14. Strategies for encoding reciprocity in Mawng
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Ruth Singer
Abstract
This chapter provides the first detailed description of the form and use of the three strategies for expressing reciprocity in Mawng, a non-Pama Nyungan language of the Iwaidjan language family (Australia). The only productive strategy is the reciprocal complex construction which has transparently developed from a biclausal reciprocal construction. Other strategies for encoding reciprocity include the use of a highly restricted verbal suffix ‑njili and the use of naturally reciprocal predicates in the unmarked “bare reciprocal construction”. Since there is only one productive way to form reciprocals in Mawng, choice of strategy is not determined by the semantics of an event but is structurally constrained by the constructional combinatorics of the predicate most appropriate to the event.
Abstract
This chapter provides the first detailed description of the form and use of the three strategies for expressing reciprocity in Mawng, a non-Pama Nyungan language of the Iwaidjan language family (Australia). The only productive strategy is the reciprocal complex construction which has transparently developed from a biclausal reciprocal construction. Other strategies for encoding reciprocity include the use of a highly restricted verbal suffix ‑njili and the use of naturally reciprocal predicates in the unmarked “bare reciprocal construction”. Since there is only one productive way to form reciprocals in Mawng, choice of strategy is not determined by the semantics of an event but is structurally constrained by the constructional combinatorics of the predicate most appropriate to the event.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. The semantics of reciprocal constructions across languages 29
- 3. Semantics of Khoekhoe reciprocal constructions 61
- 4. Reciprocal constructions in English 75
- 5. Reciprocal constructions in Indo-Pakistani Sign Language 91
- 6. Mundari reciprocals 115
- 7. Description of reciprocal situations in Lao 129
- 8. Reciprocal constructions in Mah Meri 149
- 9. The coding of reciprocal events in Jahai 163
- 10. Reciprocals in Yélî Dnye, the Papuan language of Rossel Island 177
- 11. Reciprocals in Rotokas 195
- 12. Expression of reciprocity in Savosavo 213
- 13. To have and have not 225
- 14. Strategies for encoding reciprocity in Mawng 233
- 15. Reciprocal-marked and marked reciprocal events in Kuuk Thaayorre 251
- 16. Reciprocal constructions in Olutec 265
- 17. Reciprocal constructions in Tsafiki 277
- 18. Reciprocal constructions in Hup 315
- 19. Reciprocals and semantic typology 329
- Addresses 341
- Index 343
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- 1. Introduction 1
- 2. The semantics of reciprocal constructions across languages 29
- 3. Semantics of Khoekhoe reciprocal constructions 61
- 4. Reciprocal constructions in English 75
- 5. Reciprocal constructions in Indo-Pakistani Sign Language 91
- 6. Mundari reciprocals 115
- 7. Description of reciprocal situations in Lao 129
- 8. Reciprocal constructions in Mah Meri 149
- 9. The coding of reciprocal events in Jahai 163
- 10. Reciprocals in Yélî Dnye, the Papuan language of Rossel Island 177
- 11. Reciprocals in Rotokas 195
- 12. Expression of reciprocity in Savosavo 213
- 13. To have and have not 225
- 14. Strategies for encoding reciprocity in Mawng 233
- 15. Reciprocal-marked and marked reciprocal events in Kuuk Thaayorre 251
- 16. Reciprocal constructions in Olutec 265
- 17. Reciprocal constructions in Tsafiki 277
- 18. Reciprocal constructions in Hup 315
- 19. Reciprocals and semantic typology 329
- Addresses 341
- Index 343
