Applicatives in dialectal brazilian portuguese

Abstract

This dissertation aims to describe and analyze two constructions that occur in DialectalBrazilian Portuguese (DBP): double object constructions and the ethical dative. Double objectconstructions (DOC) consist in the form [V NP NP], generally with verbs that denote (transferof) possession or movement. The ethical dative consists in a non-argument 1st or 2nd persondative clitic that is interpreted as in an indirect relation with the event.The work begins with a review of literature on DOCs in BP, namely Scher (1996), Salles (1997),Torres Morais & Salles (2010), Moretti (2010) and Armelin (2011). No consensus is found inthis bulk of research even regarding the definition of DOC or dative shift.After presenting the theoretical frameworks assumed in the present thesis namely theMinimalist Program (MP), the interface between syntax and lexical semantics, and DistributedMorphology (DM) we present a review of literature on the category Applicative, its definitionand properties, namely Bresnan & Mchombo (1990), Pylkkanen (2002, 2008), McGinnis (2001,2004, 2008), Jeong (2006) and Wood (2014, 2015).Going further, we suggest that the constructions found in DBP can be accounted for as lowapplicative constructions, as proposed by Pylkkanen (op. cit.). Additionally, we relate thealternation between [V IO DO] and [V DO IO] to discursive factors, based on research oncartography/left periphery and informational structure.We then presented an account of clitic datives, focusing on the ethical dative. Based onPylkkanen's applicative tests and informational/discursive properties, we suggest that ethicaldatives can be analyzed as high applicative constructions, as proposed by Pylkkanen (op. cit.).