The heterogeneous nature of verbal alternations: What information structure can tell us about it

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss Dative Alternation and Locative Alternation, proposing a cross‑linguistically heterogeneous behavior of verb alternates. I explore information structural factors and study the available basic verb patterns in contexts where no previous shared information is presumed (broad focus), which is taken as diagnostic of the derived or non-derived nature of a given verbal alternation. I examine the different discourse interpretations of the two alternates in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Turkish. I suggest a non-derived nature of the two instances of verbs in Spanish Locative Alternation. On the contrary, Dative Alternation in Spanish exhibits derivational properties from a discourse perspective. In short, I propose two types of alternates (a derivational type and a non-derivational type), for which I find evidence in the notion of scope freezing (Larson 2014, Antonyuk 2020, Cépeda & Cyrino 2020). In Spanish, an inverse scope reading is available in quantifiers in locative alternation, which supports a non-derivational analysis of the two patterns. Locative Alternation shows scope freezing, favoring a derivational analysis. I put forth a Minimalist derivation based on discourse features and the notion of feature inheritance, which accounts for the above-mentioned characteristics.

Keywords

• verbal alternations
• argument structure
• information structure
• broad focus
• scope freezing