one postdoctoral researcher: In Germany, the postdoc (50%) will be responsible for coordination; in France, s/he will conduct a synthesis on a linguistic area, and bring in expertise in statistics. Together, they will collaborate with computational engineers to build a database.The ComPLETE team will also receive contributions from 14 full-fledged participants and 14 external partners – linguists with expertise on a large number of language families, and on a wide range of theoretical issues. At the end of three years, the ComPLETE project will present a joint volume with a position paper and chapters by all contributors. Our database and analyses will be publicly accessible online through the open-source platform of Cross-Linguistic Linked Data (CLLD).