Martin Haspelmath

List of John Benjamins publications for which Martin Haspelmath plays a role.

Journals

Book series

Title

Coordinating Constructions

Edited by Martin Haspelmath

[Typological Studies in Language, 58] 2004. xcv, 578 pp.
Subjects Semantics | Syntax | Theoretical linguistics | Typology

Articles

Haspelmath, Martin 2021 Chapter 2. Towards standardization of morphosyntactic terminology for general linguisticsLinguistic Categories, Language Description and Linguistic Typology, Alfieri, Luca, Giorgio Francesco Arcodia and Paolo Ramat (eds.), pp. 35–58 | Chapter
This paper proposes that just like phonologists, linguists working on morphosyntax should have a core set of standard terms that are understood in exactly the same way across the discipline. Most of these terms are traditional terms that are given a standard retro-definition, because linguists… read more
This paper shows why it is not a contradiction to say that each language is structurally unique and must be described with its own categories, but language description profits enormously from typological knowledge. It has sometimes been suggested that the Boasian imperative (“each language should… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2018 Baker, Mark. 2015. Case Studies in Language 42:2, pp. 474–486 | Review
Haspelmath, Martin and The Leipzig Equative Constructions Team 2017 Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspectiveSimilative and Equative Constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective, Treis, Yvonne and Martine Vanhove (eds.), pp. 9–32 | Chapter
In this paper, we report on a world-wide study of equative constructions (‘A is as big as B’) in a convenience sample of 119 languages. From earlier work, it has been known that European languages often have equative constructions based on adverbial relative pronouns that otherwise express degree… read more
It has long been observed that the modern European languages use more function words compared to earlier inflectional patterns, and this trend seems to have increased even further in creoles and other non-standard varieties. Here we make two arguments: First, we note that the terms synthetic and… read more
Hartmann, Iren, Martin Haspelmath and Michael Cysouw 2016 Identifying semantic role clusters and alignment types via microrole coexpression tendenciesAdvances in Research on Semantic Roles, Kittilä, Seppo and Fernando Zúñiga (eds.), pp. 27–49 | Article
In this chapter, we illustrate a method for identifying clusters of semantic roles by cross-linguistic comparison. On the basis of data from 25 languages drawn from the ValPaL (Valency Patterns Leipzig) database, we show how one can visualize coexpression tendencies using quantitative methods (in… read more
Hartmann, Iren, Martin Haspelmath and Michael Cysouw 2014 Identifying semantic role clusters and alignment types via microrole coexpression tendenciesAdvances in research on semantic roles, Kittilä, Seppo and Fernando Zúñiga (eds.), pp. 463–484 | Article
In this paper, we illustrate a method for identifying clusters of semantic roles by cross-linguistic comparison. On the basis of data from 25 languages drawn from the ValPaL (Valency Patterns Leipzig) database, we show how one can visualize coexpression tendencies using quantitative methods (in… read more
Tadmor, Uri, Martin Haspelmath and Bradley Taylor 2012 Borrowability and the notion of basic vocabularyQuantitative Approaches to Linguistic Diversity: Commemorating the centenary of the birth of Morris Swadesh, Wichmann, Søren and Anthony P. Grant (eds.), pp. 35–55 | Article
This paper reports on a collaborative quantitative study of loanwords in 41 languages, aimed at identifying meanings and groups of meanings that are borrowing-resistant. We find that nouns are more borrowable than adjectives or verbs, that content words are more borrowable than function words, and… read more
Tadmor, Uri, Martin Haspelmath and Bradley Taylor 2010 Borrowability and the notion of basic vocabularyQuantitative Approaches to Linguistic Diversity: Commemorating the centenary of the birth of Morris Swadesh, Wichmann, Søren and Anthony P. Grant (eds.), pp. 226–246 | Article
This paper reports on a collaborative quantitative study of loanwords in 41 languages, aimed at identifying meanings and groups of meanings that are borrowing-resistant. We find that nouns are more borrowable than adjectives or verbs, that content words are more borrowable than function words, and… read more
This paper reviews some of basic argument marking properties of ditransitive constructions and asks how various syntactic frameworks deal with them. In particular, I critically examine two accounts within Role and Reference Grammar (RRG). I lay out a basic typology of three alignment types:… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2008 Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universalsThe Limits of Syntactic Variation, Biberauer, Theresa (ed.), pp. 75–107 | Article
