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Chapter 6. Are the Central Flores languages really typologically unusual?

  • Alexander Elias
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Austronesian Undressed
This chapter is in the book Austronesian Undressed

Abstract

The languages of Central Flores (Austronesian) are typologically distinct from their nearby relatives. They have elaborate numeral classifier systems, quinary numeral systems, and lack all bound morphology. McWhorter (2019) proposes that their isolating typology is due to imperfect language acquisition of a Sulawesi language, brought to Flores by settlers from Sulawesi in the relatively recent past. I propose an alternative interpretation, which better accounts for the other typological features found in Central Flores: the Central Flores languages are isolating because they have a strong substrate influence from a now-extinct isolating language which belonged to the Mekong-Mamberamo linguistic area (Gil 2015). This explanation better accounts for the typological profile of Central Flores and is a more plausible contact scenario.

Abstract

The languages of Central Flores (Austronesian) are typologically distinct from their nearby relatives. They have elaborate numeral classifier systems, quinary numeral systems, and lack all bound morphology. McWhorter (2019) proposes that their isolating typology is due to imperfect language acquisition of a Sulawesi language, brought to Flores by settlers from Sulawesi in the relatively recent past. I propose an alternative interpretation, which better accounts for the other typological features found in Central Flores: the Central Flores languages are isolating because they have a strong substrate influence from a now-extinct isolating language which belonged to the Mekong-Mamberamo linguistic area (Gil 2015). This explanation better accounts for the typological profile of Central Flores and is a more plausible contact scenario.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Preface ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 1. What does it mean to be an isolating language? 9
  6. Chapter 2. The loss of affixation in Cham 97
  7. Chapter 3. Dual heritage 119
  8. Chapter 4. Voice and bare verbs in Colloquial Minangkabau 213
  9. Chapter 5. Javanese undressed 253
  10. Chapter 6. Are the Central Flores languages really typologically unusual? 287
  11. Chapter 7. From Lamaholot to Alorese 339
  12. Chapter 8. Double agent, double cross? 369
  13. Chapter 9. The origins of isolating word structure in eastern Timor 391
  14. Chapter 10. Becoming Austronesian 447
  15. Chapter 11. Concluding reflections 483
  16. Index 507
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.129.06eli

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Preface ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 1. What does it mean to be an isolating language? 9
  6. Chapter 2. The loss of affixation in Cham 97
  7. Chapter 3. Dual heritage 119
  8. Chapter 4. Voice and bare verbs in Colloquial Minangkabau 213
  9. Chapter 5. Javanese undressed 253
  10. Chapter 6. Are the Central Flores languages really typologically unusual? 287
  11. Chapter 7. From Lamaholot to Alorese 339
  12. Chapter 8. Double agent, double cross? 369
  13. Chapter 9. The origins of isolating word structure in eastern Timor 391
  14. Chapter 10. Becoming Austronesian 447
  15. Chapter 11. Concluding reflections 483
  16. Index 507
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