The Dynamics of Structure building in Rangi: At the syntax-semantics interface

The Tanzanian Bantu language Rangi uses a combination of simple and complex verb forms to encode a range of tense-aspect distinctions. Whilst simple verb forms comprise of a single inflected verb, complex forms involve an auxiliary and a lexical main verb. This paper presents an account of auxiliary constructions in Rangi from the perspective of Dynamic Syntax. Dynamic Syntax (Kempson, Meyer-Viol & Gabbay 2001, Cann, Kempson & Marten 2005) is a parsing-oriented framework which aims to represent the way in which hearers parse natural language in context. The account draws on the concepts of underspecification and update which it is argued are integral to the interpretation of complex auxiliary constructions in Rangi and in Bantu languages more broadly.