Halkomelem Denominal Verb Constructions

Bibliographic Data

ID4841936
AuthorsDonna B Gerdts (Simon Fraser University), Thomas E Hukari (University of Victoria)
Year2008
Volume74
Issue4
Pages489-510
Publication date2008-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of American Linguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-7071 • E-ISSN: 1545-7001
PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/595575
OpenAlexW2139816205
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited22

Halkomelem has four denominal verb prefixes: c‐ 'have, get, make, do', ɬ- 'ingest, partake', txw- 'buy', λ̵- 'go to'. These prefixes attach to nominal bases to form intransitive verbs. The noun to which the prefix attaches is usually unspecified, generic, or nonindividuated and can be doubled with a freestanding nominal of more specific meaning. Syntactically, this nominal is an oblique object, parallel to patients of antipassive or applicative constructions. Denominal verb constructions are widely used, especially for denoting possession. As in the case of denominal verbs in other languages, they can be formed quite freely, as long as the situation allows for an interpretation. A brief look at the comparative Salish evidence suggests that denominal verb morphology originated as lexical verbs that were then subsequently reduced to bound forms

Linguistics · Meaning (existential · Noun · Object (grammar · Possession (linguistics · Prefix · Verb · Computer Science · History · Lexicography and Language Studies · Philosophy · Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

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