Light Verb Constructions from a Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Overview & Synopsis

Light verb constructions are complex predicates consisting of a semantically reduced verb and an additional often phrasal element contributing the main predicational content. Although light verb constructions have been identified for various (genetically unrelated) languages, a comparative concept which allows identifying light verb constructions across languages is still missing. The present volume approaches this issue from the perspective of the analysis of individual languages. The basic research question underlying the formation of the volume is: Which properties manifest light verb constructions cross linguistically? The papers collected in the volume investigate a large range of languages from different languages families which includes Indo-European languages like Aheli, Italian, Scottish Gaelic and Old West Norse but also non-Indo-European languages such as Tibetan (Sino-Tibetan), Kina Rutul (Nakh-Dagestanian) and Gĩkũyũ (Bantu). The present volume fills a gap in the cross-linguistics discussion of light verb constructions and seeks to provide novel insights concerning a widely recognized type of complex predicate construction.