ACTA LINGUISTICA LITHUANICA

XLVIII (2003), 137–142

On One Semantic Function of the Genitive

ELENA VALIULYTĖ

Institute of the Lithuanian Language, Vilnius

The article deals with Lithuanian constructions of the type gauti (ką nors) dovanų. The genitive occurring in such constructions should be distinguished from the genitive as an object case (alternating with the accusative). The author argues that it reflects a semantic function different from that of object (patient); this function is here defined as that of ‘motive’.

1. In Lithuanian, verbal sentences with the accusative and genitive vary in lexical expression and semantic structure. The Grammar of Contemporary Lithuanian identifies two variants of this model (N–Vf–Nₐ–N₉) (Ambrazas, ed., 1997: 595–596): (1) with verbs of the meaning “ask for information,” such as klausti(s), prašyti, mokyti, etc. (Keleivis paklausė senį kelio); (2) with verbs prefixed by pri-, meaning to fill something (Vyrai statinę pripylė vandens). In both cases, the genitive denotes content (a content entity), while the accusative denotes the patient.

2. Transitive verbs denoting receiving (gauti, pirkti, etc.) or giving (duoti, skirti, įteikti, atnešti, etc.), in addition to the accusative, take the genitive of certain nouns, which has a distinctive semantic function.

Consider the following sentence: Gavau paveikslą (ACC) dovanų (GEN). The verb gauti necessarily requires the accusative—paveikslą—which functions as the direct object and denotes the patient. The genitive dovanų is also governed by the verb (gavo), but it is not required by the sentence structure—it is a free constituent: if omitted, the sentence remains grammatical; cf. Gavau paveikslą.

On the other hand, the genitive dovanų can also be used alone (without an accusative); cf. Gavau dovanų. In this case, it occupies the accusative position and functions as the direct object; it differs from the accusative in having a partitive meaning.

The same genitive dovanų has a different syntactic and semantic function when used alongside the accusative paveikslą in the sentence cited above: Gavau paveikslą dovanų. Syntactically, it is an indirect object. The meaning of this genitive can be interpreted by the construction “as” + singular accusative (kaip dovaną); cf. Gavau paveikslą dovanų / kaip dovaną (DŽ³ 128). The forms cited can be questioned as follows: on what basis did I receive the picture? This is the function of motive (or, the motive genitive) (for its definition, cf. Sližienė 1986: 53).

3. The motive genitive (dovanų) can occupy various positions in a sentence (in relation to other sentence constituents). We present a simplified model (without the nominative), in which the symbol V

¹ Ernestas Fraenkelis calls similar genitives Genetiv des Bereichs (Sachbereichs) (Fraenkel 1928: 63).

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– verb, ACC – accusative², GEN – genitive. We have several word-order variants.

(1) V – ACC – GEN: I received a painting as a gift (cf.: I received an apartment as a gift KT. To receive flowers as a gift KT.

(2) V – GEN – ACC: I received as a gift a painting (cf.: A good sign: to receive as a gift some plant, a flower KT. The teacher gave a beautiful little book as a gift Dkš. (LKŽ_III, 616). They brought a similar amber brooch as a gift KT. When little Aldutė was very young, she received a little teddy bear as a gift KT).

(3) ACC – GEN – V: Paveikslą dovanų gavau (plg.: Pats ministras „Lietuvos vyres“ knygą dovanų iškilmingai įteikė KT).

(4) GEN – ACC – V: As a gift, I received a painting (cf.: I received beads as a gift Ktk).

(5) ACC – V – GEN: I received a painting as a gift (cf.: I received a loaf of bread as a gift KT. A visitor from Kaunas said he would take the cheese to Moscow as a gift KT. I received a motor scooter as a gift KT. He received a parachute jump from his parents as a birthday gift KT).

(6) GEN – V – ACC: I received a painting as a gift (cf.: And as a gift I brought my latest novel KT. To her, V. Adam-

whogave a guitar ornament as a gift KT. Rasa confessed that every year she buys calendars for her friends as gifts for Christmas KT. He receives beer as a gift KT.

4. The models listed above differ from one another in information structure: the postpositive (with respect to the accusative) genitive usually marks the rheme (models 1, 3, 5), while the prepositive genitive marks the theme (models 2, 4, 6). In addition, the sentences in the latter models correspond to sentences in which there is an appositional relation between the genitive and the accusative.

The sentence I received as a gift a painting (2) can be “read” as follows: if the genitive as a gift is pronounced emphatically and followed by a pause, an appositional relation arises between it and the accusative (in writing, it is marked by punctuation), e.g.: I received a gift – a painting (cf.: I defended myself by receiving from the cook Niurna a gift – her former husband's winter hat KT). A word with a broader and more general lexical meaning (as a gift) is explained, specified by a word of the same function with a narrower meaning (a painting). Both of the forms mentioned (genitive and accusative) perform the same syntactic function—they serve as direct objects.

4.1. We will call the genitive as a gift, which is linked to the accusative by an appositional relation, the appositional genitive (or, equivalently, the appositional genitive of the object).

