IULC Publications

Volitionality and Subject in Bengali: Semantic Parameters in Grammatical Processes

By M. H. Klaiman

Klaiman demonstrates that the semantic distinction Volitional / Nonvolitional interacts with the following grammatical processes in Bengali: dative subject formation, passivization, and conjunctive participle formation. For example, passive is applicable only to sentences that express volitional activity. Klaiman argues that this semantic parameter must interact directly with the relevant grammatical processes, and that current models of grammatical description are not equipped to handle the variety and degree of semantic interaction which is characteristic of Modern Bengali.

140 pages
$5.00

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