Làm in Vietnamese causative, resultative constructions

Abstract

In Vietnamese, the word “LÀM”, which is originally an action predicate without expressing the mode of action, is grammaticalized to become a predicate specializing in marking the result in the resultative or causative construction. This article examines the manifestations of the resultative marker “LÀM” in terms of syntax and semantics. Briefly, “LÀM” expresses the relationship between an entity or an event and an event that is caused by it without necessarily having direct or intentional impact or not. Essentially, “LÀM” expresses causal processes rather than transitivity.