BULGARIAN

Download as

Cite as

Himmelreich, Anke, Melissa Jeckel, Katharina Hartmann, Johannes Mursell (2021): Agreement with Coordinated Subjects in the World's Languages [Data set]. Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main (Link: https://www.multivaluation.de/database.php)

Overview

Data collection

The data are from a judgment elicitation with a native speaker from ... . The speaker was asked to rate sentences on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the best possible score. In the examples, we translate the numeric judgments as follows: 1 = *, 2 = ??, 3 = ?, 4/5 = fully grammatical. (Data by: Nelly Kerezova, Dimitar Kerezov)

Patterns for number

Coordination with ``and''

SV order

Pattern: The number on the verb is plural in all cases.

Examples:

Comment: Alternatively, Bulgarian has a comitative structure of the form C1 V and C2 in which case the verb obligatorily agrees with C1.

VS order

Pattern: In all combinations, number is resolved to plural. Under this word order, the sentence can only be understood as a question.

Examples:

Coordination with ``or''

SV order

Pattern: With two singular conjuncts, the verb is singular. If the second conjunct is plural, the verb is plural. The order pl-or-sg is ineffable:

Examples:

Comment: It's prefered that the verb appears in between both conjuncts (C1 V or C2). Then, the verb matches the number of the preverbal conjunct (the one that is closer to the verb).

Comment: In the following combinations, the comitative structure C1 V or C2 is the only possible option.

VS order

Pattern: A disjunction C1 or C2 under VS order is only possible if the sentence is understood as a question. Then, there is closest conjunct agreement.

Examples:

Patterns for person

Coordination with ``and''

SV order (singular)

Pattern: The verb can appear in between both conjuncts (C1 V and C2) or after both conjuncts (C1 and C2 V). When both conjuncts are preverbal, person follows the hierarchy 1 > 2 > 3. If the second conjunct is postverbal, there is agreement with the preverbal conjunct (the one that is closer to the verb).

Examples:

SV order (plural)

Pattern: The verb can appear in between both conjuncts (C1 V and C2) or after both conjuncts (C1 and C2 V). When both conjuncts are preverbal, person follows the hierarchy 1 > 2 > 3. If the second conjunct is postverbal, there is agreement with the preverbal conjunct (the one that is closer to the verb).

Examples:

VS order

Pattern: Under VS order, only resolved agreement (following the hierarchy 1 > 2 > 3) is possible. The word order is only possible if the sentence is understood as a question.

Examples:

Coordination with ``or''

SV order (singular)

Pattern: Overall, this word order is marked. The comitative structre C1 V or C2 is preferred by speakers. The pattern shows resolved agreement following the hierarchy 1 > 2 > 3.

Examples:

Comment: The verb can also appear in between both conjuncts (C1 V or C2). Then, the verb agrees with the preverbal conjunct (the one that is closer to the verb).

Examples:

SV order (plural)

Pattern: Overall, this word order is marked. The comitative structre C1 V or C2 is preferred by speakers. The pattern shows in some cases resolved agreement following the hierarchy 1 > 2 > 3, but in other cases closest conjunct agreement.

Examples:

VS order

Pattern: As before, this word order is only possible if the sentence is understood as a question. Then, you get closest conjunct agreement.

Examples: