Re: THEORY: Four-valent Clauses

Thanks for writing, David.
--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, "David J. Peterson" <dedalvs@G...>
> wrote:
> Tom wrote:
> <<
>> Is every example of a Four-Argument Verb, in a language with
>> either
>> Causatives or Applicatives or both?
>> Does every Four-Argument Clause come from either Causativizing or
>> Applicativizing a Ditransitive Clause?
>  >>
>
> Umm...no?  Isn't something like "rent" a four argument predicate
> that's neither a causative nor an applicative?
Not in any language I know about.

> That is, "I (1) rented
> you (2) a car (3) for five dollars (4)."
It is just this kind of transaction that Ray Jackendoff (sp?) says
is, semantically, a four-place predicate.
But semantics isn't grammar, as he points out.

> Those are all arguments of
> the verb, right?
No.
(I should have said "/core/ arguments".)
The "for five dollars" in this particular utterance is an Adjunct.
It is not a (core) argument of the sentence as worded.

Adjuncts always show up Oblique.
In English, that means they have to be introduced by an adposition.
There is no way to get all four of the nominals in your "rent"
sentence, into an equivalent English sentence, none of which must be
in an adpositional phrase.

Arguments, when not "quirky", will show up Nominative (for Subject)
or Accusative (for Direct Object) or Dative (for Indirect Object); or
whatever case corresponds, depending on the alignment.
But Adjuncts are always Oblique.

Languages such as Maasai (sp?) (iiuc) which have a productive
Applicative, can introduce an Instrumental or Purposive (if there is
such a case, and that is its name) as a fourth Core Argument by
applicativization.
That having been done, your "rent" sentence could then have the "five
dollars" as a fourth Core Argument; but this would be the result of
Applicativization.

--------

In composing this reply I remind myself of another question I never
asked on this group.

Remember the sentence
"The Pope paid Leonardo 100 ducats to paint a portrait of the Duchess
for the Duke".
Conceivably there exists a natlang (even more conceivably a conlang)
in which that could be a one-verb sentence.
(BTW Questions:-- Is there such a natlang or conlang?  If so, what is
its name and where can I find out about it?)
It contains six nominals; the ducats, the Duchess, the Duke, the
Pope, the portrait, and Leonardo.
As it stands we wouldn't think the Duchess was an argument or adjunct
of the verb(s) because she occurs only in the genitive construction
"portrait of the Duchess"; in English, the PP "of the Duchess"
modifies (further specifies) the noun "portrait".

Here is my question:
Is there a natlang or an existing conlang, or would it make sense to
construct a conlang, in which there were at least three grammatical
cases, such that:
1) Leonardo is in one case;
2) the Pope and the portrait are in a second case; and,
3) the ducats, the Duchess, and the Duke are in a third case?

-----

Thanks.

Tom H.C. in MI

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