In this article, characteristics of Japanese causative constructions are reviewed and discussed based on an article by Masayoshi Shibatani (1976), who has worked extensively with the Japanese causative. First, the nature and definitions of the causative are discussed. Then, the types of Japanese causative are presented; finally, a categorization…

One characteristic of causative verbs in French, Spanish, and Italian is that the subject of the embedded verb appears to the right of its object (if it has one). A second distinguishing property is the Case that appears on the subject embedded under the causative verb. It is always either accusative or dative, depending on the transitivity of the…

This paper completes a description of Proto-Algic morphology begun by the author with a description of the verb (Proulx, 1985) and of pronouns (Proulx, 1991) by focusing on Proto-Algic noun structure and inflection. In Proto-Algic, a primary noun stem ends in a derivational final, a secondary one in a nominalizer. Both usually resemble…

A technique is demonstrated whereby an implicit semantic feature can be related to a grammatical alternative (pronoun-antecedent assignment) and thereby made explicit. It is also demonstrated that pragmatic, syntactic and other semantic features interact in an orderly way with this implicit feature of causality in verbs. (RC)

Rules for irregular Spanish verbs are presented here in an unusual way as an aid for students and teachers. (CK)

A study investigated the combinatorial semantics of nouns and verbs in sentences: specifically, the phenomenon of meaning adjustment under semantic strain, in an effort to discover whether there are orderly processes of adjustment, and if so, to describe them. The study comprised three experiments. Experiments 1 and 2, tested the hypothesis that…

A discussion of verb intransitivization in English grammar looks at different verb classes that allow or do not allow this phenomenon. The semantic primitive of involvement is a phenomenon that attempts to find related features in sentences where intransitivization occurs. Semantic involvement patterns are assigned in the subject or direct object…

Transitivity in the English verb is examined from the perspectives of the linguistic theorist and the second language instructor. English verbs can be assigned to one of six categories: pure intransitives, causative-inchoative verbs, psych-movement verbs, cross-classification verbs, direct object deletions, and pure transitives. Both syntacticians…

Concerns the language development of four children between the ages of 19 and 26 months, as they progressed from single-word utterances to a mean length of utterance of 2.5 morphemes. The observed developmental sequence is described and possible linguistic and cognitive explanations for it are discussed.

The factive nominal construction of Spanish shows to what extent semantic notions and syntactic constraints are mutually influential. Positive presupposition on the part of the speaker as to truth or falsehood of a subordinate proposition is reflected by the use of the indicative mood; negative or indefinite presupposition by use of the…

Focuses on time aspect in modern Japanese fiction as presented in Masao Miyoshi's book on Japanese fiction, "Accomplices of Silence, The Modern Japanese Novel." Miyoshi's claims, that Japanese has no clearly established tense and that forms of past and present are interchanged, are discussed. (SC)

Contradicts the single subjunctive theory of Dwight Bolinger and supports Samuel Gili Y Gaya in recognizing the subjunctive as more than one syntactic phenomenon. (CK)