Archaic Syntax in Indo-European: The Spread of Transitivity in Latin and French (Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs, 125) (Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs)

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing. Ch. 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Language Typology: Arbitrariness And System -- 1.2. Indo-european Linguistics And Content-related Typology -- 1.3. Language Types -- 1.4. Proto-indo-european And Active Typology -- 1.5. The Aim Of This Study -- Ch. 2. The Ergative And Active Hypotheses For Proto-indo-european -- 2.1. Preliminary Discussion: Uhlenbeck And Sapir -- 2.2. General Characteristics Of Ergativity -- 2.3. Proto-indo-european And The Ergative Hypothesis -- 2.4. Non-transitive Languages -- 2.5. Conclusion: The Non-nominative Stage Of Proto-indo-european -- Ch. 3. Impersonal Verbs -- 3.1. The Impersonal Verb In Indo-european: General Considerations -- 3.2. Impersonal Verbs Referring To Weather Conditions -- 3.3. Impersonal Verbs In Latin Not Referring To Weather Conditions -- 3.4. The Development Of Impersonal Verbs In The Shift From Latin To Romance -- 3.5. Impersonal Verbs In Non-indo-european Languages -- Ch. 4. Possessive Mihi Est Constructions -- 4.1. Types Of Possession -- 4.2. Possession In Indo-european Languages -- 4.3. The Mihi Est Construction In Latin -- 4.4. Dative Vs. Genitive In Possessive Constructions -- Ch. 5. Nominal Structures: Verbal Mihi Est Constructions -- 5.1. Verbal Mihi Est Constructions In The Early Daughter Languages -- 5.2. Verbal Mihi Est Constructions In Latin -- 5.3. Verbal Mihi Est Constructions: Conclusion -- Ch. 6. Nominal Structures: Absolute Constructions -- 6.1. Absolute Constructions In The Early Daughter Languages -- 6.2. Absolute Constructions: An Inherited Characteristic? -- 6.3. Absolute Constructions In Latin -- 6.4. The Development Of Absolute Constructions In Latin -- 6.5. Absolutes In Old And Middle French -- Ch. 7. Conclusion -- 7.1. Proto-indo-european Grammar -- 7.2. Syntactic Residues In Proto-indo-european -- 7.3. Grammatical Characteristics And The Development Of Syntactic Residues -- 7.4. Parallels With Other Structures. By Brigitte Bauer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks, as well as studies that provide new insights by approaching language from an interdisciplinary perspective. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language. TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Birgit Sievert.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language.

TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS publishes monographs and outstanding dissertations as well as edited volumes, which provide the opportunity to address controversial topics from different empirical and theoretical viewpoints. High quality standards are ensured through anonymous reviewing.

This book analyzes structures in (early) Indo-European languages that traditionally have been difficult to account for: impersonal verbs, ""mihi est"" constructions to express possession, ""mihi est"" constructions in combination with a nominal form of the verb, and absolute constructions. It is argued that they are inherited from Proto-Indo- European and that they are residues of a stage at which the proto-language was non-nominative. Their gradual replacement with modern transitive structures, as demonstrated in detail in the development of Latin and French, shows the increasing importance o