Backward vs. forward control/raising: A case of Lak aspectual verbs

This paper presents novel data from Lak exemplifying morpho-syntactic properties of aspectual verbs ‘to begin’ and ‘to finish’. The aspectual verbs in Tsez (Polinsky & Potsdam 2002), a language related to Lak, have been analysed as either backward control or raising depending on a number of their syntactic characteristics. When applied to Lak, the same tests produce a different result – the Lak aspectual verbs do not pattern with either control or raising. It is suggested that the aspectual construction is an example of clause union. The evidence in support of this proposal comes from A’-movement, agreement, and transitivity harmony