Complex Predicates in Languages: Emergence, Typology, Evolution

语言中的复杂谓词：出现、类型学、进化

• 批准号: 469131243
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Walter Bisang
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Université Paris-Est
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/469131243?language=en
• 关键词: Complex; Predicates; Languages; Emergence; Typology

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).

尽管“复杂谓词”一词在语言学中已建立，但它仍然是理论上的挑战。复杂的谓词通常被定义为语音独立词的序列，它们的表现像单个谓词。但是，该定义涵盖了广泛的构造，其界限尚不清楚。因此，我们专注于基于动词的复杂谓词（VCP），定义为语法构建体，用作单个主体的谓词，并至少涉及两个属于动词类的词汇，即同步或时刻。该定义包括串行动词，converbs，light动词和辅助机构：它们具有某些功能属性，有时遵循平行的历史动态。 “完整”项目旨在从同步，简介和人群的角度对正式和语义理由进行复杂谓词进行系统分析。由于可用数据仅限于某些语言家庭和地理领域，因此完整的分析将基于与参与者的专家一致的各种语言家庭的分析。首先，该项目将开发一份类型学问卷，用于保证跨语言兼容性。基于语言专家提供的答案，将解决三个研究问题：（1）我们可以确定与复杂预测相关的语义域之间的跨语言依赖性（例如，紧张态度，空间取向）和特定的形式属性？ （2）我们如何根据语法化和词汇化对这些结构的历时演变进行建模？ （3）如何分布在世界语言领域或语言门上的复杂预测？来自法国和德国的核心团队由四位在语言野外工作，跨语言比较和类型学方面具有悠久经验的语言学家组成。每个国家将招募一名博士生和一名博士后研究员：在德国，博士后（50％）将负责协调；在法国，他/她将在语言领域进行综合，并引入统计学专业知识。他们将共同与计算工程师合作建立一个数据库。完整的团队还将获得14名成熟参与者和14位外部合作伙伴的贡献 - 在大量语言家族以及广泛的理论问题上具有专业知识的语言学家。在三年结束时，完整的项目将介绍所有贡献者的职位纸和章节的联合量。我们的数据库和分析将通过跨语言链接数据（CLLD）的开源平台在线公开访问。