Mary Laughren

University of Queensland

ALS Workshop on Complex Predicates

 

TITLE: The role of Warlpiri verbalizers in forming complex predicates

 

ABSTRACT:

Nash (1982:) observes that Warlpiri has about 115 inflecting verbs, and discusses the structure of the Warlpiri verbal complex, classifying the various coverbal (or preverb) morphemes in terms of their distributional and semantic properties. A small number of the Warlpiri inflecting verbs are strictly verbalizers in the sense that they must combine with another predicative morpheme in order to constitute an autonomous verb. Some of these verbalizers, such as -mani in (1a) are homophonous with independent verbs with which they share some semantic and syntactic properties but others such as -jirrirni in (1b&c) or -mani in (1d) are not.[1]

 

(1)              a.                  Parraja-kurra[-ma-ni]    ka-lu                                   karnta-ngku.

                                               coolimon-allat[-caus-np] pres-3pl.s                    woman-erg

                                               'Women put them into coolimons.'

                                              

                        b.                  Ngaka       ka    ngapa-ngku            marna=lku        purrulyan[-jirri-rni].

                                               later             pres water-erg                   grass=change   sprout[-caus-np]                       

                                               'Then the rain makes the grass sprout.'

                                              

                        c.                  Puluku     ka-lu-jana                     maliki-rli      warlkurr[-jirri-rni          munga-rlangu-rla.

                                               cow              pres-3pl.s-3pl.o       dog-erg            bark[-effect-np]                  night-example-loc

                                               'Dogs bark (at) cows at night typically.'       

                                              

                        d.                  Maliki            ka                  warlkurr[-mani].

                                               dog                    pres              bark[-produce sound]

                                               'The dog barks.'

                                              

The verbalizers which either determine or participate in the construction of  predicate argument structure (PAS) as well as in the expression of lexical conceptual structure (LCS), must be distinguished from those (even where homophonous with the former class) which do not contribute to the PAS but which express aspectual notions such as inception or duration of an event. As illustrated in (2a&b) the inflecting verb -yani combines with the infinitival forms of an inflecting verb (and its coverbs) and expresses duration, while in (2c) the inflecting verb -njini  is suffixed to a non-past verb stem expressing the inception of an activity.

 

(2)              a.                  Maliki ka          warlkurr-ma-ninja[-ya-ni].

                                               dog           pres    bark-produce_sound-inf[-go-np]

                                               'The dog goes along barking.' or 'The dog keeps barking.'

                                              

                        b.                  Puluku         ka-lu-jana                      maliki-rli           warlkurr-jirri-rninja[-ya-ni].

                                               cow                   pres-3pl.s-3pl.o      dog-erg                 bark-effect-inf[-go-np]                       

                                               'Dogs go along barking at cows.'

                                              

                        c.                  Maliki      ka                    warlkurr-mani[-nji-ni].          

                                               dog                pres              bark-produce_sound[-start-np]

                                               'The dog goes and barks.'

                                               

The inflecting verbs in (1) form part of a complex verbal phrase (VP) where PAS is defined, whereas the inflecting verbs in (2) seem to occupy a higher aspectual node which governs the VP, but which cannot effect the PAS (as reflected in the transitivity and case marking). All inflecting verbs must check TAM features; does this require movement (either overt or covert) to a position dominated by a node which also dominates the VP?

 

This paper will present a brief overview of the Warlpiri verbal complex (reviewing NashÕs 1982 classification of the preverbs) arguing that it can be formally defined as the constituent which may be immediately governed by a directional head, and which may enter into a relationship with the functional categories of tense, aspect and mood. The relative productivity of these verbalizers will also be discussed.

 

 

Reference:

Nash, D.G. 1982. ÒWarlpiri preverbs and verb roots.Ó Stephen Swartz (ed.) Papers in Warlpiri grammar: in memory of Lothar Jagst Work Papers of SIL-AAB, Series A Volume 6. Berrimah, N.T.: SIL-AAB:165-216.

 


[1] The following abbreviations are used: allat = allative case, caus = causative, erg = ergative case, inf = infinitive, loc = locative, np= non-past, o = object, pl = plural, pres = present, s = subject