Building a nonfinite domain: the syntax of gerund clauses in Brazilian Portuguese

• Grant number: 12/23196-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Marcello Modesto dos Santos
• Grantee: Suzana Fong
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/20648-5 - Gerund clauses in Brazilian Portuguese, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Gerund morpheme can occur in many clause types in Brazilian Portuguese: gerund clauses can occur in an argument or adjunction position; when they are of argumental character, they can be either internal or external arguments; when they are adjuncts, the "height" of adjunction varies - the adjunction site can be a nominal phrase or a predicate. They therefore seem to be different kinds of sequences. Even so, they display similar behaviour regarding properties such as indefinite subject interpretation, allowing an individual level predicate and a CP paraphrase. Furthermore, these sequences also feature peculiarities. How could we explain the similar properties shared by some gerund sequences and their grouping in relation to the aforementioned properties? On the other hand, would the differences between them rule out the possibility of analysing gerund sequences in an uniform way or could they be derived from independent reasons? Which would the gerund properties that make it possible for it to occur in different syntactic contexts?

Academic Publications

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

FONG, Suzana. Building a nonfinte domain: the syntax of gerund clauses in Brazilian Portuguese. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.