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Linglib.Theories.Syntax.Minimalism.Core.VerbalDecomposition

Verbal Decomposition #

@cite{cuervo-2003} @cite{wood-2015} @cite{pylkkanen-2008}

Sub-eventive verb heads that decompose verbal structure into fine-grained event components. Following @cite{wood-2015} and @cite{pylkkanen-2008}, CAUSE is an independent head — separate from both Voice (which introduces the external argument) and the root-determined event structure (vGO, vBE).

Key decompositions:

Voice contributes vDO (the agent's activity); CAUSE is part of the root structure, present in both causative and anticausative alternants.

Independent of applicative heads — used by Fission, EventStructureBridge, and the Spanish fragment.

Sub-eventive verb heads from @cite{cuervo-2003}, extended with vCAUSE following @cite{wood-2015} and @cite{pylkkanen-2008}.

  • vDO: Dynamic subevent where an agent does something
  • vCAUSE: Causal relation between subevents (independent head; present in both causative and anticausative alternants)
  • vGO: Dynamic subevent of change (inchoative component)
  • vBE: Stative subevent of result state
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    A verb's event-structural decomposition as a list of VerbHeads.

    Key patterns:

    • State: [vBE]
    • Activity: [vDO]
    • Inchoative: [vCAUSE, vGO, vBE] (anticausative: "the door opened")
    • Causative: [vDO, vCAUSE, vGO, vBE] (transitive: "John opened the door")
    Equations
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      Is this a causative (external cause + change + result)?

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        Is this a simple state (vBE only)?

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          Is this a simple activity (vDO only)?

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            Does this decomposition contain a CAUSE head?

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              Is this an anticausative (CAUSE present, but no external agent)? Anticausatives have the causal structure but lack an agentive vDO. This is the key insight from @cite{wood-2015}: CAUSE is independent of Voice, so it can appear without an agent.

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                Inchoative = change + result, no external cause.

                Inchoative with CAUSE: [vCAUSE, vGO, vBE] is still inchoative (no vDO).

                A pure state is neither inchoative nor causative.

                An activity is neither inchoative nor causative.