Abstract: | List of tables -- List of figures -- List of abbreviations -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The semantic domain of pluractional constructions -- 3. The morpho-syntax of pluractional constructions -- 4. Pluractional constructions: some case studies -- 5. Pluractional constructions in cross-linguistic perspective -- 6. Conclusions -- Appendix I: Language sample -- Appendix II: Pluractional constructions of the languages of the sample -- References The aim of this book is to give the first large-scale typological investigation of pluractionality in the languages of the world. Pluractionality is defined as the morphological modification of the verb to express a plurality of situations that can additionally involve a plurality of participants and/or spaces. Based on a 246-language sample, the main characteristics of pluractionality are described and discussed throughout the book. Firstly, a description of the functions that pluractional markers cross-linguistically express is presented and the relationships occurring among them are explained through the semantic map model. Then, the marking strategies that languages display to express such functions are illustrated and some issues concerning the formal identification are briefly discussed as well. The typological generalizations are corroborated showing how pluractional markers work in three specific languages (Akawaio, Beja, Maa). In conclusion, the theoretical conceptualization of pluractionality is discussed referring to the Radical Construction Grammar approach |
