Goal-of-motion readings in thai directional serial verbs

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the types of Thai Directional Serial Verb constructions (DSVs) compatible with GOAL-OF-MOTION readings. We find that particular types of verbs are required within the DSV construction in order to allow a goal-of-motion interpretation. We propose that the availability of goal-of-motion readings correlates with the presence of a path argument in the VP and that Thai, unlike English, does not allow PPs to introduce path arguments. The analysis is framed using Rothstein 2004’s sum-operation semantics for secondary predication and Ramchand 2008’s First Phase Syntax. © 2020, Crane Publishing Co.. All rights reserved.