The appositional genitive of the object as a gift is more often used in sentences with coordinate (multiple) objects, e.g.:

Upon arriving at the hotel, I immediately received a gift – a flashlight and a bottle of drinking water KT.

² The position of the accusative in a sentence may also be occupied by a partitive genitive, as well as by a corresponding coordinated phrase or coordinate sentence constituents (for these, see Ulvydas, ed., 1976: 584–585), e.g.: To receive flowers as a gift KT. To receive a letter or a book as a gift KT.

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From Israelbrought me a gift—a bottle of Italian wine and <...> compact disc KT. Ani-c etas brings gifts: spurs for Vytukas, gaiters for Dvyliokas KT.

In this position, that is, before coordinated complements, the aforementioned genitive (dovanų) is also used without emphasis—in the meaning of motive, e.g.:

I also received creams, perfumes, and flowers as gifts KT. I received headphones and a watch with my image on it as gifts too KT.

4.2. The genitive dovanų, when modified by an attribute, is used only in the function of an explicative complement (and not in the function of motive), e.g.:

The Chinese emperor immediately sent him precious gifts: a congratulatory letter written in gold ink, an emerald rosary of 108 beads, jade vessels, and brocade rolls... KT. Arvydas, who lives on the riverbank, often receives its strange “gifts”: rotten boats, stairs, ladders... KT. The Ru ošia gave pensioners generous Christmas gifts: food packages and one hundred and fifty litas KT.

The pattern GEN – V – Acc (6) has the same correspondence, cf.:

He has received as gifts a vacuum cleaner, a television with a stand, a decorative plant and a white wooden stake KT.

—The father only occasionally received as gifts—an axe made by prisoners or a fishing rod KT.

5. Several other lexemes are used with the same motive function as dovanų: lauktuvės ‘pl. 1. gifts for those awaiting someone: What did you bring back as a gift?’ DŽ³ 357; sker stuvės ‘pl. meat from a freshly slaughtered animal, given to the slaughterer or a neighbor: Take some slaughter-meat to the neighbor’ DŽ³ 701, LKŽₓᵢᵢ 836; pasoga ‘hist. a share given to a daughter in money or livestock’ DŽ³ 515, LKŽₓᵢᵢ 517; kraitis ‘the bride’s property (fabrics, clothes, furniture, etc.)’ DŽ³ 328, LKŽᵥᵢ 404; magaryčios ‘pl. colloq. 2. extra: He repaid the debt with something extra’ DŽ³ 376; pavizis ‘ethnogr. 1. an extra payment for work in the form of food products, supplementary remuneration: For spinning, he paid and also gave a little extra’ DŽ³ 532; priedas ‘1. something given or provided additionally: He received his salary with an allowance’ DŽ³ 598, LKŽₓ 627.

We present the use of the genitives of these lexemes in the meaning of motive in the same order as for dovanų (according to the patterns). A new line (after the dash) gives the use of the genitives (if examples are available) in the explicative function.

lauktuvės:

V – GEN – Acc (2):

[Giedrė] often brought back from trips a small mouth organ as a gift KT. He brought the children a cake as a gift KT.

One American brought back a rye loaf as a gift and an apple grown in his parents’ garden apple KT.

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– I brought some gifts – a bottle of red wine KT. The Baltrušaičiai family from Moscow brought gifts – caviar, which was sampled right there with champagne KT. He gave the writer a gift – a beautiful bonbonniere, tied with a red silk ribbon KT.

That day, the school was brought gifts: writing supplies and food products KT. Grandmother packed me some gifts from Kazakhstan: a handful of small wild apples, two sunflower heads, and several onions KT.

GEN – ACC – V (4):

Father would bring back a string of bagels as presents (ring-shaped rolls) from the market Ktk.

– Well, perhaps they’ll bring back some fish as presents KT.

ACC – V – GEN (5):

They brought her a desert locust as a present KT.

GEN – V – ACC (6):

From Spainhaving received a desert locust as a gift, Lina was surprised KT. As giftsfrom Lithuania, the Griniai family bring at least four šakotis cakes KT.

She had brought cepelinai and chicken aspic as presents KT. As presents, they gladly buy guitar ornaments and souvenirs KT. They used to bring them notebooks as presents, not bagels or sweets KT.

– I spend time in the fresh air, and alsobring back gifts – garlic and parsley for my husband, berries for the children KT.

As we can see, the patterns (2, 4, 6), in which the motive genitive is preposed with respect to the accusative, correspond to sentences in which the genitive and the accusative (or, respectively, the partitive genitive or corresponding coordinated sentence constituents) are linked by an explanatory relation: the genitive is specified by the words that follow it.

slaughter feast:

V – ACC – GEN (1):

I carried two legs and slaughter-feast provisions to the neighbor Ktk.

V – GEN – ACC (2):

I carried off a little blood sausage from the slaughter feast ŽEM. They brought a pair of little bones from the slaughter feast Rs (LKŽ^XII 836).

