LINGUIST List 7.1757

Wed Dec 11 1996

Qs: Invented Languages, Dative shift, Contact info

Editor for this issue: Ljuba Veselinova <ljubalinguistlist.org>



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Directory

  • Lisa Stevenson, Invented Languages
  • Centro Multimediale Fac. Lingue/U. di Genova, dative shift
  • Greville Corbett, Contact info

    Message 1: Invented Languages

     Date: Tue, 10 Dec 96 14:36:06 EST
    From: Lisa Stevenson <LSTEVENSuga.cc.uga.edu>
    Subject: Invented Languages


    Hello all--

    I am putting together a reading list for an independent study course on invented languages, including Esperanto, sign language, twinspeak, and some science fiction efforts such as Klingon. If anyone knows of any good resources--books, articles, conference proceedings--could you please send the references to me?

    Lisa Stevenson lstevensuga.cc.uga.edu

    Message 2: dative shift

     Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 16:47:39 +0100
    From: Centro Multimediale Fac. Lingue/U. di Genova <azzarocisi.unige.it>
    Subject: dative shift


    I'm doing some cross-linguistic research on dative shift in languages other than English. In particular, I'm interested in languages which do not make use of applicative morphemes. Could anyone speaking a language which allows dative shift answer the following questions? (Please, make some examples for each question or translate my English examples)

    a. Are all diatransitive verbs dativizable? If they are not, have you got any idea as to how to distinguish dativizable verbs from non dativizable verbs?

    b. Is the order of the two internal objects in a DOC (Double Object Construction)fixed?

    Does your language have:

    c. symmetric passive (=1. and 2. both acceptable)?

    1. John was given a watch. 2. (*)A watch was given John.

    d. symmetric wh-movement?

    3. What did you give John? 4. *Who did you give the watch?

    e. symmetric Heavy NP Shift?

    5. Mary gave to John the most expensive watch she had. 6. *Mary gave the book the best pupil in her class.

    f. symmetric binding?

    7. ?John showed each other's friends to Bill and Mary. 8. *Jim showed each other's friends Bill and Mary. 9. John showed Mary to herself. 10. *John showed herself to Mary.

    Message 3: Contact info

     Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 15:09:52 +0000
    From: Greville Corbett <G.Corbettsurrey.ac.uk>
    Subject: Contact info


    Can anyone tell me how to contact Don Hutchisson? He has worked on Sursurunga under the auspices of SIL.

    (I have checked the usual sources).

    Thanks

    Greville Corbett (g.corbettsurrey.ac.uk).

    Greville G. Corbett Department of Linguistic and International Studies University of Surrey Guildford email: g.corbettsurrey.ac.uk Surrey, GU2 5XH FAX: +44 1483 302605 Great Britain phone: +44 1483 300800 ext 2849