The dynamics of structure building in Rangi: At the Syntax-Semantics interface

Main author: Gibson, Hannah
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-20639
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description The Tanzanian Bantu language Rangi uses a combination of simple and complex verb forms to encode a range of tense-aspect distinctions. Whilst simple verb forms comprise of a single inflected verb, complex forms involve an auxiliary and a lexical main verb. This paper presents an account of auxiliary constructions in Rangi from the perspective of Dynamic Syntax. Dynamic Syntax (Kempson, Meyer-Viol & Gabbay 2001, Cann, Kempson & Marten 2005) is a parsing-oriented framework which aims to represent the way in which hearers parse natural language in context. The account draws on the concepts of underspecification and update which it is argued are integral to the interpretation of complex auxiliary constructions in Rangi and in Bantu languages more broadly.
format Journal Article
author Gibson, Hannah
author_facet Gibson, Hannah
authorStr Gibson, Hannah
author_letter Gibson, Hannah
title The dynamics of structure building in Rangi: At the Syntax-Semantics interface
publisher Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics
publishDate 2015
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/20639/