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  "Cut" and "break" verbs in Gbe and Sranan

Essegbey, J., & Ameka, F. K. (2007). "Cut" and "break" verbs in Gbe and Sranan. Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages, 22(1), 37-55. doi:10.1075/jpcl.22.1.04ess.

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Essegbey, J., Author
Ameka, Felix K.1, 2, Author           
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1Language and Cognition Group, MPI for Psycholinguistics, Max Planck Society, ou_55204              
2Categories across Language and Cognition, MPI for Psycholinguistics, Max Planck Society, ou_55211              

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 Abstract: This paper compares “cut” and “break” verbs in four variants of Gbe, namely Anfoe, Anlo, Fon and Ayizo, with those of Sranan. “Cut” verbs are change-of-state verbs that co-lexicalize the type of action that brings about a change, the type of instrument or instrument part, and the manner in which a change occurs. By contrast, break verbs co-lexicalize either the type of object or the type of change. It has been hypothesized that “cut”-verbs are unergative while breaks verbs are unaccusatives. For example “break” verbs participate in the causative alternation constructions but “cut” verbs don’t. We show that although there are some differences in the meanings of “cut” and break verbs across the Gbe languages, significant generalizations can be made with regard to their lexicalization patterns. By contrast, the meanings of “cut” and break verbs in Sranan are closer to those of their etymons in English and Dutch. However, despite the differences in the meanings of “cut” and “break” verbs between the Gbe languages and Sranan, the syntax of the verbs in Sranan is similar to that of the Eastern Gbe variants, namely Fon and Ayizo. We look at the implications of our findings for the relexification hypothesis. (copyright Benjamins)

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 Dates: 2007
 Publication Status: Issued
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 Rev. Type: Peer
 Identifiers: eDoc: 322317
DOI: 10.1075/jpcl.22.1.04ess
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Title: Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages
Source Genre: Journal
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Pages: - Volume / Issue: 22 (1) Sequence Number: - Start / End Page: 37 - 55 Identifier: -