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Argument Realisation in Complex Predicates and Complex Events: Verb-verb constructions at the syntax-semantic interface
Edited by Brian Nolan and Elke Diedrichsen
[Studies in Language Companion Series 180] 2017
► pp. 306–347

Chapter 11
Multi-verb constructions in Cheyenne

| Departamento de Filología Inglesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

As multi-verb constructions are commonly believed to be a widespread feature of Native American languages, the aim of this paper is to offer an in-depth study of this particular phenomenon in Cheyenne (Plains Algonquian: USA) in accordance with the framework provided by Aikhenvald and Dixon (2006) and Aikhenvald and Muysken (2011), since their works cover the major parameters required for a cross-linguistic analysis of the different types of multi-verb constructions. This paper will show that, as Cheyenne does not allow for converbs that are generally considered to be examples of biclausal constructions, complex predicates should be interpreted as part of a monoclausal construction. Additionally, verb compounding is mainly asymmetrical in composition, since there are restrictions as to which verbs are included in every construction type. Indeed, the aim here is to provide a detailed description of verb combinations in Cheyenne while paying attention to their syntactic and semantic properties, thus allowing us both to observe their similarities and differences and analyse their place within the typology of multi-verb constructions.

Keywords: Cheyenne, multi-verb constructions, primary verb construction, secondary verb construction, compound verb construction, monoclausality, wordhood, composition, argument structure
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The Cheyenne Language
  • 3.Multi-verb constructions in the context of Cheyenne
    • 3.1Definition of the concept of multi-verb constructions
    • 3.2Cheyenne verb structure
  • 4.Typology of multi-verb constructions in Cheyenne
    • 4.1Primary verb construction
      • 4.1.1Posture construction
      • 4.1.2Construction expressing orientation plus (manner of) motion
      • 4.1.3Construction expressing simultaneous actions
      • 4.1.4Directional construction
      • 4.1.5Instrumental suffix construction
      • 4.1.6Instrumental infix and suffix construction
      • 4.1.7Aspectual construction
      • 4.1.8Modal construction
      • 4.1.9Comitative construction
      • 4.1.10Cause-effect construction
      • 4.1.11Purposive construction
      • 4.1.12Construction expressing sequence of actions or concomitant actions
    • 4.2Secondary verb construction
      • 4.2.1Causative construction
      • 4.2.2Benefactive construction
      • 4.2.3Desiderative construction
      • 4.2.4Process construction
    • 4.3Compound verb construction
      • 4.3.1Construction expressing orientation plus purpose
      • 4.3.2Construction expressing sequence of actions or concomitant actions
      • 4.3.3Possessive construction
      • 4.3.4Aspectual construction
      • 4.3.5Modal construction
    • 4.4Mixed constructions
      • 4.4.1Primary + secondary verb construction
      • 4.4.2Compound+secondary verb construction
      • 4.4.3Compound + primary verb construction
  • 5.Summary
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 26 January 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.180.11est
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