Classroom:LING2208 - Causatives in Norwegian
Norwegian can express causal relations both with causative verbs and with complex causative constructions. The causatives can be grouped based on their syntactic and semantic properties. In the Typecraft text ‘Collection of Norwegian Causatives’ I have grouped the causatives in two main groups: Simplex Causatives and Complex Causatives. Simplex causatives are causative verbs. These verbs all show a causative valence alternation, between a non-causative version and a causative version. When the verb is used in its causative version, it assigns one more thematic role (the causer) than when it is used in its non-causative version. I illustrate:
Non-causative version:
Kaffen koker.
“The coffee is boiling.”
| Kaffen | |
| kaff | en |
| coffee | DEF |
| NMASC | |
| koker | |
| kok | er |
| boil | PRES |
| V | |
| . |
| PUN |
Causative version:
Jeg koker kaffen.
“I boil the coffee.”
| jeg |
| jeg |
| I1SGNOM |
| PN |
| koker | |
| kok | er |
| boil | PRES |
| V | |
| kaffen | |
| kaff | en |
| coffee | DEF |
| NMASC | |
| . |
| PUN |