DGfS Workshop: Pragmatic functions of applicative alternations

Working group organized by András Barany (University of Edinburgh), Jens Hopperdietzel (Universität zu Köln) & Jozina Vander Klok (Simon Fraser University Vancouver).

Overview

The interaction between the (morpho)syntactic realization of event participants and their discourse status is a central topic in linguistic research. Currently, we have a good understanding of how alternations in the expression of core arguments influence their pragmatic status, e.g. backgrounding of oblique/prepositional coding in passive. For applicatives, which prototypically promote oblique event participants (e.g. instruments) to core argument functions, the opposite effect of discourse foregrounding has been described (Peterson 2007). However, recent cross-linguistic studies reveal that applicativization does not necessarily coincide with argument promotion, i.e. oblique/prepositional coding can be maintained (Marten & Mous 2017), questioning the pragmatic function of applicative alternations.

This workshop zooms in on the pragmatic effects of such alternation, taking typological and formal perspectives into account. Selected contributions may relate to the following specific questions: (i) What is the pragmatic function of alternations within applicative constructions (e.g. topic/focus, contrast, etc.) within and across languages?  (ii) How does the syntactic status of oblique/prepositional participants interact with other syntacto-pragmatic processes (e.g. topicalization, question-formation; cf. Holmberg 2019)? (iii) How productive are such alternations within and across languages (e.g., do they apply across the board or are there semantic restrictions)? Taking an inclusive view, closely related phenomena in languages with uncoded ditransitive alternations are also welcome, such as differential (indirect) object marking in Alemannic German, indirect object clitic doubling in Romance or (case/agreement) alternations.

References
Holmberg, A., M. Sheehan & J. van der Wal. 2019. Movement from the double object construction is not fully symmetrical. Linguistic Inquiry 50(4). 677–722. https://doi.org/10.1162/ling_a_00322

Peterson, D. 2007. Applicative constructions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0332586508001881

Marten, L. & M. Mous. 2017. Valency and expectation in Bantu applicatives. Linguistics Vanguard 3(1), 20160078. https://doi.org/10.1515/lingvan-2016-0078

Call for papers

Workshop Format:

30-minute talks (20 min. presentation + 10 min. discussion). The language of the workshop is English. Presenters must register for the conference. In accordance with DGfS regulations, each presenter is allowed to present in one workshop at this conference. They may, however, be listed as co-authors on talks in other workshops.

Submission:

Please submit your abstract as a pdf-file to applicatives.network(at)gmail(dot)com.

Abstracts should not exceed one page, including references (DIN A4, 2.5 cm margins, 12 pt font). Be sure to include the names and affiliations of all authors either at the top of the abstract or in the body of your submission email.

Deadline for abstract submission: August 20, 2026
Notification of acceptance: no later than September 10, 2026

Further information:

Conference website: https://www.gw.uni-jena.de/101200/dgfs-2027