Italian verb reduplication between syntax and the lexicon

This paper is a case-study of the development of several lexemes and abstract lexical constructions that have originated from a syntactic device of Italian, the use of imperative forms for descriptive functions. Two types of lexical constructions are investigated: the VV type (e.g., fuggifuggi 'stampede', lit. 'run_away. run_away'), and the VeV type (e.g., mordi e fuggi 'extremely quick', lit. 'bite and run away'). The first construction yields action nouns that denote actions performed by multiple agents; the second type yields nouns or adjectives used in a variety of semantic frames. Both types developed by generalizing a construction on the base of specific exemplars that had become entrenched as nominalizations of descriptive imperatives. The data are interpreted as evidence in favor of a usage-based means of establishing lexical constructions. The frequency distribution of the items in the different classes and the semantic relations between the verbs appearing in the most entrenched exemplar in each class and those appearing in the analogues formed on its base are parallel to the frequency distribution and the semantic relations found among the members of certain syntactic constructions (cf. Bybee 2006, Bybee & Eddington 2006). These findings support a non-modular view of the relationship between syntax and the lexicon: similar forces shape the coming into being of both syntactic and lexical constructions.