The event structure of light verbs

This dissertation systematically investigates how light verbs contribute to eventstructure across three, typologically different languages: English, Hindi-Urdu, and Korean. I first show that light verbs across the three languages vary in their structural position and function. English light verbs take and give remain low in the structure, in VP, while the Hindi-Urdu light verb le ‘take’ occupies an intermediary (Inner) Aspect head just below the head that introduces the external argument, vP. The Korean light verb peli sits even higher in the structure, in an aspect head above vP. This structural variation is reflected in the effect that the light verbs have on the lexical aspect of the predicate. Light verbs in all three languages make the event telic, regardless of the type of event the light verb combines with. In summary, this dissertation provides a brief typological overview of the syntactic function and semantic role of light verbs, providing new insights into how light verbs contribute to event structure.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D., Linguistics

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Linguistics

Grantor

Cornell University

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Sobolak, Frances

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Murray, Sarah
• Despic, Miloje

• aspect
• light verb
• semantics
• syntax

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7298/x25f-9v41

Dc Identifier Other

ProQuest Submission ID: 13847
ProQuest Publication ID: 30574184

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ecommons.cornell.edu:1813/114764