Studies in ditransitive constructions

En savoir plus sur le livre

This comprehensive volume explores cross-linguistic variation in the morphosyntax of ditransitive constructions, which involve verbs like "give" that take Agent, Theme, and Recipient arguments. For the first time, it adopts a broadly cross-linguistic perspective, stemming from a 2007 conference at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. It begins with an overview article by the editors, summarizing the variation in ditransitive constructions and introducing a questionnaire designed to elicit various properties of these patterns. The overview discusses formal, syntactic, and lexical properties, including the extension of ditransitive constructions across different verb classes. The volume features 23 contributions from leading experts, detailing the properties of ditransitive constructions in diverse languages worldwide. Careful attention has been given to ensuring that the contributions represent a wide range of structural, geographic, and genealogical diversity. This unique source of information on typological diversity is expected to be of significant interest to scholars and advanced students of linguistics, particularly those focused on language typology and comparative syntax.