Complex Predicates in Languages: Emergence, Typology, Evolution

虽然“复杂谓词”这一术语在语言学中已经得到了很好的认可，但它仍然是一个理论上的挑战。复杂谓词通常被定义为语音独立的单词序列，它们一起表现得像一个单一的谓词;但是这个定义涵盖了范围很广的结构，它们的边界并不清楚。基于这个原因，我们专注于动词为基础的复杂谓词（VCP），定义为语法结构作为一个谓语的一个单一的主题，并涉及至少两个词汇项目属于，共时或历时，类的动词。这一定义包括连续动词、转换动词、轻动词和助动词：这些动词具有某些共同的功能特性，有时也遵循平行的历史动态。“比较研究”计划旨在从共时、历时及地域的角度，对复杂的谓词进行形式及语义上的系统分析。由于现有的资料只限于某些语系及地理区域，比较研究计划将根据参与者的专业知识，以广泛的语系为基础进行分析。首先，该项目将编制一份类型学调查表，以保证跨语言的可比性。基于语言学专家提供的答案，本文将讨论三个研究问题：（1）我们能否识别与复杂谓词相关的语义域（如时态-体-语气，空间方向）和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领域或语言门中的分布情况如何？来自法国和德国的核心团队由四位语言学家组成，他们在语言实地考察、跨语言比较和类型学方面拥有丰富的经验。每个国家将招收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/她将进行语言领域的综合，并带来统计方面的专业知识。他们将与计算工程师合作建立数据库。Compensation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，这些合作伙伴是在大量语言家族和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，该项目将提出一个联合卷，由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）的开源平台在线公开访问。

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).