Author:  Adams Bodomo

Date: June 22, 1998

Title: A lexical semantic analysis of faa complex predicates in Norwegian

Email: abbodomo@hkusua.hku.hk
[June 1998]

Remarks: Department of Linguistics, University of Hong Kong

Abstract: A complex predicate is an integration of two or more semantically
identifiable elements, acting as a single predicate unit in terms of
grammatical relations such as the sharing of subjects and objects. Many
analyses in the literature assume that complex predicates are formed
at a level of argument structure where the contributing predicates of
the complex restructure their arguments to form a single but complex
argument structure (Alsina 1993 for Romance, Butt 1995 for Urdu, and
Loedrup 1996 for Norwegian).This paper proposes an alternative approach
in which complex predicate formation is done, not by argument structure
restructuring or predicate composition (Alsina 1993), but by conceptual
structure restructuring or predicate integration (Bodomo 1997).
The analysis is couched in an LFG-like framework which incorporates
a level of conceptual structure (Hellan 1996, Jackendoff 1997).
The empirical motivation for this lexical semantic approach to complex
predicate formation is based on Norwegian complex predicate data such as
Per fikk reparert bilen ÔPer got the car repairedÕ (Loedrup 1996).