Analysis of Korean complex predicates: An argument structure account

This study explores a process of complex predicate formation that applies within the argument structure representations of two (or more) argument-taking lexical items. I adopt current theories of argument structure proposed in Grimshaw (1986, 1990), Rosen (1989), and Ritter & Rosen (1993a,b), and of phrase structure within the Government and Binding (GB) or Principles and Parameters framework explicated in Chomsky (1981, 1982, 1986a, 1986b, elsewhere). This dissertation focuses on the analyses of causative constructions, light verb constructions (LVCs) and serial verb constructions (SVCs) in Korean.;In the analysis of causative constructions, emphasis is put on the case alternations of the causee in the two types of Korean causative constructions, i.e. short form causatives and periphrastic V-key ha- constructions. Previous studies have dealt with V-key ha- constructions only. This study shows that if we adopt the 'Add Argument' account proposed by Ritter & Rosen (1993a,b), the case alternation phenomena in both types of causative constructions can be explained in a uniform way without postulating an optional rule, whether it is Verb Raising as in Kang (1986), Head Movement as in Chang & Cho (1991), or ECM as in J.-S. Lee (1992). In the analysis of Korean LVCs, it is argued that not only the unincorporated predicates but also the incorporated predicates are formed by the same process of 'Argument Transfer' proposed by Grimshaw & Mester (1988). In the analysis of Korean SVCs, it is assumed that SVCs are formed at a-structure by the process of 'Argument Restructuring', where Li's (1990) version of ';The main claims of this study are: (i) Causative constructions, LVCs and SVCs in Korean are merely variants of complex predicates; (ii) the formation of complex predicates takes place at the level of a(rgument)-structure; (iii) Korean causative constructions are formed by the process of 'Add Argument' suggested by Ritter & Rosen (1993a,b); and (iv) the Argument Structure account adopted for the analysis of causative constructions can be expanded to the analyses of LVCs and SVCs.