ˋˋVP'' adverbs without a VP: The syntax of adverbs in Tongan

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21248/hpsg.2017.4

Abstract

The Polynesian language Tongan appears to lack surface-oriented motivation for a VP constituent. Even so, adverbial elements appear in both a rightwards location and a leftwards location, superficially similar to the S-adverbs and VP-adverbs in well-studied western European languages. This paper explores how the Tongan ''VP-adverbs'' (as well as others) can be analyzed in HPSG without a VP for those adverbs to attach to. Several kinds of analyses, representing different strands of research on the syntax of adjuncts in HPSG, are explored: a Adjuncts-as-Valents analysis, a VAL-sensitive Adjuncts-as-Selectors analysis, and a WEIGHT-sensitive Adjuncts-as-Selectors analysis. All suggest that an analysis of the adverbs without a VP is possible; a WEIGHT-sensitive Adjuncts-as-Selectors seems to have the fewest issues.

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Published

2017-10-15

How to Cite

Ball, Douglas. 2017. ˋˋVP’’ adverbs without a VP: The syntax of adverbs in Tongan. Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar 61–81. (doi:10.21248/hpsg.2017.4) (https://proceedings.hpsg.xyz/article/view/842) (Accessed March 29, 2024.)