In search of the origin of na in Mavea
Guerin, Valerie (2014) In search of the origin of na in Mavea. Studies in Language, 38 (4). pp. 690-716.
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Abstract
Reflexes of the Proto-Oceanic common noun marker *na are found throughout the Oceanic language family. In Mavea, there is a morpheme na but it no longer partakes in the determiner system and is best analyzed synchronically as a preposition. This paper argues that today's preposition is a reflex of the Proto-Oceanic common noun marker *na. Locative constructions are shown to provide a critical context conducive to the reanalysis of *na. Reanalysis has long been established as a mechanism of syntactic change, yet the factors motivating it remain a matter for debate. The dominant view is that reanalysis is driven by pragmatic factors. A rarely voiced view is that it is driven by structural requirements. The data adduced in this paper lend support to a model of syntactic change which can be structure-preserving in nature.
| Item ID: | 37248 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1569-9978 |
| Keywords: | Mavea, oceanic, semantic roles, locative, article, reanalysis, repair strategy, structure-preserving syntactic change |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Feb 2015 23:09 |
| FoR Codes: | 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2004 Linguistics > 200407 Lexicography @ 50% 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2004 Linguistics > 200408 Linguistic Structures (incl Grammar, Phonology, Lexicon, Semantics) @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture @ 50% 95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9502 Communication > 950202 Languages and Literacy @ 50% |
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