On periphrastic causative constructions in Lithuanian and Latvian

Abstract

This paper investigates the periphrastic causative constructions of Lithuanian and Latvian on the basis of corpus data. It aims at compiling a preliminary list of basic and marginal verbs used in these constructions and describes the argument marking and the clause types used to express the caused events. On the basis of corpus data, the free forms employed in these constructions are ranked according to the frequency of their causative vs. non-causative use. It is shown that the main factitive construction is based on (pri-)versti in Lithuanian and likt in Latvian, while the most frequent model for the permissive construction is based on leisti in Lithuanian and ļaut in Latvian. The causees of the factitive constructions are marked by the accusative (with the most notable exception of Latvian likt), while the permissive constructions strongly prefer the dative. The caused events are expressed by infinitival or that-clauses and some reflexive causatives select participial complements.

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