– When seeing off guests, the hostess would put for each some slaughter-feast food – blood soup (for blood soup), intestines, intestinal fat, liver, kidneys, or a piece of meat from the belly KT.

dowry:

V – ACC – GEN (1):

Baron Wilhelm von Ropp, who married Countess Minsteraitė two centuries ago, received an estate as a dowry in 1787 KT.

V – GEN – ACC (2):

And great-grandfather Jokūbas Svidra, who married a noblewoman from Starodub, received a pair of estates in Ukraine as dowry KT.

And Aldona, daughter of Gediminas, Queen of Poland, wife of Casimir the Great, having requested 20,000 Polish prisoners as her dowry KT. She could have brought valuable silver as dowry from home, silver KT.

Veronika was married off in a third parish, with a thousand litas added to the dowry and a gelding harnessed to a lineika KT.

GEN – V – ACC (6):

[Agamemnon] will return Briseis, give one of his daughters in marriage to him, and give many rich cities as dowry T.

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– For that, he promised Pranas not only Diana’s hand but also a “dowry”: a cow and 9 liters of homemade spirits KT.

dowry:

Verb – Acc – Gen (1):

Having received 300 (three hundred) rubles as a dowry, he gave them to Antanas KT.

Verb – Gen – Acc (2):

He got a hammered chisel as a dowry SrD (LKŽ_ix 517). She received from her parents as a dowry a beautiful Starabūdiškis homestead near the Šešupė KT.

Acc – Gen – Verb (3):

To give mottled bullocks as a dowry (of a dowry) Trak (LKŽ_ix 518).

Gen – Acc – Verb (4):

As a dowry, he gave two horses and a cow with a heifer Jrb (LKŽ_ix 518).

Gen – Verb – Acc (6):

My brother gave me land as a dowry – half of the homestead KT.

parting gift:

Verb – Acc – Gen (1):

He gave a cow and a heifer, and a young ox as a parting gift Pnd (LKŽ_vii 727). After filming ended, Dunia received fifty as a parting gift KT.

Verb – Gen – Acc (2):

They would bring schnapps as a little extra KT.

Acc – Gen – V (3):

He would offer to give you a home, without even asking for a bottle as a little extra KT.

Acc – V – Gen (5):

I bought the bench and the table, and got the chair as a little extra Grs (LKŽ_vii 727).

a little extra:

V – Gen – Acc (2):

The little shepherd, having taken out a piece of bread and bacon from his little extra Lnk (LKŽ_ix 701).

Gen – V – Acc (6):

The committee gave one small lump of sugar as a little extra, which is weighed in gold in the village KT. Perhaps the host will also add some small loaf as a little extra, maybe a little bundle of flax, as he promised KT.

addition:

V – Acc – Gen (1):

The Kaščiai also got a small plot for themselves as an addition, the land was cleared KT. I’ll pay five shillings extra KT.

Gen – V – Acc (6):

Besides, I also got a shirt! KT. But I also gave him a book of reproductions of Čiurlionis KT.

Genitives pasogos, magaryčių, paviržio, priedo (like the genitives dovanų, lauktuv(ių), sker(stuvių), kraičio) may also be used in an explanatory function.

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6. Concluding remarks:

a. The genitives of certain nouns (gifts, presents, slaughter-feast contributions, customary gifts, dowry, bridal portion, food provisions, supplement), when used in sentences with transitive verbs of receiving or giving together with the accusative (or the partitive genitive or corresponding coordinated complements), have a special—motive meaning.

b. The position of the motive genitive in the sentence is free: it may occur after or before the accusative.

c. Sentences with a motive genitive preceding the accusative are semantically related to sentences in which there is an explanatory relation between the genitive and the accusative.

d. The motive genitive corresponds to an explanatory (that is, explained) complement.

e. The explanatory genitive is more often used with several (coordinate) complements, and less often with one.

ABBREVIATIONS

DKš – Daukšiai, Marijampolė district.

DŽ³ – Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian. 3rd revised and expanded edition, ed. St. Keinys et al., Vilnius: Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing House, 1993.

Grs – Griškabūdis, Šakiai district.

Jrb – Jurbarkas.

KT – Corpus of the Centre for Computational Linguistics at Vytautas Magnus University (http:// donelaitis.vdu.lt)

KTk – Kuktiškės, Utena district.

LKŽ – Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language: volumes 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12.

Lnk – Len kimai, Skuodas district.

Rs – Raseiniai.

PnD – Pandėlys, Rokiškis district.

SrD – Seredžius, Jurbarkas district.

Trak – Trakai.

Žem – Žemaitė.

LITERATŪRA

Ambrazas, V., red. 1997: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos gramatika. Trečiasis pataisytas leidimas, Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla.

Fraenkel, E. 1928: Syntax der litauischen Kasus, Kaunas: Valstybės spaustuvė.

Slिजienė, N. 1986: Lietuvių kalbos veiksmažodžių valentingumas ir sintaksinė klasifikacija. Lietuvių kalbotyros klausimai 25, 45–96.

Ul vydas, K., red. 1976: Lietuvių kalbos gramatika 3. Sintaksė, Vilnius: Mokslas.

Elena Valiulytė Kalvarijų g. 142–9 2042 Vilnius, Lietuva

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