Adverbial Verb Constructions in Truku Seediq

Abstract

Formosan languages are known to employ verb-like entities (adverbial verbs) for adverbial expression. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of adverbial verb constructions in Truku Seediq, an Austronesian language of Taiwan, and explores historical and typological implications. I will demonstrate that all Truku adverbial verbs have the ability to occur in two distinct constructions: (i) serial verb constructions in which they behave like stative verbs, and (ii) constructions in which they behave on a par with preverbs. The ob-served bifunctionality of adverbial verbs as an entire class is a typologically unique feature, which I argue represents the advanced stage of adverbial verb grammaticalization in Truku as compared to other Formo-san languages.