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Compounds and other nominal modifier constructions in Pama-Nyungan languages

  • Jakob Lesage
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Binominal Lexemes in Cross-Linguistic Perspective
This chapter is in the book Binominal Lexemes in Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Abstract

Binominal compounds and binominal phrases are often assumed to be independent categories. In descriptions of lesser-known languages, their distinctions are sometimes taken for granted and their commonalities glossed over. These distinctions and commonalities are not always straightforward, however. In this chapter, I define and compare four types of nominal modifier constructions in Pama-Nyungan languages: binominal compounds, descriptive phrases, generic-specific constructions, and inalienable possession constructions. I argue against using (non-)compositionality and figurativity as a criterion to distinguish between compounds and phrases. I illustrate the different ways in which languages may distinguish these four constructions. Not all categories are easily differentiated in individual languages, based on the available data from grammars. There is morphosyntactic overlap between these constructions in many languages, and some languages appear to make more distinctions than others. Cross-linguistic similarities between these categories hint at potential constructional links between compounds and other syntactic structures.

Abstract

Binominal compounds and binominal phrases are often assumed to be independent categories. In descriptions of lesser-known languages, their distinctions are sometimes taken for granted and their commonalities glossed over. These distinctions and commonalities are not always straightforward, however. In this chapter, I define and compare four types of nominal modifier constructions in Pama-Nyungan languages: binominal compounds, descriptive phrases, generic-specific constructions, and inalienable possession constructions. I argue against using (non-)compositionality and figurativity as a criterion to distinguish between compounds and phrases. I illustrate the different ways in which languages may distinguish these four constructions. Not all categories are easily differentiated in individual languages, based on the available data from grammars. There is morphosyntactic overlap between these constructions in many languages, and some languages appear to make more distinctions than others. Cross-linguistic similarities between these categories hint at potential constructional links between compounds and other syntactic structures.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Exploring complex lexemes cross-linguistically 1
  4. Part 1: Form (morphosyntactic strategies)
  5. Defining and typologizing binominal lexemes 21
  6. Binominals and construct marking 73
  7. Compounds and other nominal modifier constructions in Pama-Nyungan languages 103
  8. New types of binominal lexeme in Anindilyakwa (Australia) 153
  9. Binominals in Äiwoo: Compounds, possessive constructions, and transitional cases 181
  10. NN.gen and NArel juxtapositions in Polish: Syntactic schemas employed in building phrasal nouns 213
  11. The derivational use of classifiers in Western Amazonia 237
  12. Binominals denoting instruments: A contrastive perspective 277
  13. Part 2: Meaning (semantic relations)
  14. Hatcher-Bourque: Towards a reusable classification of semantic relations 303
  15. Binominal strategies and semantic correlations in Turkic languages 355
  16. A classification of compounds in Karachay-Balkar 381
  17. Binominal lexemes in Moksha and Hill Mari 401
  18. Part 3: Acquisition
  19. Binominals and potential competitors in language development: Evidence from Swedish 429
  20. List of contributors 463
  21. Index of Subjects 465
  22. Index of Languages 471
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110673494-004

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Exploring complex lexemes cross-linguistically 1
  4. Part 1: Form (morphosyntactic strategies)
  5. Defining and typologizing binominal lexemes 21
  6. Binominals and construct marking 73
  7. Compounds and other nominal modifier constructions in Pama-Nyungan languages 103
  8. New types of binominal lexeme in Anindilyakwa (Australia) 153
  9. Binominals in Äiwoo: Compounds, possessive constructions, and transitional cases 181
  10. NN.gen and NArel juxtapositions in Polish: Syntactic schemas employed in building phrasal nouns 213
  11. The derivational use of classifiers in Western Amazonia 237
  12. Binominals denoting instruments: A contrastive perspective 277
  13. Part 2: Meaning (semantic relations)
  14. Hatcher-Bourque: Towards a reusable classification of semantic relations 303
  15. Binominal strategies and semantic correlations in Turkic languages 355
  16. A classification of compounds in Karachay-Balkar 381
  17. Binominal lexemes in Moksha and Hill Mari 401
  18. Part 3: Acquisition
  19. Binominals and potential competitors in language development: Evidence from Swedish 429
  20. List of contributors 463
  21. Index of Subjects 465
  22. Index of Languages 471
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