The Semantics and Syntax of Old English End Verbs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28914/Atlantis-2020-42.1.09Abstract
This article deals with the syntax and semantics of Old English End verbs on the basis of the framework of verb classes and alternations and the theory of Role and Reference Grammar. The analysis focuses on class membership and includes meaning components and argument realisation—linking in simplex and complex constructions and alternations. The inventory of verbs under analysis comprises a¯blinnan, ætstandan, blinnan, for(e)sacan, geblinnan, linnan, ofersittan, oflinnan, oðstillan and (ge)trucian. The main conclusion is that the morphologically related verbs a¯blinnan and blinnan are the strongest candidates for End verbs, given the syntactic constructions and morphosyntactic alternations in which they are found.
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