Endangered Caucasian languages in Georgia: Linguistic parameters of language endangerment
-
Jost Gippert
Abstract
The paper discusses several linguistic peculiarities of three endangered Caucasian languages of Georgia that are currently being documented within the DoBeS “ECLinG” project, viz. Svan, Tsova-Tush (Batsbi), and Udi. The main focus lies on questions of the phonology (vowel systems, pharyngeal and laryngeal subsystems) and the morphosyntax (verbal agreement, ergativity) of these languages. The second part of the paper is devoted to the question whether the audiovisual material collected in the course of the project admits of establishing linguistic parameters of language endangerment with respect to the languages in question.
Abstract
The paper discusses several linguistic peculiarities of three endangered Caucasian languages of Georgia that are currently being documented within the DoBeS “ECLinG” project, viz. Svan, Tsova-Tush (Batsbi), and Udi. The main focus lies on questions of the phonology (vowel systems, pharyngeal and laryngeal subsystems) and the morphosyntax (verbal agreement, ergativity) of these languages. The second part of the paper is devoted to the question whether the audiovisual material collected in the course of the project admits of establishing linguistic parameters of language endangerment with respect to the languages in question.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- A world of many voices: Editors' introduction 1
- Sri Lanka Malay revisited: Genesis and classification 13
- Working Together: The interface between researchers and the native people - The Trumai case 43
- Tense, Aspect and Mood in Awetí verb-paradigms: Analytic and synthetic forms. 67
- Tonogenesis in Southeastern Monguor. 111
- Language, ritual and historical reconstruction: Towards a linguistic, ethnographical and archaeological account of Upper Xingu Society 129
- Endangered Caucasian languages in Georgia: Linguistic parameters of language endangerment 159
- Contact, attrition and shift in two Chaco languages: The cases of Tapiete and Vilela 195
- Tofa language change and terminal generation speakers 243
- Hocank's challenge to morphological theory 271
- A Preliminary study of same-turn self-repair initiation in Wichita conversation 317
- Multimedia analysis in documentation projects: Kinship, interrogatives and reciprocals in ǂ Akhoe Hai ǁ om 355
- Index 371
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- A world of many voices: Editors' introduction 1
- Sri Lanka Malay revisited: Genesis and classification 13
- Working Together: The interface between researchers and the native people - The Trumai case 43
- Tense, Aspect and Mood in Awetí verb-paradigms: Analytic and synthetic forms. 67
- Tonogenesis in Southeastern Monguor. 111
- Language, ritual and historical reconstruction: Towards a linguistic, ethnographical and archaeological account of Upper Xingu Society 129
- Endangered Caucasian languages in Georgia: Linguistic parameters of language endangerment 159
- Contact, attrition and shift in two Chaco languages: The cases of Tapiete and Vilela 195
- Tofa language change and terminal generation speakers 243
- Hocank's challenge to morphological theory 271
- A Preliminary study of same-turn self-repair initiation in Wichita conversation 317
- Multimedia analysis in documentation projects: Kinship, interrogatives and reciprocals in ǂ Akhoe Hai ǁ om 355
- Index 371
