Abstract

“Raising out of CP” constructions, in which an argument of a finite embedded clause occurs in the matrix clause, have been found in several Austronesian languages. This paper shows that, in Amis, modal verbs (for example, can, should) and aspectual adverbial verbs (for example, often, almost) can also introduce “raising out of CP” constructions. It also suggests that adverbial verb constructions led by a modal verb or aspectual adverbial (Mod-Asp AVC) display significant characteristics of prolepsis. A Mod-Asp AVC (i) takes a finite complement clause, (ii) loses idiomatic interpretation if idiomatic chunks are discontinuous, and (iii) is not always cognitively synonymous between “raised” and “non-raised” counterparts. These are the characteristics of prolepsis.

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