4 Applicatives and beyond: Barbareño Chumash
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Marianne Mithun
Abstract
Prototypical applicative constructions add a non-agentive participant to the set of core arguments of the clause. The added argument usually takes on the grammatical role of a transitive object, absolutive, or grammatical patient. Though applicatives are basically word-formation devices, their functions are not necessarily limited to the lexicon; they typically extend into higher levels of structure. Their role in allowing speakers to code more topical and significant participants as core arguments is now generally recognized. Such functions may set the stage for further grammatical developments. One such trajectory is illustrated here with examples from Barbareño Chumash, a language indigenous to California. Section 1 provides a brief overview of the structure of the language. Section 2 describes the four Barbareño applicatives, an Instrumental, a Locative, a Directional, and a Benefactive. Section 3 shows how the first three are used by speakers to shape the flow of information in discourse. Section 4 describes how the fourth has become crystallized in the grammar, so it is the only option for mentioning third person beneficiaries. And Section 5 traces how the discourse uses of all of them have been exploited in pervasive syntactic constructions: nominalization and the formation of headless and headed relative clauses.
Abstract
Prototypical applicative constructions add a non-agentive participant to the set of core arguments of the clause. The added argument usually takes on the grammatical role of a transitive object, absolutive, or grammatical patient. Though applicatives are basically word-formation devices, their functions are not necessarily limited to the lexicon; they typically extend into higher levels of structure. Their role in allowing speakers to code more topical and significant participants as core arguments is now generally recognized. Such functions may set the stage for further grammatical developments. One such trajectory is illustrated here with examples from Barbareño Chumash, a language indigenous to California. Section 1 provides a brief overview of the structure of the language. Section 2 describes the four Barbareño applicatives, an Instrumental, a Locative, a Directional, and a Benefactive. Section 3 shows how the first three are used by speakers to shape the flow of information in discourse. Section 4 describes how the fourth has become crystallized in the grammar, so it is the only option for mentioning third person beneficiaries. And Section 5 traces how the discourse uses of all of them have been exploited in pervasive syntactic constructions: nominalization and the formation of headless and headed relative clauses.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction 1
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Part I: Americas
- 2 Typical and atypical applicative constructions in Yaqui 21
- 3 The functions of applicative morphology in Shiwiar 51
- 4 Applicatives and beyond: Barbareño Chumash 73
- 5 Applicative periphrastic constructions in the Colombian Spanish from The Andes 97
- 6 Spatial prefixes as applicatives in Harakmbut 129
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Part II: Africa
- 7 Valency and saliency in Bantu applicatives: A diachronic reanalysis 163
- 8 Neglected functions of the Bantu applicative in relation to Locations: new insights from Fwe (K402) 189
- 9 The applicative(-like) function of Nilotic directionals: Introducing themes 227
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Part III: Asia (including the Middle East)
- 10 An applicative analysis of Soranî “absolute prepositions” 263
- 11 Applicatives in Macro-Tani languages (Trans-Himalayan, Eastern Himalaya): Forms, functions and historical origins 299
- 12 Canonical and Non-canonical applicatives in Waray 329
- 13 The sociative/benefactive applicative construction and the introduction of attitude holders in Tibetan 373
- 14 Neglected functions of western Indonesian applicatives 405
- 15 The evolution of non-syntactic functions of applicatives: -i suffixation in Javanese and neighboring languages 437
- Subject index 475
- Language index 477
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1 Introduction 1
-
Part I: Americas
- 2 Typical and atypical applicative constructions in Yaqui 21
- 3 The functions of applicative morphology in Shiwiar 51
- 4 Applicatives and beyond: Barbareño Chumash 73
- 5 Applicative periphrastic constructions in the Colombian Spanish from The Andes 97
- 6 Spatial prefixes as applicatives in Harakmbut 129
-
Part II: Africa
- 7 Valency and saliency in Bantu applicatives: A diachronic reanalysis 163
- 8 Neglected functions of the Bantu applicative in relation to Locations: new insights from Fwe (K402) 189
- 9 The applicative(-like) function of Nilotic directionals: Introducing themes 227
-
Part III: Asia (including the Middle East)
- 10 An applicative analysis of Soranî “absolute prepositions” 263
- 11 Applicatives in Macro-Tani languages (Trans-Himalayan, Eastern Himalaya): Forms, functions and historical origins 299
- 12 Canonical and Non-canonical applicatives in Waray 329
- 13 The sociative/benefactive applicative construction and the introduction of attitude holders in Tibetan 373
- 14 Neglected functions of western Indonesian applicatives 405
- 15 The evolution of non-syntactic functions of applicatives: -i suffixation in Javanese and neighboring languages 437
- Subject index 475
- Language index 477