Polysemy and Apparent Polyfunctionality of the Sakhalin Ainu Prefixes e- and ko-
Abstract The present study focuses on the polysemous verbal prefixes e - and ko - of Sakhalin Ainu and proposes their analysis as markers of high transitivity. The author takes a compositional approach to argument structure and event structure in order to account for the main use of e - and ko - as...
| Published in: | International Journal of Eurasian Linguistics |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
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Brill
2021
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/25898833-00320003 https://brill.com/view/journals/jeal/3/2/article-p217_5.xml https://brill.com/downloadpdf/journals/jeal/3/2/article-p217_5.xml |
| Summary: | Abstract The present study focuses on the polysemous verbal prefixes e - and ko - of Sakhalin Ainu and proposes their analysis as markers of high transitivity. The author takes a compositional approach to argument structure and event structure in order to account for the main use of e - and ko - as applicative markers as well as for their less common use as markers of resultative-completive and intensive aspect. Ultimately, the analysis shows that the apparent polyfunctionality of e - and ko - arises from two separate applications at the syntax-semantics level of one same underlying function of the prefixes. The author also comments on how the Sakhalin Ainu case fits in with other cases of valence-aspect conceptual overlapping cross-linguistically and on the implications of his findings for Ainu studies specifically. |
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