GIVE constructions in Haitian

Résumé En

Serial verb constructions involving a second verb GIVE can introduce recipients or beneficiaries, similar to datives in case-marking languages. The present paper examines the syntax and semantics of Haitian Creole ba(y) 'give' introducing a DP complement in a doubly comparative perspective, comparing Haitian ba(y) with its cognate ba in Martinican Creole and with core and non-core datives in French. In Haitian ba(y) 'give' + DP shows hybrid syntactic behaviour patterning simultaneously with prepositions and verbs for a range of syntactic tests. Semantically, the Haitian second verb ba(y) 'give' + DP is limited to animate recipients, unlike its cognate ba in Martinican Creole. Haitian has two semantically different ba(y) 'give' + DP constructions, one specifying the recipient of transfer verbs, the other adding a coercing beneficiary. While recipient-ba(y) resembles core datives insofar as it is linked to the argument structure of the main verb, command-ba(y) does not pattern with non-core datives in French. 1 2 3