The Typology of Subordination in Georgian and Abkhaz

Convergence in language change: morpho‐syntactic patterns in mingrelian (and Laz)

“…and protasis-marker -dà if '. This, of course, touches upon the question of the relevance of parataxis to attempts at explaining the genesis of at least some types of hypotactic constructions in some languages, a possible path of development I have discussed with reference to the Caucasus more than once (see Hewitt 1984;1987). Now, it so happens that, as a result of hypothesising along such lines, I stand accused by Harris and Campbell (1995: 284) of committing what they style thè Marker/Structure Fallacy': Notice that it is by no means necessary to assume that the structure in which a particular innovative grammatical element is found developed out of the structure in which that grammatical element originated.…”

Epistemic complementizers: a cross-linguistic survey

“…In combination with subjunctive mood (20b) rom can also be used to express that the proposition in the complement is 'probably true but presented more guardedly' (Hewitt, 1987: 222). The complementizers titkos and vitom are used for propositions that are 'patently untrue in the view of the speaker' (Hewitt, 1987: 219) -as in example (20c). 13 Finally, the complemetizer tu can be employed to express 'the absurdity of the relevant thought' (Hewitt, 1987: 224), as in example (20d) Georgian (Hewitt, 1987: 218, 219, 222, 225 One language with a complex epistemic contrast has, instead of a neutral value, a complementizer expressing certainty, or explicit commitment of the speaker to the factuality of the propositional content (cf.…”

The South Caucasian languages

“…In addition, minor forms occur such as lengthening of the last syllable in some dialects (LomtatiZe, 1946) (185), the use of an interrogative particle (186)), and even case and postpositional marking in Laz (187) (interpreted by Ž ikia, 1967 as a Turkish calque): 48 A historical study of subordination in Georgian is Ertelišvili (1962); for Old Georgian see A. K'iziria (1969), for Old and Modern Georgian see Hewitt (1987c), for Laz Harris (1988), for Modern Georgian complement clauses Vamling (1989), for Mingrelian complement clauses Vamling and Tchantouria (1991).…”

“…The relativised noun phrase is either Ø (''gap''; see (196) and (201)) or it is retained (197): 49 Tschenkéli (1958: 202-203), Vogt (1975), Hewitt (1987c), Schmidt (1990 and Harris (1992Harris ( , 1995.…”