Doctoral defence: Carl Eric Simmul "Eesti konverbitarindi semantika infostruktuur ja sõnajärg. des-, mata- ja maks tarind"

On 1 September 2025 at 14:15 Carl Eric Simmul will defend his doctoral thesis "Eesti konverbitarindi semantika, infostruktuur ja sõnajärg. des-, mata- ja maks-tarind" ("The Semantics, Information Structure, and Word Order of Estonian -des, -mata, and -maks Converb Constructions") for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Estonian language).

Supervisors:
Associate Professor Külli Habicht and PhD Helen Plado

Opponent:
Professor Jussi Ylikoski, University of Turku (Finland)

Summary

This doctoral thesis belongs to the field of research in Estonian morphosyntax, describing converb constructions in a usage-based framework using corpus analysis methods. The thesis focuses on the semantics and information structure of des-, mata-, and maks-converb constructions. Semantically, a converb construction expresses an event that is a circumstance of another event: TIME, CAUSE, PURPOSE, MANNER, CONCOMITANCE, MEANS, RESULT, CONDITION, CONCESSION, CONTRAST, or SPECIFICATION. Additionally, a converb construction may simultaneously express several circumstances, for example, MANNER and RESULT, or MEANS, CONDITION, and CONCESSION. The semantics of converb constructions is diverse in its manifestations.

From the perspective of information structure, a converb construction helps to express ideas or parts of ideas. The converb construction may express the new piece of information at the core of the idea, functioning as the focus; a secondary new piece of information, functioning as the background part of the comment; a secondary piece of information that stands out in the idea, functioning as the prominent element; a piece of information that connects the rest of the idea to the context, functioning as the frame; and an idea of its own, functioning as an information unit.

The semantics and information structure of converb constructions are interconnected. Constructions expressing TIME often function as frames, while constructions expressing MANNER typically serve as focus or background of the comment. Constructions that do not express TIME or MANNER usually function as information units. Constructions that express CONCESSION relatively often function as prominent elements. Thus, converb usage reveals how different circumstances tend to manifest either as distinct components of an idea or as an independent idea.

A number of lexically independent expressions originate from converb constructions. Their difference from regular converb constructions manifests in the reduction of the eventiveness of the converb event and in various types of change. In relation to the marked event, an independent converb construction may indicate a non-eventive circumstance, a grammatical relationship with a particular circumstance, or a pragmatic status linked to the speaker and/or other contextual factors.

This dissertation offers a novel perspective on the relationship between grammar, semantics, and information structure in converb-based constructions. These insights can be applied to the analysis of other linguistic expressions, particularly other non-finite constructions and subordinate clauses.

The defence can be followed at Zoom https://ut-ee.zoom.us/j/99085687922?pwd=Z1IamQCMt6rXR7anq8swpFHbA633Ta.1 (meeting ID: 990 8568 7922, passcode: 526233).