Serial verb constructions: A cross-linguistic typology (review)

This welcome volume offers a set of empirical studies of serial verb constructions (SVCs) framed in a consistent general typological-descriptive framework. Previous work on SVCs has focused on studies of single languages, language groups, or restricted geographical areas (e.g. Matisoff 1969, Thepkanjana 1986, Sebba 1987, Steever 1988, Jarkey 1991, Bisang 1991, Veenstra 1996, Crowley 2002), or has been theoretically and methodologically varied (e.g. Joseph & Zwicky 1990, Lefebvre 1991), more narrowly formal (e.g. Schiller 1991, Déchaine 1993, Stewart 2001), or historical in focus (Lord 1993).

In the preface, Aikhenvald and Dixon remark that despite important previous crosslinguistic and typological treatments of SVCs (e.g. Foley & Olson 1985, Durie 1997), 'no one has so far attempted a book-length cross-linguistic typological study of the phenomenon, which would provide a comprehensive analytic framework, based on a wide range of languages of different typological profiles and genetic affiliations' (xi). The aim of the book is to fill this gap, and it succeeds.

The book offers a detailed survey of SVCs, in three forms: (i) a detailed introductory overview, (ii) a set of fourteen descriptive chapters, and (iii) a concluding thumbnail conspectus. The introductory chapter by Aikhenvald is long (nearly seventy pages). It is a descriptive/typological survey of SVCs, covering previous literature and incorporating new material, with special attention to data from the descriptive chapters of the book.

Fourteen invited contributors' chapters provide substantial descriptions of SVCs and their grammatical (and in some cases, sociocultural) contexts. Geographical and genealogical balance among languages is good, considering the need to privilege depth over breadth. The descriptive chapters include three on languages of Southeast Asia (STEPHEN MATTHEWS on Cantonese, A. V. N. DILLER on Thai, DAVID B. SOLNIT on Eastern Kayah Li), four on languages of the Pacific, including New Guinea (ANDREW INGRAM on Dumo, ALEXANDRE FRANÇOIS on Mwotlap, JOHN HAJEK on Tetun Dili, FRANTISEK LICHTENBERK on Toqabaqita), four on languages of Africa (BIRGIT HELLWIG on Goemai, CHRISTA KILIAN-HATZ on Khwe, FELIX K. AMEKA on Ewe, AZEB AMHA and GERRIT J.DIMMENDAAL on Wolaitta), and three on languages of the Americas (ALEXANDRA AIKHENVALD on Tariana, ROBERTO ZAVALA on Olutec, WILLEM J. DE REUSE on Lakota). Data from the Australian language Dyirbal is supplied in R. M. W. DIXON's chapter.

In his 'Conspectus and coda' (Ch. 16), Dixon brilliantly summarizes the findings of the entire book in just seven pages, followed by a reconsideration of a Dyirbal construction that he had previously described as 'verb-plus-adverbal'. He presents arguments that it is in fact an SVC. While Dixon's is the final chapter of the book, it should be read first (or at least the key pages: 338–44).

SVC is defined in the opening lines of the book's introductory chapter:

A serial verb construction (SVC) is a sequence of verbs which act together as a single predicate, without any overt marker of coordination, subordination, or syntactic dependency of any other sort. Serial verb constructions describe what is conceptualized as a single event. They are monoclausal; their intonational properties are the same as those of a monoverbal clause, and they have just one tense, aspect, and polarity value. SVCs may also share core and other arguments. Each component of an SVC must be able to occur on its own.

(1)

This definition is fleshed out at considerable length in the body of the introduction. Dixon presents the criteria in point form (339–44):

1. A. An SVC consists of more than one verb, but the SVC is conceived of as describing a single action.

2. B. There is no mark of linkage or subordination in an SVC.

3. C. Each verb in an SVC may also occur as the sole verb in a clause.

4. D...