Vali Rezai; Zhaleh Makaremi
Abstract
Object alternations involve different realizations of arguments, which are represented in three forms, including locative alternation, dative shift, and object-oblique alternation. ...
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Object alternations involve different realizations of arguments, which are represented in three forms, including locative alternation, dative shift, and object-oblique alternation. Object in object-oblique alternation is expressed in two different structures, without fundamental changes in meaning. The second participant, in a transitive predicate, is either stated in a direct object position or in a preposition construction. The present paper investigates object-oblique alternation in Persian Aktionsart, based on Role and Reference Grammar. The objective of this study is twofold; firstly, to determine the im/possibility of object-oblique alternation in different groups of verbs, and secondly to specify various readings of this alternation in the classes of verbs, including state, action, achievement, and accomplishment. The data are extracted from Persian corpus, newspapers, websites, as well as daily conversations. Data analysis denotes that some state verbs, including cognition, emotion, and possession verbs can be represented in object-oblique alternation. The alternate forms in cognition and possession verbs, refer to the kind of the object in question. In action classes of verbs, performance and consumption verbs display partial-total interpretation. The alternative forms of creation verbs in this class, regarding the identity of the second participant, and in the case of being non-resultative, denote the kind of the objects in question. Directed perception verbs, regardless of the parameters of object individuation, are represented in object-oblique alternation. Some achievement verbs may also be used in this alternation. Accomplishment verbs are rarely used in object-oblique alternation, except in cases which, depending on context, partial-total interpretation is intended. Generally speaking, the predicates which undergo object-oblique alternation share some certain characteristics; they are mostly non-state ones, their subjects are mainly agentive, and the objects are low or non-affected. Furthermore, the verbs, which are more prone to object-oblique alternation, are chiefly non-resultative and do not lead to fundamental changes in the object.