11 Number in Nivkh
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Ekaterina Gruzdeva
Abstract
The chapter discusses the expression of number in Nivkh (isolate), which is spoken in the Far East of Russia. Typologically, Nivkh is a (poly)synthetic language with a rather complex (morpho)phonology and predominant suffixation. In Nivkh, number distinctions relate both to the count of participants, which is expressed by numerals and personal pronouns, as well as through nominal and verbal inflection, and to the count of events, which is determined at the clausal level, so that plurality of events is marked either by reduplication of nominal and verbal stems or by verbal suffixation. A maximum number of number features (singular vs. dual vs. plural) is attested in the personal pronouns and the hortative verb forms, whereas in all other forms a two-way number contrast between singular and plural is observed. The system of numerals contains at least thirty-three suffixalized classifiers. As an inflectional category, number is not obligatory either for nouns or for verbs. Those finite verb forms and converbs that can be conjugated display various patterns of verbal agreement. This can best be explained by assuming that the verbal forms are the results of morphosyntactic restructuring at different time levels.
Abstract
The chapter discusses the expression of number in Nivkh (isolate), which is spoken in the Far East of Russia. Typologically, Nivkh is a (poly)synthetic language with a rather complex (morpho)phonology and predominant suffixation. In Nivkh, number distinctions relate both to the count of participants, which is expressed by numerals and personal pronouns, as well as through nominal and verbal inflection, and to the count of events, which is determined at the clausal level, so that plurality of events is marked either by reduplication of nominal and verbal stems or by verbal suffixation. A maximum number of number features (singular vs. dual vs. plural) is attested in the personal pronouns and the hortative verb forms, whereas in all other forms a two-way number contrast between singular and plural is observed. The system of numerals contains at least thirty-three suffixalized classifiers. As an inflectional category, number is not obligatory either for nouns or for verbs. Those finite verb forms and converbs that can be conjugated display various patterns of verbal agreement. This can best be explained by assuming that the verbal forms are the results of morphosyntactic restructuring at different time levels.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of authors ix
- 1 Number in the World’s Languages: Configuring the variation space 1
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I Africa
- 2 Number in Eastern Dan 27
- 3 Number marking in Karko and Nilo-Saharan 63
- 4 Number in Tswana 107
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II Europe and Middle East
- 5 Number in Arabic 131
- 6 Number in Occitan 167
- 7 Number in Slovenian 187
- 8 Number in West Circassian 261
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III Northern Eurasia
- 9 Number in Ket (Yeniseian) 307
- 10 Number in Nganasan 351
- 11 Number in Nivkh 375
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IV Pacific and Australia
- 12 Number in Gooniyandi 427
- 13 Number in Indonesian 457
- 14 Number in Japonic Family 505
- 15 Number in the Languages of the Lower Sepik Family 529
- 16 Number in Marori 577
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V Americas
- 17 Number in the languages of South America 609
- 18 The category of number in Kakataibo (Panoan) 671
- 19 Grammatical simplexity: Number in Kiowa 693
- 20 Number in Mohawk (Iroquoian) 729
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VI Further perspectives on linguistic diversity
- 21 Contact languages: A survey 767
- 22 Number in Russian Sign Language 805
- 23 Number in grammar: results and perspectives 833
- Terms 911
- Languages and language families 917
- Authors 927
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- List of authors ix
- 1 Number in the World’s Languages: Configuring the variation space 1
-
I Africa
- 2 Number in Eastern Dan 27
- 3 Number marking in Karko and Nilo-Saharan 63
- 4 Number in Tswana 107
-
II Europe and Middle East
- 5 Number in Arabic 131
- 6 Number in Occitan 167
- 7 Number in Slovenian 187
- 8 Number in West Circassian 261
-
III Northern Eurasia
- 9 Number in Ket (Yeniseian) 307
- 10 Number in Nganasan 351
- 11 Number in Nivkh 375
-
IV Pacific and Australia
- 12 Number in Gooniyandi 427
- 13 Number in Indonesian 457
- 14 Number in Japonic Family 505
- 15 Number in the Languages of the Lower Sepik Family 529
- 16 Number in Marori 577
-
V Americas
- 17 Number in the languages of South America 609
- 18 The category of number in Kakataibo (Panoan) 671
- 19 Grammatical simplexity: Number in Kiowa 693
- 20 Number in Mohawk (Iroquoian) 729
-
VI Further perspectives on linguistic diversity
- 21 Contact languages: A survey 767
- 22 Number in Russian Sign Language 805
- 23 Number in grammar: results and perspectives 833
- Terms 911
- Languages and language families 917
- Authors 927
