On Emais causative motion parameters

This paper examines parameters characterizing causative motion constructions in Emai, a Benue Congo language of Nigeria's Edoid group. Parameters surfacing in our analysis & noted in the literature include the temporal relations +/-motion & +/-launch as well as the effect relations +/-bounded & +/-distributive. In addition, however, we uncover a restriction grounded to +/-human in one type of causative motion construction marked by the post verbal particle e. It conveys the launch of an affected object with respect to a +human reference point. Comparison of acceptable & unacceptable e constructions reveals the crucial licensing function of accompanying verbs & their complements. Verbs must encode the launch or ballistic projection of an affected object through space &, in turn, the affected object must exhibit a sustained temporal effect, ie, adherence, relative to its human reference point. We conclude that the +human restriction in this construction is inextricably linked to the parameters of +launch & +adherence. 19 References. Adapted from the source document