Argument structure in Dâw

• Grant number: 11/16168-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Raccanello Storto
• Grantee: Jéssica Clementino da Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Phonology and grammar of the language Dâw, Martins (2004) claims that there are three types of verbs in that language, which are: the active verbs (intransitive, transitive and bi-transitive), the process verbs, the stative verbs (equative - subdivided into identificational and existential - and descriptive - subdivided into attributive, qualitative and positional). Having such a paradigm in mind, which was pointed out by Martins (2004), we intend to revaluate those verb classes, by adopting as our theoretical approach the theory of argument structure proposed by Hale & Keyser (2002). Also, we seek to clarify some important phenomena of the language in terms of referring to the verb classes, such as the causative-inchoative alternation, processes of intransitivity and analytic causativization (Hale & Keyser, 2002), which are not approached or are not precisely described and explained at Martins's (2004) work. In order to do so, at a first stage, we will collect the data concerning the verb classes and process of valency change in the language Dâw, directly from Martins's (2004) thesis. After the initial collection and description of the data, we will start the preparation and application of linguistic tests with native speakers of the language. These tests will elicit verb paradigms of active, passive, transitive, intransitive and cleft sentences for at least three verbs found in the texts and will evaluate the grammaticality of the transitivity and intransitivity of the linguistic system Dâw, which will provide clear and precise data for the linguistic phenomena which are related to the formation of the verbs and of the process of valency change in the language Dâw.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COSTA, Jéssica Clementino da. The argument structure of the Dâw language. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.