Chapter 2. The loss of affixation in Cham
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Marc Brunelle
Abstract
Chamic languages have been spoken in Central Vietnam since about 600 AD. While Classical Cham (9th–15th centuries), had already lost a significant proportion of its Austronesian affixation, it also borrowed new affixes from Mon-Khmer. Modern Cham (16th–19th centuries) underwent another wave of reduction that led to a largely monosyllabic and affixless Colloquial Eastern Cham (20th–21st centuries).
In this paper I first look at representative Classical Cham inscriptions, establishing the extent to which they exhibit a reduction of affixation, and discussing possible contact scenarios that may have led to this reduction. I then assess the prevalence of affixation in Modern Cham manuscripts and in Colloquial Eastern Cham, and argue that the role Vietnamese played in Cham monosyllabisation must have been more indirect than previously assumed.
Abstract
Chamic languages have been spoken in Central Vietnam since about 600 AD. While Classical Cham (9th–15th centuries), had already lost a significant proportion of its Austronesian affixation, it also borrowed new affixes from Mon-Khmer. Modern Cham (16th–19th centuries) underwent another wave of reduction that led to a largely monosyllabic and affixless Colloquial Eastern Cham (20th–21st centuries).
In this paper I first look at representative Classical Cham inscriptions, establishing the extent to which they exhibit a reduction of affixation, and discussing possible contact scenarios that may have led to this reduction. I then assess the prevalence of affixation in Modern Cham manuscripts and in Colloquial Eastern Cham, and argue that the role Vietnamese played in Cham monosyllabisation must have been more indirect than previously assumed.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. What does it mean to be an isolating language? 9
- Chapter 2. The loss of affixation in Cham 97
- Chapter 3. Dual heritage 119
- Chapter 4. Voice and bare verbs in Colloquial Minangkabau 213
- Chapter 5. Javanese undressed 253
- Chapter 6. Are the Central Flores languages really typologically unusual? 287
- Chapter 7. From Lamaholot to Alorese 339
- Chapter 8. Double agent, double cross? 369
- Chapter 9. The origins of isolating word structure in eastern Timor 391
- Chapter 10. Becoming Austronesian 447
- Chapter 11. Concluding reflections 483
- Index 507
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. What does it mean to be an isolating language? 9
- Chapter 2. The loss of affixation in Cham 97
- Chapter 3. Dual heritage 119
- Chapter 4. Voice and bare verbs in Colloquial Minangkabau 213
- Chapter 5. Javanese undressed 253
- Chapter 6. Are the Central Flores languages really typologically unusual? 287
- Chapter 7. From Lamaholot to Alorese 339
- Chapter 8. Double agent, double cross? 369
- Chapter 9. The origins of isolating word structure in eastern Timor 391
- Chapter 10. Becoming Austronesian 447
- Chapter 11. Concluding reflections 483
- Index 507
