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In:Diachronic and Typological Perspectives on Anticausativization
Edited by Guglielmo Inglese, Giulia Mazzola and Eugenio Goria
[Typological Studies in Language 138] 2026
► pp. 47–72

Chapter 3
Verbalizers as sources of anticausative markers?

 | University of Pavia
 | University of Salerno
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter explores denominal and deadjectival verb formation strategies (DVFSs), known as verbalizers, as potential diachronic sources of anticausative strategies (ASs). Specifically, it examines whether the anticausative function can serve as a bridgehead through which DVFSs extend into the domain of voice. We analyze synchronic relationships between the two strategies across a balanced sample of languages. We find two types of synchronic connections between DVFSs and anticausatives: (1) occasional anticausatives, where the DVFS applies to a limited set of non-nominal/non-adjectival roots to form intransitive change-of-state verbs that describe spontaneous events, and (2) established anticausatives, where the DVFS is systematically used to derive intransitive verbs. We propose that occasional and established anticausatives represent two diachronic stages in the reinterpretation of DVFSs as ASs.
Article outline
  • 1.Setting the stage: The connection between verbalizers and voice
  • 2.State of the art and methodology
  • 3.Data and sample
  • 4.ASs from DVFSs
    • 4.1Occasional anticausatives
    • 4.2Established anticausatives
  • 5.Diachronic scenarios and further diachronic developments
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Author queries
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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