Sugar Alexander Dylan. Verb-linking and Events in Syntax: The Case of Uyghur -(i)p Constructions

University of Washington, 2019. — 378 p.This dissertation explores the syntactic structures of Uyghur multi-verb constructions formed using the verb-linking -(i)p suffix. In such constructions, only the final verb is inflected for tense, and -(i)p attaches to all non-final verbs in lieu of tense inflection. I demonstrate that not all -(i)p constructions share a uniform structure; instead, they are formed through a variety of structural configurations. The common element to the different analyses I propose is that the -(i)p suffix overtly realizes an Event head outside the verbal domain or an Inner Aspect head within the verbal domain whenever a structural configuration blocks one verb’s access from Tense inflection. An Event Phrase contains a verb, all of its arguments, and manner adverbs while an InnerAspect Phrase contains only a lexical verb root, its internal arguments, and a verbalizing layer. Insertion of -(i)p in the Event or InnerAspect head allows multiple verbs to appear in one clause in Uyghur by satisfying the morphological inflection requirement of verbs that are otherwise unable to inflect. When two lexical verbs are linked by -(i)p, the construction is formed by either adjunction or coordination. In one type of construction, -(i)p heads either an Event or InnnerAspect Phrase that adjoins to the projection of the final, tense-inflected verb. The verb suffixed by -(i)p provides information about the manner in which the action denoted by the tense-inflected verb is performed. In another type of construction, -(i)p heads the first conjunct of a coordination structure consisting of two Event Phrases or even Tense Phrases, which yields a sequential or simultaneous reading of multiple events. A limited number of Uyghur verbs can be semantically bleached when preceded by -(i)p, contributing information about the aspectual characteristics of the event described by the -(i)p-suffixed verb and/or the manner in which the event is performed. Bleached verbs come in two varieties: 1) overt Voice heads selecting an InnerAspect Phrase headed by -(i)p as their complement; or 2) Auxiliary heads selecting an Event Phrase headed by -(i)p as their complement. The former type of bleached verb contributes to readings expressing completion and adds information about how an agent performed the action. The latter type either express iteration of an action or a change of state. In -(i)p constructions in which the final verb is bleached, it is possible to negate the lexical verb, the bleached verb, or both verbs. I demonstrate that despite the negation possibilities, -(i)p constructions in which one verb is bleached are always monoclausal, and negation can be merged at any point in the clause where it can select a verbal complement. The findings in this dissertation provide novel evidence for two event-related syntactic projections, and show that they can play a crucial role in allowing multiple verbs to appear within a clause. The study also demonstrates that there is no uniform syntactic structure for serial verb constructions.