Work

Towards a unified analysis of correlatives and indefinites in Balkar

Year: 2020

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: In this paper we consider two morphosyntactically similar constructions in Balkar: correlative clauses and wh-indefinites. They both consist of three elements: (i) an interrogative pronoun, (ii) a verb marked by the conditional suffix -sa, and (iii) the particle da 'even'. We demonstrate that despite superficial similarities there are certain semantic and syntactic differences between them. Specifically, the correlatives are interpreted definitely and are merged as clausal adjuncts and the whindefinites function as indefinite NPs and are merged as arguments of the main predicate. We develop an analysis that maintains the contribution of wh-expressions and the particle da and argue that the point of divergence is the -sa marked element. While in correlatives it is a true verbal predicate, in wh-indefinites it is a grammaticalized marker that denotes a choice function.

Source: Proceedings of the Workshop on Turkic and Languages in Contact with Turkic

DOI: 10.3765/ptu.v5i1.4774

Authors: Ekaterina Morgunova, Ilya Naumov

Institutions: Lomonosov Moscow State University, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Russian Foundation for Basic Research

Award: G6532034880