Applicativizing Complex Predicates: A Case Study from Murrinh-Patha

In this paper we give an analysis of Murrinh-Patha verbs as morphological complex predicates. We argue that the different parts of the complex predicate provide information for different layers of the argument structure; more precisely, that classifier stems determine the number of arguments a verbal complex takes while lexical stems contribute thematic information. We further show how the argument structure composition interacts with valency-changing processes such as applicativization and reflexivization/reciprocalization and that the argument structure has to be built up from right to left.