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The morphology and compositionality of particle verb constructions in Vincentian Creole

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Paula Prescod
Paula Prescod*
Affiliation:
Institut Picard de Langues, Amiens
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Abstract

This article provides a description of complex patterns in which a verb combines with a morphologically invariable particle to form a single grammatical and phonological unit in Vincentian creole (VinC). English is replete with what grammars refer to as phrasal and prepositional verbs. Speakers of VinC also resort to these patterns which appear to have retained meanings from English. The combinations investigated testify to some measure of morphological change. Additionally, their semantic outcomes are treated as innovations to the extent that they have either not been attested in English or have degrees of compositionality that differ from those of English items. Arguably, such phrasal combinations are not typically considered relevant to word formation, given that they do not form a unitary element from a grammatical perspective. Evidence is provided to show that combinations of verbs and particles in [V+P]v can be analyzed as a product of compounding.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article propose une description de structures complexes en créole vincentien (VicC) où un verbe se combine avec une particule morphologiquement invariable pour constituer une seule unité grammaticale et phonologique. La langue anglaise est riche de ce que les grammairiens appellent verbes phrastiques ou prépositionnels. Les locuteurs du VinC ont également recours à ces constructions qui semblent avoir retenu certains sens de l’anglais. Les constructions examinées témoignent dans une certaine mesure d’un changement morphologique. En plus, leurs résultats sémantiques sont considérés comme des innovations dans la mesure où, soit le sens acquis est non attesté en anglais, soit il possède un degré de compositionalité différent de celui des items anglais. Ne formant pas un seul mot, ces combinaisons phrastiques ne seraient pas le produit d’un processus de formation lexicale. Toutefois, cet article apporte des preuves qui montrent que la construction [V+P]v peut être analysé en tant que résultat d’un processus de composition lexicale.

Keywords

Vincentian creolecompositionalityparticle verbsmorphologycompoundingcréole vincentiencompositionalitéverbes à particulesmorphologieverbes composés
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 56 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 87 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2011 

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