The diachrony of Oceanic possessive classifiers
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Frank Lichtenberk✝
Abstract
With just a small number of exceptions, Oceanic languages have multiple types of attributive possessive constructions that involve a more or less elaborate system of possessive classifiers. Constructions with possessive classifiers usually serve to express alienable possession. A different construction type, one that does not involve possessive classifiers, is typically used to express inalienable possession. Proto-Oceanic had three possessive classifiers. In some present-day languages the original system of classifiers has been expanded considerably, while in some others it has been reduced or eliminated altogether. In some languages possessive classifiers exist alongside numeral classifiers, but the two systems operate on different principles. The paper investigates the system of possessive constructions in Proto-Oceanic, its emergence and its subsequent developments. It also critically assesses the claim that the Oceanic system with different constructions to express alienable and inalienable possession is the result of contact with Papuan (non-Austronesian) languages.
Abstract
With just a small number of exceptions, Oceanic languages have multiple types of attributive possessive constructions that involve a more or less elaborate system of possessive classifiers. Constructions with possessive classifiers usually serve to express alienable possession. A different construction type, one that does not involve possessive classifiers, is typically used to express inalienable possession. Proto-Oceanic had three possessive classifiers. In some present-day languages the original system of classifiers has been expanded considerably, while in some others it has been reduced or eliminated altogether. In some languages possessive classifiers exist alongside numeral classifiers, but the two systems operate on different principles. The paper investigates the system of possessive constructions in Proto-Oceanic, its emergence and its subsequent developments. It also critically assesses the claim that the Oceanic system with different constructions to express alienable and inalienable possession is the result of contact with Papuan (non-Austronesian) languages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Abbreviations and conventions ix
- Introduction 1
- The semantic reduction of the noun universe and the diachrony of nominal classification 9
- Niger-Congo numeral classifiers in a diachronic perspective 33
- Semantic generalization in Ch’orti’ Mayan numeral classifiers 77
- Diachronic and synchronic aspects of the simplification of grammatical gender in an obsolescent language 107
- Numeral classifier systems in the Araxes-Iran linguistic area 135
- The diachrony of Oceanic possessive classifiers 165
- Development and diffusion of classifier systems in Southwestern Amazonia 201
- Nominal and verbal classification 241
- The diachrony of inflectional classes in four Germanic languages 283
- The history of verb classification in Nyulnyulan languages 315
- Author index 353
- Language index 355
- Subject index 359
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Abbreviations and conventions ix
- Introduction 1
- The semantic reduction of the noun universe and the diachrony of nominal classification 9
- Niger-Congo numeral classifiers in a diachronic perspective 33
- Semantic generalization in Ch’orti’ Mayan numeral classifiers 77
- Diachronic and synchronic aspects of the simplification of grammatical gender in an obsolescent language 107
- Numeral classifier systems in the Araxes-Iran linguistic area 135
- The diachrony of Oceanic possessive classifiers 165
- Development and diffusion of classifier systems in Southwestern Amazonia 201
- Nominal and verbal classification 241
- The diachrony of inflectional classes in four Germanic languages 283
- The history of verb classification in Nyulnyulan languages 315
- Author index 353
- Language index 355
- Subject index 359
