LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 24:5 May 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

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Bangla Compound Verbs and Their Reverse Constructions: An Analysis in
Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar

Mona Sinha Mahapatra

Abstract

Bangla compound verbs serve as an interesting domain of study especially in terms of its phrasal representation. Reversing these compound verbs in Bangla show differences in terms of structure which necessitate a different analysis. Such Reverse constructions do not show the expected ‘verbal cluster’. Rather, the Reverse constructions take a VP complement. In comparing the Bangla compound verbs to other Indian languages like Hindi, there appears a clear demarcation as Hindi presents both the compound verbs and reverse compound verbs as verbal clusters by not allowing the object (DO) to intervene. This study aims to primarily look at the structural differences between the Bangla compound verbs and their reverse constructions within the framework of Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG).

Keywords: Bangla compound verbs, Reverse constructions, verbal cluster, HPSG

1. Introduction

Complex predicates are one of the distinguishing areal features across South Asian languages. They are multi-headed constructions, consisting of two grammatical elements which may consist of morphemes or words. They have been widely studied and their analyses range from debates on their lexical/phrasal status (Bonami and Samvelian, 2010), argument structure (Butt 1994; Mohanan 2006; Poornima 2012), compositionality (Paul, 2003), cline of grammaticalization of the light verbs (Hopper and Traugott, 1993), etc. Compound verbs consist of polar verbs bearing the predicative weight followed by light verbs which are semantically bleached. Complex predicates are monoclausal and refer to a singular event (Butt, 2003). Semantic weight within the compound verbs is borne by the main verb and remains in its bare form (does not bear inflection). The morphological realization of tense, aspect, mood is borne by the light verb that follows the main verb. The light verbs introduce notions of perfectivity, directionality or modality within the compound verb constructions. Complex predicates in Bangla include compound verbs (V-V) and conjunct verbs (Adj-V, N-V).

Compound verbs in Bangla have the polar verb in the conjunctive participle form [-e/ye] or the infinitive form [-te] followed by the light verb which bears agreement and takes account of case. In Bangla, the compound verbs are deemed to bear ‘unity of structure’ (Dasgupta, 2009).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Mona Sinha Mahapatra
Ph.D. Research Scholar
The English and Foreign Languages University
Hyderabad- 500007
msmpatra@gmail.com
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