Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns
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Carlo Dalle Ceste
Abstract
The reconstruction of Western Oceanic subject markers points to a recurrent history of grammaticalisation and paradigm (re)formation. With the notable exception of Ross & Lithgow (1989), this topic has received little attention. Yet subject markers are relevant grammatical markers in Oceanic languages, in that they not only index the subject on the VP but may also carry the additional function of expressing TAM distinctions. Both the pronominal and TAM-marking formatives in Western Oceanic subject markers point to a variety of sources (e.g., free pronouns, possessive pronouns, etc.), and different processes of formation that often result in segmentation asymmetries. Despite hindering a sound reconstruction, these factors may tell us more about the dynamics of change reshaping such relevant functors in Western Oceanic languages.
Abstract
The reconstruction of Western Oceanic subject markers points to a recurrent history of grammaticalisation and paradigm (re)formation. With the notable exception of Ross & Lithgow (1989), this topic has received little attention. Yet subject markers are relevant grammatical markers in Oceanic languages, in that they not only index the subject on the VP but may also carry the additional function of expressing TAM distinctions. Both the pronominal and TAM-marking formatives in Western Oceanic subject markers point to a variety of sources (e.g., free pronouns, possessive pronouns, etc.), and different processes of formation that often result in segmentation asymmetries. Despite hindering a sound reconstruction, these factors may tell us more about the dynamics of change reshaping such relevant functors in Western Oceanic languages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Editors’ introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Signs of prehistoric language shifts involving Unangam Tunuu (Aleut) 8
- Chapter 2. Early compound accent in Japanese Tōkyō -type dialects 36
- Chapter 3. Phylogenetic signal in the lexicon 59
- Chapter 4. Solving Galton’s problem 74
- Chapter 5. Re-examining initial geminates 109
- Chapter 6. Recurrent change in pronouns 146
- Chapter 7. The role of geography and migration in the branching and spread of the Japonic language family 172
- Chapter 8. Iconicity principles from an evolutionary perspective 194
- Chapter 9. Modality across semantic spaces 216
- Chapter 10. Something out of nothing 240
- Chapter 11. The diachronic development of postverbal dé 得 in Chinese 260
- Chapter 12. Food, contact phenomena and reconstruction in Oriental Berber 283
- Chapter 13. A cognitive-typological perspective on the origins of causative‑applicative polysemy 330
- Index 367
