Valence alternation
In syntax (branch of linguistics ), valence alternation is the relationship between two verbs (or verb forms) with the same stem that have a different valence . In the case of a valence alternation, two stem-related verbs have different semantic and / or syntactic players (or participants), while the basic verbal meaning remains the same.
Instead of valence alternation , the term valence change is often used. The term diathesis is also used for flexion forms that express valence alternations .
Basics
An example from German is the alternation between giving and giving presents . Both verbs have three semantic players: donor (or agent ), recipient (or recipient ), and present (or topic). The syntactic function of the other players differs, however: in the case of a gift , the recipient is a dative object and the gift is an accusative object (e.g. grandma gave the grandson a doll ), while in the case of a gift the recipient is an accusative object, while the gift as prepositional with having expressed ( grandma bestowed the grandson with a doll ).
Typically, languages have a number of verbs that belong to a valence alternation pattern. Similar to schenken / beschenken also behave in German other pairs of verbs such as order / commission, serve / serve, threaten / threaten, send / supply . Valence alternation patterns (or valence alternations for short) are often productive (i.e. they can be applied to new verbs) and sometimes they can be used so consistently that one speaks of two different inflections of a verb rather than two different verbs (e.g. B. in the passive voice).
Marking of valence alternations
Valence alternations can be marked in various ways. The most common marking in the languages of the world is by affiction . For example, in Lesgic, the causative is formed by the suffix -ar ( aqwaz - ' hold (intransitive)' / aqwazar - ' hold (transitive)'). And in Russian , the anti-causative is formed by the suffix -sja ( otkryt 'open' / otkryt-sja 'open').
Instead of an affix also an independent word can express a Valenzalternation such as in English, where the Antikausativ in some cases by the reflexive itself is formed ( open / open ).
A valence alternation can also be expressed by a combination of an affix and a separate word. The German passive voice z. B. uses an auxiliary verb (to be ) plus passive participle (which is itself formed by affixing): buy (-en) / ge-kauf-t werd (-en) .
If the valence alternation is expressed by an affix or a separate word, one can easily distinguish between the base and the derived element , and it is natural to speak of valence change. For example, it makes sense to use Lesgic aqwaz- 'stop (intransitive)' as the base, and aqwaz-ar- 'stop (transitive)' as a word derived from this base. Since the derived word has a different valence, the valence has "changed" through the derivation.
But a direction of derivation cannot always be determined. For example, an alternation can be indicated by affixes to both alternating verbs ( Japanese atsuma (-ru) 'to collect' / atsume (-ru) 'to collect'). Or there is a slightly different trunk ( Lithuanian luž (-ti) 'zerbrechen (intransitive)' / lauž (-ti) 'zerbrechen (transitive)'). Or both alternating verbs are formed with a different auxiliary verb ( Hindi šuruu honaa 'begin (intransitive)' / šuruu karnaa 'begin (transitive)'). Or both verbs have different inflectional behavior (e.g. German zerbrechen (transitive / intransitive), but is broken (only intransitive) / has broken (only transitive)).
Finally, it often happens that there is no formal change at all during a valence alternation. Verbs such as stop, begin, burn, cook, melt, roll, freeze can be used both transitive and intransitive. One would not necessarily say that they are two different verbs, but such cases are also counted among the valence alternations.
The main types of valence alternations
Causative
In the causative there is an agent-participant, which is expressed as a subject.
Non-causative
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | object |
Example: The child spoons out the soup.
Causative
| semantic role | Causator | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | Object1 | Object2 |
Example: The educator lets the child (= object1) spoon out the soup (= object2).
passive
In the passive voice , an agent-participant is not expressed as a subject, but as an obliquus or not at all. The non-passive form is also called active .
Active (= non-passive)
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | object |
Example: The child spoons out the soup.
passive
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | (Obliquus) | subject |
Example: The soup is spooned out (by the child).
Applicative
In the applicative , a participant is expressed as an object, which in the initial construction can only be expressed as an obliquus.
Non-applicative
| semantic role | agent | theme | Recipients |
| syntactic function | subject | object | Dative obliquus |
Example: Grandma gave the grandson (= recipient) a doll (= topic).
Applicative
| semantic role | agent | theme | Recipients |
| syntactic function | subject | with -obliquus | object |
Example: Grandma gave her grandson (= Rezpiens) a doll (= Obliquus).
If the obliquus of the initial construction is a location, an alternation of this type is also called a locative alternation ( the farmer loaded hay onto the wagon / the farmer loaded the wagon with hay ).
Anti-passive
With the antipassive , the patient is not expressed as an object, as in the initial construction, but as an obliquus. There is no productive antipassive in German, but there are occasional alternations that are very similar to the antipassive in other languages (e.g. strike / strike ).
Active (= non-anti-passive)
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | object |
Example: The boy hit the doll.
Anti-passive
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | Obliquus |
Example: The boy hit the doll.
Anti-causative
With the anti-causative , also called recessive, the agent (and the meaning of the cause) is completely eliminated. As with the passive voice, the patient participant becomes the subject, but the agent is not expressed as a subject and does not play a role in the meaning of the verb.
transitive output verb
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | object |
Example: Grandma opened the door.
Anti-causative
| semantic role | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject |
Example: The door opened.
Ambitransitive
One speaks of an ambitransitive alternation when one and the same verb can be used both transitive and intransitive.
ambitransitive verb, transitive use
| semantic role | agent | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject | object |
Example: The speaker started her presentation.
ambitransitive verb, intransitive use
| semantic role | Patiens |
| syntactic function | subject |
Example: The lecture began.
Remarks
- ↑ Angelika Ballweg-Schramm and Helmut Schumacher: Verbvalence dictionary on semantic basis , in: Helmut Henne [Hrsg.]: Practice of Lexicography: Reports from the workshop , Tübingen 1979 (= Germanistische Linguistik, 22), pp. 94-123
literature
(in English)
- Changing valency: Case studies in transitivity (edited by R. M. W. Dixon & A. Y. Aikhenvald. 2000. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; PDF file; 217 kB)
- Valency change by Martin Haspelmath & Thomas Müller-Bardey. 2004. In: Booij, Geert & Lehmann, Christian & Mugdan, Joachim (eds.) Morphology: A Handbook on Inflection and Word Formation . Vol. 2. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1130–1145. (PDF file; 342 kB)