Feature GB126: Is there an existential verb?

Patrons: Hedvig Skirgård

Description ⇫

Summary

Is there an element expressing existential predication (A book on that topic exists./There is a book on that topic.), that is different from the equative or attributive copula? It is possible that there are various existential verbs making further distinctions, temporary versus permanent existence, or that there is a special negative existential verb. The existential marker can be used for the expression of other functions, such as aspect, as long as it is not identical to the copula of identity or attribution (as is the case with is, That book is part of a series. and That book is great). The existential element need not fulfill all formal criteria to qualify as a verb. The existence of a negative existential alone is not sufficient for a 1. Locational or positional verbs are also not enough for a 1.

Procedure

  1. Find the existential constructions in the language.
  2. Find the equational and attributive constructions.
  3. Code 1 if there is an overt existential element that is different from both the equative and attributive elements, if there are any.
  4. Code 0 if there is no existential verb or if the existential verb is identical to the equative or attributive element.

Examples

Swedish (ISO 639-3: swe, Glottolog: swed1254)

Swedish has a verb that is different from the copula of identity and attribution (är) and also from positional verbs (sitta, stå, ligga, etc.) (Svenska Akademien 2015: 296). The verb is finnas (Hedvig Skirgård, p.c.). Swedish is coded 1 for this feature.

Existential verb: finnas

det finns inga spöke-n
it  exist no   ghost-PL
‘There are no ghosts.’ (Svenska Akademien 2015: 296)

Copula used to mark identity predication: är

Sheena är en punkare
Sheena is a  punk.rocker  
‘Sheena is a punk rocker.’ (Svenska Akademien 2015: 296)

Locational verb marking position

Kopp-en står   på  bord-et  
cup-DEF stands on  table-DEF  
‘The cup is on the table.’ (Svenska Akademien 2015: 296)

Further reading

Anderson, Neil. 1989. Folopa existential verbs. In Karl Franklin (ed.), Studies in componential analysis (Data Papers on Papua New Guinea Languages 36), 83–105. Ukarumpa: Summer Institute of Linguistics.

References

Svenska Akademien. 2015. Svenska Akademiens Ordlista. Stockholm: Svenska akademien.


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Name Glottocode Family Macroarea Contributor Value Source Comment