Talk:Multi-verb constructions in Edo

In this article, Ota Ogie explained in detail multi-verb constructions in Edo with the information of argument sharing and thematic relations, which is intuitive. However, the examples he provided in TC database are all from Bini language rather than Edo. The template of constructions is confused, because the labels and the short lines between labels are unclear. Does that mean there are spaces between every morpheme? Or the tense, aspect, mood, argument sharing and verb nature are showed on one verb?

It is good that he gave examples about the three kinds of multi-verb constructions in Edo, which makes the reading easier. But the data is not enough to cover all kinds of multi-verb constructions he mentioned in his article, for example, the V + mood constructions.

By the way, there is something I don't understand.

1. Can the pattern V (P) +V (P) also be called consequential SVC or covert co-ordinate constructions?

2. Can you explain in more detail your claim that the classification of multi-verb constructions in Edo "is dependent on the distribution of the past tense suffix-rV, an infinitival marker yá, a floating anaphor tòbórè 'by him/her/itself ', VP adverbs and argument sharing patterns"? by the way, I cannot find the examples with suffix -rV in TC database. The verb with the infinitival marker yá occurs in the example below:

Òzó ̣yè èvbàré yá kòkò Àzàrí mòsè

“Ozo used food to raise Azari to be beautiful”

Òzó

òzó

OzoSBJAGT

Np

̣yè

̣yè

usePRESL

V

èvbàré

èvbàré

foodINSTR

CN

yá

yá

INF

kòkò

kòkò

raisePRES

Vtr

Àzàrí

àzàrí

Azari.AFFDO

Np

mòsè

mòsè

be.beautifulPRESL

Vitr

3. What's the difference between Consequential SVC and consecutive constructions?

Then, as for the different types of argument sharing, he didn’t examine his conclusion with concrete examples. And he didn't point out which exact type of multi-verb constructions the sentences with argument sharing belong to. According to Ameka's (2005) definition about overlapping constructions, "there is no overt linker between the components of overlapping constructions", and "the subject of the second clause is co-referential with the object of the first clause". I suspect the multi-verb constructions constructions with argument sharing may concern the overlapping constructions.

Finally, the title of this article is about the multi-verb constructions in Edo, but the article doesn't focus on this topic and much more about other Benue-Congo languages is discussed.

--Miaomiao Zhang 12:37, 20 May 2011 (UTC)