The Syntactic Nature of Inner Aspect

A minimalist perspective

Jonathan E. MacDonald | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027255167 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027289865 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00

This book explores the syntactic nature of inner aspect from a minimalist perspective. It begins with the new observation that there are two independent properties at play in English inner aspect: the object-to-event mapping and event structure. From a discussion of English statives and Russian, it is concluded that the former property is variant and the latter universal; a minimalist conception of language variation arises naturally in this context. Additionally, an exploration of a lexical derivational approach to achievements leads to the expectation that there are no accomplishments in the lexicon. A detailed look at idioms suggests that this expectation is met. These results support the division of labor between an operative lexicon and narrow syntax in aspectual composition; this naturally poses a problem for (neo-)constructional approaches to inner aspect. Finally, one conclusion reached about the syntactic nature of inner aspect regards the object-to-event mapping: it is a purely syntactic phenomenon.

[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, 133] 2008. xv, 241 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/la.133

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments | pp. xi–xii

Preface | pp. xiii–xiv

List of abbreviations | p. xv

Chapter 1. An introduction to the syntax of inner aspect | pp. 1–30

Chapter 2. The syntax of eventives 1: An aspectual projection | pp. 31–60

Chapter 3. The syntax of eventives 2: Event features | pp. 61–91

Chapter 4. A lexical derivation of achievements | pp. 93–136

Chapter 5. Minimalist variation in inner aspect | pp. 137–167

Chapter 6. The autonomy of inner aspect | pp. 169–192

Chapter 7. A consideration of other aspectual facts | pp. 193–209

Chapter 8. The syntactic nature of inner aspect and some speculative remarks | pp. 211–226

Index | pp. 237–241

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