Browsing by Author "Mandoma, Thiathu Joseph"

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    The argument structure of deverbal nominals in Venda
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1994-03) Mandoma, Thiathu Joseph; Visser, M. W.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of African Languages.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study investigates the structure of deverbal event nominals in Venda. The central aim of this study is to investigate the syntactic projection or realization of arguments in the argument structure of the deverbal event nominals. The properties of these structures will be investigated in full. The event nominals used will be derived from a diversity of verbs, monotransitive verbs, ditransitive and intransitive verbs. The data that will be used in this study have been collected from Venda, although reference is made to English examples, more especially in section two (2). It will be demonstrated that the argument structure of the deverbal event nominals in Venda is similar to the argument structure of the related active verb. The difference between the two is that there is a visible external argument assigned by the verb phrase, whereas a similar external argument does not occur with deverbal event nominals. All the arguments of the deverbal event nominals appear within the maximal projection of the nominals in question. They occur in the postnominal position, either as complements of the genitive a or any salient preposition. Just like in English, some theta-roles are assigned by prepositions in the argument structure of deverbal nominals in Venda. The only difference is that the argument structure of the deverbal event nominals in Venda may have bare NPs, that is, arguments which are not preceded by a genitive a or any preposition may occur and still carry their theta-roles. However, arguments immediately adjacent to the deverbal event nominals must be preceded by a preposition or the genitive a. It will be demonstrated that ambiguity occurs in instances of omission or alternation of arguments. This occurs especially when the remaining argument is animate (that is if the argument projected in a syntactic position is animate or have human control ambiguity arises in the thematic interpretation if any other argument is not realized). There is also a relationship between the argument structure of deverbal event nominals and control theory. An implicit argument or an overt argument in the argument structure of deverbal event nomina1s may successfully serve as the controller of the PRO subject of infinitival clause.