Light verb constructions - families and composition

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Jens Helfer-Fleischhauer
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 440792275

Based on the results of the first project phase, we will explore the meaning of light verbs. In particular, two aspects will be focused on: the semantic contribution of light verbs to light verb constructions and the differentiation of light verbs from (semi-)auxiliaries. A particularly relevant question is whether light verb result from a desemantization process. By comparing selected constructions (e.g., light verb constructions, pseudo-coordination), conclusions can be drawn about possible desemantization paths of the different verb types. The project has a pan-synchronous orientation and combines methods from formal and cognitive semantics with a corpus linguistic approach. The results obtained in the project will fill a central gap in the analysis of (German) light verb constructions as well as periphrastic aspectual constructions and provide a better understanding of the process of desemanticization related to specific verb types.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants