Re: Verb-classifiers and preverbs.

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:11:57 -0500, Eric Christopherson
<rakko@...> wrote:

>I don't really know anything about the following, but Wikipedia has a
>little...
>
>On Apr 30, 2008, at 2:30 PM, Eldin Raigmore wrote:
>
>> (1) What are verb-classifiers?
>
< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Athabascan_grammar\
#Classificatory_Verbs >

That's a really interesting link!

>I'm not sure if this is what you're asking about.
I don't think it is.  It appears to be a noun-class system or gender system
(somewhat modified to sometimes accomodate grammatical number), similar to
the "numeral classifier" systems, but applied with verbs instead of with
numerals.

>> (2) What are preverbs?
>
>< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preverb >
Thanks for that link; it answers my question, I think. (And it's interesting!)

Apparently, preverbs are not a coherent word-class cross-linguistically; and in
some languages aren't coherent even within the language.

I suppose that might not be the answer I was hoping for, but it is the answer,
and will be useful and helpful.

>> (3) How, if at all, are either verb-classifiers or preverbs,
>> related to light verbs?
>
>I'd like to know that too. (I love anything having to do with
>grammaticalization and the progression from independent words into
>bound morphemes.)
Yes, me too.

The opposite direction -- from bound morpheme to independent word -- is also
fascinating, though much rarer.

--------
Thanks.

Reply