The Linguistics of Giving

The papers in this volume explore aspects of "GIVE" and "GIVE-type" verbs across languages. They document a range of constructional possibilities with "GIVE" verbs, as well as addressing issues relating to the morphology, syntax and semantics of "GIVE" constructions. Topics covered include: the object status of the "THING" and "RECIPIENT" in double object and applicative constructions; the syntactic and semantic features needed to construct a "GIVE" clause in Sochiapan Chinantec, including an animacy hierarchy, active versus passive, antipassive, and direct versus inverse voice; the extent of causative use of a two-place predicate "GIVE" in Dutch; and a case study of the acquisition of forms relating to possession by a two-year-old English speaker.