This study by the author investigates Verb-Stranding Verb Phrase Ellipsis (vVPE) in the Nakh-Daghestanian language Muira Dargwa, challenging the prevailing assumption that such ellipsis requires head movement. The research reveals that in Muira Dargwa, ellipsis targets constituents smaller than the verb phrase (vP), specifically parts of complex predicates (CPrs), providing a novel perspective on the typology of ellipsis across languages.

The methodology includes fieldwork conducted from 2022 to 2023, gathering acceptability judgments from native speakers. The author presents data demonstrating that in constructions where elements of CPrs are elided, both the internal argument and a non-verbal element are deleted. This contrasts with previously studied languages, where the verb typically escapes the ellipsis site via head movement. The findings suggest that vVPE in Muira Dargwa operates under different constraints, contributing to a broader understanding of ellipsis phenomena.

The theoretical implications of this research extend the typology of ellipsis constructions, suggesting that the size of the elided constituent is crucial in determining the feasibility of ellipsis. This work not only enriches linguistic theory but also has potential applications in translation studies and language technology, where understanding ellipsis can enhance machine translation and natural language processing systems.

Source: glossa-journal.org