Chapter 5. Meaning integration in pseudocoordination

Abstract

Pseudocoordination in Scandinavian languages looks like VP coordination but has a number of characteristics which have led some researchers to regard it as not representing coordination. Research on pseudocoordination has often focused on grammaticalization of the first verb. But most researchers have concluded that very few such verbs actually exhibit any notable degree of grammaticalization. This indicates that grammaticalization is secondary, and it and calls for an improved understanding of non-grammaticalized pseudocoordination – in itself and as a precursor to grammaticalization. This article argues that pseudocoordination represents VP coordination with additional semantic integration: facilitation and backgrounding.