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Historical Linguistics 2015: Selected papers from the 22nd International Conference on Historical Linguistics, Naples, 27-31 July 2015
Edited by Michela Cennamo and Claudia Fabrizio
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 348] 2019
► pp. 423–442

Chapter 20
A diachronic account of converbal constructions in Old Rajasthani

This paper presents the results of a multilayered diachronic analysis of one of the most important subordinating devices in IA, i.e. converbs. This is a corpus-oriented study based on an early variety of New Indo-Aryan, namely Old Rajasthani. We discuss: (a) the morphology of the converb and the possible pathways of its evolution through the centuries; (b) the syntactic properties of converbal chains, with a special focus on main argument marking and the ‘same-subject constraint’; and (c) the semantics of converbal constructions and the adverbial and clause-chaining properties of converbs. Our research has interesting implications for the aspectual status of the converb: aspect seems to be the most important factor determining the main argument marking in converbal chains.
Keywords: early New Indo-Aryan, Old Rajasthani, converb, historical morphosyntax
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Morphology of Old Rajasthani converbs
  • 3.Syntactic dimensions of converbs in Old Rajasthani, with particular emphasis on the “same-subject constraint”
  • 4.Semantics of converbs in Old Rajasthani
    • 4.1Converbs in light verb constructions
    • 4.2Converbs in clause chaining
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
  • Primary sources
Published online: 10 September 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.348.20str
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