Examines the semantic and syntactic structure of some compound words in modern Greek within the framework of valency theory. It is observed that there is a structural parallel between certain compounds and clauses that contain a clitic object but no subject, as the latter is mapped onto the verb's inflectional ending. (Author/VWL)

This paper argues, utilizing Lexical Mapping Theory (LMT), that there are modern Greek deverbal nominal predicates that take syntactic arguments. A small set of simple unification-based operations is employed to model the relation between the argument structure of verb predicates and that of the corresponding deverbal nominals with an…

This paper examines the syntax of imperative sentences in languages in which imperative verbs have distinctive morphology. Imperative verbs with distinctive morphology either have a distinctive syntax (Modern Greek, Spanish) or distribute like other verbs (Serbo-Croatian, Ancient Greek). The contrast follows from properties of the root…

Examines Modern Greek verbs which seem to be negative-raisers, including consideration of data that offer syntactic justification for negative-raisers and an examination of the semantics and pragmatics of the negative-raisers. (CB)

Addresses the position of adjectives in the noun phrase in Modern Greek, concentrating on the possible interpretations that the adjective can have relative to the noun. Differences observed between definite and indefinite noun phrases are suggested to be consequences of their predicative nature and the way this interacts with the…

This study addresses bidialectism by investigating the linguistic situation on the bidialectal island of Cyprus where Standard Modern Greek (SMG) and the regional Cypriot dialect (CD) are both routinely used. The study implemented a language programme that embraced both sociolinguistic and educational factors and was designed to teach SMG by using…

The basic noun phrase of Koine Greek is examined, and an analysis consistent with current views on phrase structure within X-bar theory is proposed. The fact that the syntactic distribution of quantifiers, demonstratives, and descriptive adjectives is different leads to the proposal that these are distinct word classes in Greek, as in many other…

An analysis of the structure and functioning of Modern Greek gerundival constructions is presented. First, it is argued that there are clear differences between gerunds and participles. Issues concerning the temporal interpretation of gerunds are considered, and an account is given that postulates the existence of a covert temporal operator like…

A concise typology of Koine Greek relative clauses is presented, drawing on data from the Greek New Testament. The analysis begins by pointing out that Koine uses the strategy of relative pronouns in all relative clauses. The other ways in which relative pronouns are used, in addition to introducing the relative clause, are then described. The…

Examines the theory of empty categories in a Government and Binding analysis of Modern Greek syntax. No empty subject category is found and so the pro-drop parameter is a misnomer here. Further support for the correlation between parametric variation and inflexional or morphological properties of a language is presented. (Author/LMO)

Given that the principal bounding nodes, or barriers, for subjacency are noun phrase (NP), S, and S-bar, with S optionally a barrier, NP and S-bar obligatorily barriers, differences between Greek and English WH-movement are discussed. The contrasts are derived from independently motivated differences in NP structure between the two languages.…

Research by the staff and advanced students of the North Dakota Summer Institute of Linguistics is presented. In "Verb Agreement and Case Marking in Burushaski" (Stephen R. Willson), an overview of Burushaski morphology and syntax is presented, with special attention to verb agreement and case marking. "A Backwards Binding Construction in Zapotec"…

Papers include: "Length and Structure Effects in Syntactic Processing"; Nantong Tone Sandhi and Tonal Feature Geometry"; "Event Reference and Property Theory"; "Function-Argument Structure, Category Raising and Bracketing Paradoxes"; "At the Phonetics-Phonology Interface: (Re)Syllabification and English Stop…

Papers from the conference on the occurrence of verbal constituents in series in certain languages, particularly pidgins and creoles, include the following: "What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Serial Verbs?" (Arnold M. Zwicky); "Serial Verb Constructions" (Pieter Seuren); "On the Definition and Distribution of…

A collection of essays marking the retirement of Ilse Lehiste, chair of the Department of Linguistics at Ohio State University (1967-71 and 1985-87) includes the following contributions by her colleagues: "On Incomplete Mutations in Breton"; "Perceived P-Center Location in English and Japanese"; "Ordering Paradoxes and…