Introduction of Unaccusative Verbs in the Spanish as a Foreign Language Classroom

Authors

  • Ming Yang Universidad de Estudios Internacionales de Shanghái (SISU), China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15359/rl.1-65.5

Keywords:

argument structure, lexicon-syntax interface, unaccusative verbs, verb alternations

Abstract

Verbal transitivity always supposes a great difficulty for Chinese students of Spanish as a foreign language (SFL). Verbs with unstable valency behavior cause confusion. According to traditional grammar, there are transitive, intransitive, or impersonal verbs. The Unaccusative Hypothesis (Perlmutter, 1971) classifies intransitive verbs as unaccusative or unergative. In this article, we propose that word order of the subject and predicate, and the absolute passive participle structure and middle voice in Spanish, can be understood more easily with the introduction of the concept of unaccusative verbs analyzed with the lexical-syntactic interface, thus offering a new perspective for the teaching of SFL to Chinese students.

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Published

2019-02-11

How to Cite

Introduction of Unaccusative Verbs in the Spanish as a Foreign Language Classroom. (2019). LETRAS, 65, 109-128. https://doi.org/10.15359/rl.1-65.5

Issue

No. 65 (2019): Letras. January - June

Section

Studies in Applied Linguistics (Estudios de Lingüística Aplicada)

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How to Cite

Introduction of Unaccusative Verbs in the Spanish as a Foreign Language Classroom. (2019). LETRAS, 65, 109-128. https://doi.org/10.15359/rl.1-65.5