Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination
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Östen Dahl
Abstract
The paper discusses the relationship between cross-linguistic differences in grammatical resources and linguistic complexity. It is claimed that Sirionó (Tupí-Guaraní) lacks syntactic coordination as in English John and Mary are asleep. Instead, Sirionó employs a number of different strategies – the ‘with’ strategy, the list strategy, and the ‘also’ strategy – to make up for this. It is argued that one or more of these strategies may serve as a diachronic source of syntactic coordination. The development of syntactic coordination in a language exemplifies condensation processes in grammaticalization and increases complexity in the sense that a certain type of complex syntactic structure is introduced, and makes it possible to express in one syntactic unit what previously needed two or more.
Abstract
The paper discusses the relationship between cross-linguistic differences in grammatical resources and linguistic complexity. It is claimed that Sirionó (Tupí-Guaraní) lacks syntactic coordination as in English John and Mary are asleep. Instead, Sirionó employs a number of different strategies – the ‘with’ strategy, the list strategy, and the ‘also’ strategy – to make up for this. It is argued that one or more of these strategies may serve as a diachronic source of syntactic coordination. The development of syntactic coordination in a language exemplifies condensation processes in grammaticalization and increases complexity in the sense that a certain type of complex syntactic structure is introduced, and makes it possible to express in one syntactic unit what previously needed two or more.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
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I. Typology and theory
- Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
- Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
- Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
- Assessing linguistic complexity 89
- How complex are isolating languages? 109
- Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
- Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
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II. Contact and change
- Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
- Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
- Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
- Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
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III. Creoles and pidgins
- The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
- Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
- Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
- Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
- Index of languages 341
- Index of authors 345
- Index of subjects 349
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction: The problem of language complexity vii
-
I. Typology and theory
- Complexity in linguistic theory, language learning and language change 3
- Grammatical complexity in cross-linguistic perspective 23
- Complexity trade-offs between the subsystems of language 43
- Complexity trade-offs in core argument marking 67
- Assessing linguistic complexity 89
- How complex are isolating languages? 109
- Complexity in isolating languages: Lexical elaboration versus grammatical economy 133
- Grammatical resources and linguistic complexity: Sirionó as a language without NP coordination 153
-
II. Contact and change
- Why does a language undress? Strange cases in Indonesia 167
- Morphological complexity as a parameter of linguistic typology: Hungarian as a contact language 191
- Language complexity and interlinguistic difficulty 217
- Complexity in nominal plural allomorphy: A contrastive survey of ten Germanic languages 243
-
III. Creoles and pidgins
- The simplicity of creoles in a cross-linguistic perspective 265
- Complexity in numeral systems with an investigation into pidgins and creoles 287
- Explaining Kabuverdianu nominal plural formation 305
- Complexity and simplicity in minimal lexica: The lexicon of Chinook Jargon 321
- Index of languages 341
- Index of authors 345
- Index of subjects 349
