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Article published In:
Studies in Language
Vol. 44:3 (2020) ► pp.606–658

Possessive and non-identity relations in Turkic switch-reference

ORCID logo | Leiden University
| SOAS University of London

This paper provides an overview of non-canonical patterns of switch-reference involving the converb in -(V)p in selected Turkic languages. This converb is usually described as a same-subject converb, but we show that it can conform to McKenzie’s (2012) extended definition of “same-subject” as expressing the identity of topic situations, rather than subject referents. In addition to tracking cross-clausal subject identity, -(V)p can be used when the possessor of the subject of one clause corefers with the subject of another clause and when the events expressed by the two clauses are in a close temporal and/or causal relationship. Based on Stirling (1993) and Bárány & Nikolaeva (2019), we argue that the role of possessors in Turkic switch-reference is captured by lexically specified conditions licensing the use of -(V)p when two subjects are in a possessive relation. Finally, we suggest that both types of non-canonical switch-reference can be seen as ensuring discourse continuity.

Keywords: possessive constructions, switch-reference, discourse continuity, Turkic, non-canonical switch-reference
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Converbial structures
  • 3.Same-subject constructions
    • 3.1Old Turkic
    • 3.2Eastern Turkic
    • 3.3Western Turkic
  • 4.Different-subject constructions
    • 4.1Different-subject constructions and clausal linking
    • 4.2Languages with marginal different-subject constructions
    • 4.3Possessive relations between different subjects
  • 5.Licensing conditions of Turkic switch-reference
    • 5.1Licensing conditions
    • 5.2Part-whole relations and action continuity
    • 5.3Alienable possession as participant continuity
  • 6.Summary and other issues
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 19 August 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.19061.bar
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