Complex constructions in the Transeurasian languages

Abstract

The chapter deals with complex constructions in the Transeurasian languages, including complement, relative, and adverbial clauses, as well as paratactic constructions. The dominant strategy of expressing subordinate clauses across the Transeurasian language families is the “deranking” strategy relying on nonfinite forms such as participles and converbs, which are discussed in considerable detail. Given the vast domain, the chapter focuses on convergent tendencies across the Transeurasian languages, resulting from either typological similarities, areal convergence, or possibly shared “drift,” indicative of a remote genealogical relation, as has been suggested in the literature. Accounting for and distinguishing among these different factors presents a considerable challenge for Transeurasian studies. In this chapter one case of convergent behavior in the domain of internally headed relative clauses is presented in detail, and the conclusion reached that both independent developments and language contact are responsible for the convergencies in this domain.