Serializing languages as satellite-framed

Abstract

Languages expressing motion events through serial verb constructions are categorized in various ways according to the typology of motion events. This paper challenges the typological classification of serializing languages by proposing that a serializing language like Fon is better analyzed as a satellite-framed language, lexicalizing the core-schema of motion — Path — in a verb satellite, than as verb-framed or equipollently-framed. Semantic and syntactic arguments are presented and lead to a new definition of verbal satellite in functional terms. It is further demonstrated that there is no need for a special treatment of serializing languages like Fon when conceiving the typology of motion events as a bipolar typological continuum, with at one end the verb-framing pattern and at the other end, the satellite-framing pattern.

Motion in serializing languages revisited: The case of Avatime

“…TALMY (2009) argues that in Lahu and in Mandarin the manner verb functions as the main verb and the path verb is dependent. LAMBERT-BRÉTIÈRE (2009) claims that this is also the case in Fon, another Kwa language. TALMY (2009) mentions several properties that could indicate whether one of the two verbs is the main verb.…”

Path: Ways Typology has Walked Through it

“…For complex predicates in Path‐encoding, the reader is referred for instance by Zlatev and Yangklang (2004) on Thai (Tai‐Kadai family), Ameka and Essegbey (2006) on Ewe (Niger‐Congo), or Lambert‐Bretière (2009) in Fon (Niger‐Congo). Example (22) illustrates Thai; the complex predicate appears in bold:…”