This paper compares the generative principles and parameters approach to explaining syntactic universals to the functional-typological approach and also discusses the intermediate approach of Optimality Theory. It identifies some fundamental differences between generative parametric explanations… read more
Haspelmath, Martin and Susanne Maria Michaelis 2008 Leipzig fourmille de typologues: Genitive objects in comparisonCase and Grammatical Relations: Studies in honor of Bernard Comrie, Corbett, Greville G. and Michael Noonan (eds.), pp. 149–166 | Article
In this paper we examine genitive objects in some of the major European languages (French, Italian, Latin, German, English) and propose a semantic invariant for them: We claim that in the great majority of cases, the genitive object can be said to express a background theme, i.e., a participant… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2007 Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description?What Counts as Evidence in Linguistics: The case of innateness, Penke, Martina and Anette Rosenbach (eds.), pp. 81–107 | Article
I argue that the following two assumptions are incorrect: (i) The properties of the innate Universal Grammar can be discovered by comparing language systems, and (ii) functional explanation of language structure presupposes a “correct”, i.e. cognitively realistic, description. Thus, there are two… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2007 50. CommentsReciprocal Constructions, Nedjalkov, Vladimir P. (ed.) | Chapter
Haspelmath, Martin 2007 Ditransitive alignment splits and inverse alignmentDitransitivity, Siewierska, Anna and Willem B. Hollmann (eds.), pp. 79–102 | Article
This paper argues that language-particular restrictions on ditransitive constructions are best understood as instantiations of easily falsifiable implicational universals that can be explained functionally, rather than as falling out from a restrictive formal metalanguage. Well-known restrictions… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2007 Author’s responseWhat Counts as Evidence in Linguistics: The case of innateness, Penke, Martina and Anette Rosenbach (eds.), pp. 113–115 | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 2004 Author’s responseWhat Counts as Evidence in Linguistics?: The case of innateness, Penke, Martina and Anette Rosenbach (eds.), pp. 584–586 | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 2004 1. Coordinating constructions: An overviewCoordinating Constructions, Haspelmath, Martin (ed.), pp. 3–39 | Chapter
1.Coordination: Basic concepts and terms 1.1 Coordination 1.2 Basic patterns 1.3 Semantic types of coordination 2. The position of the coordinator(s) 3. Category-sensitivity of coordinating constructions 4. Semantic distinctions in conjunction 5. From comitative to conjunctive… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2004 On directionality in language change with particular reference to grammaticalizationUp and down the Cline – The Nature of Grammaticalization, Fischer, Olga, Muriel Norde and Harry Perridon (eds.), pp. 17–44 | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 2004 Does linguistic explanation presuppose linguistic description?What Counts as Evidence in Linguistics?: The case of innateness, Penke, Martina and Anette Rosenbach (eds.), pp. 554–579 | Article
I argue that the following two assumptions are incorrect: (i) The properties of the innate Universal Grammar can be discovered by comparing language systems, and (ii) functional explanation of language structure presupposes a “correct”, i.e. cognitively realistic, description. Thus, there are two… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 2001 Non-canonical marking of core arguments in European languagesNon-canonical Marking of Subjects and Objects, Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y., R.M.W. Dixon and Masayuki Onishi (eds.), pp. 53 ff. | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 1999 External Possession in a European Areal PerspectiveExternal Possession, Payne, Doris L. and Immanuel Barshi (eds.), pp. 109 ff. | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 1998 Does Grammaticalization Need Reanalysis?Studies in Language 22:2, pp. 315–351 | Article
SUMMARY This paper discusses a pattern of change whereby present indicative forms of verbs develop into futures and subjunctives as a side effect of a grammati-calization change consisting in the creation of a new present indicative form from a looser progressive (or other aspectual) construction.… read more
Haspelmath, Martin 1996 Lazard, Gilbert. L'actanceStudies in Language 20:3, pp. 717–719 | Squib
Haspelmath, Martin 1994 Passive Participles across LanguagesVoice: Form and Function, Fox, Barbara A. and Paul J. Hopper (eds.), pp. 151 ff. | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 1993 More on the typology of inchoative/causative verb alternationsCausatives and Transitivity, Comrie, Bernard and Maria Polinsky (eds.), pp. 87 ff. | Article
Haspelmath, Martin 1990 The Grammaticization of Passive MorphologyStudies in Language 14:1, pp. 25–72 | Article