Linguistic Circle
Speaker: Fernando Zúñiga (University of Bern)
Title: “Subjective applicativization”: A rare phenomenon that deserves a closer look
Abstract (short): A number of Western Austronesian constructions famously conflate functions that are usually kept separate in many other languages, viz. applicativization and promotion to subject. Some valency-changing operations in Mapudungun (unclassified, Chile/Argentina), Even (Tungusic, Russia), and Central Alaskan Yupik (Eskimoan, USA) show similar features but have received much less attention in the literature. The present talk explores these phenomena and discusses their implications for our understanding of grammatical voice (considering both functional-typological and Chomskyan perspectives; cf. Jeong 2007, Pylkkänen 2008, Georgala 2012 for the latter).
Contact details
Linguistic Circle
Lecture Theatre 5, Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE