12 Number in Gooniyandi
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William B. McGregor
Abstract
This paper discusses the category of number in the non-Pama-Nyungan Australian Aboriginal language Gooniyandi. Number marking has various loci in the language, predominantly phrasal, where it is optionally realised by free numerals and/or number marking enclitics. Words are by and large number unspecified; there are just a few exceptions, primarily pronouns, which show number as an inflectional category, and a smallish set of nominal and verbal stems - rarely roots - that are specified for a number value. Nominals themselves are predominantly transnumeral, and unspecified for the count vs. mass distinction. Nominal number is indicated by NP-level enclitics, and also inflectionally in finite verbs, both in the forms of classifiers that occur in all finite verbs, and by number enclitics. Number agreement is at best marginal; instead, the choices of marking or not marking number, and the values assigned, are effectively independent at the various loci. Obligatory number marking in the finite verb apparently plays a significant role in reference management; optional number marking in both the NP and verb seems to be motivated by other considerations, which are not yet adequately understood.
Abstract
This paper discusses the category of number in the non-Pama-Nyungan Australian Aboriginal language Gooniyandi. Number marking has various loci in the language, predominantly phrasal, where it is optionally realised by free numerals and/or number marking enclitics. Words are by and large number unspecified; there are just a few exceptions, primarily pronouns, which show number as an inflectional category, and a smallish set of nominal and verbal stems - rarely roots - that are specified for a number value. Nominals themselves are predominantly transnumeral, and unspecified for the count vs. mass distinction. Nominal number is indicated by NP-level enclitics, and also inflectionally in finite verbs, both in the forms of classifiers that occur in all finite verbs, and by number enclitics. Number agreement is at best marginal; instead, the choices of marking or not marking number, and the values assigned, are effectively independent at the various loci. Obligatory number marking in the finite verb apparently plays a significant role in reference management; optional number marking in both the NP and verb seems to be motivated by other considerations, which are not yet adequately understood.
Chapters in this book
- 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
Chapters in this book
- 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
