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On Generating The Greek Noun Phrase, Cheryl A. Black, Stephen A. Marlett

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

This article examines the basic noun phrase of Koine Greek and proposes an analysis which is consistent with current views on phrase structure within X-bar theory. The fact that the syntactic distribution of quantifiers, demonstratives and descriptive adjectives is different leads to the (not surprising) proposal that these are distinct word classes in Greek, as in many other languages. The distribution of articles is given serious attention and is found to support the relatively recent proposal (the DP hypothesis) that the traditional noun phrase is best analyzed as a determiner phrase which may then take an NP as its complement.

A Backwards Binding Construction In Zapotec, Cheryl A. Black

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Many of the Zapotecan languages have a unique way of signalling coreference between the subject and the possessor of the object: the subject is null. Such a construction is upsidedown or backwards from commonly described anaphora constructions and its analysis is therefore problematic to current theories. This paper describes the construction and underlines the theoretical problem by arguing against any obvious alternative analyses. An analysis is proposed where it is the tail (rather than the head) of the chain of coreferent elements that is identified, suggesting that this is another place where parameterization is needed.

Meigu County Yi Tone, Andy Eatough

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Front Matter For Sil-Und Work Papers Vol. 40 (1996)

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Verb Agreement And Case Marking In Burushaski, Stephen R. Willson

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Burushaski verb agreement and case marking phenomena are complex and have not been described adequately by any current theory of syntax. In particular, no explanation has yet been given as to why a variety of nominals can trigger agreement in the verbal prefix. In some cases the apparent subject triggers this agreement, in others the direct object appears to do so, in others the indirect object, in others the possessor of the direct object, in others a benefactive or source nominal. Also the constraints on the usage of ergative, absolutive and oblique case, and other indicators of grammatical relations on …

An Introduction To The Verbal System Of Central Dangaleat, Lawrence R. Burke

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an analysis of the verbal system of Central Dangaleat, an Eastern Chadic language spoken in central Chad. Following the general introduction in chapter 1, the second chapter provides a basic introduction to the phonological system of the Central Dangaleat verbal system, focusing especially on syllable structure and epenthesis, vowel harmony and the tone system. Special attention is given to the relationship between consonant quality and tone in the language. Chapters 3 through 7 attempt to relate the Central Dangaleat tense, aspect and mood system to the proposals concerning the development of aspectual categories in Chadic as a …

Noun Classification Or Spatial Categorization: Damana Orientation Verbs, Larry P. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis argues against a nominal classification analysis of orientation verbs in Damana, A Chibchan language of northern Colombia. As shown through a careful analysis of eleven verbs, the verbal system of Damana primarily encodes spatial relations and does not classify objects by shape.

The evidence for this conclusion proceeds from several areas. First, I show that Damana does not meet the requirement for a noun class system. Secondly, I show that the same object can be freely associated with various verb stems depending on the object's orientation. Thirdly, in metaphorical extensions involving these 'noun class' verbs, it is a …

Index To Volumes 18-38 (1974-1994), Stephen A. Marlett, J. Albert Bickford

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Pronouns In Mexican Sign Language, Marilyn Plumlee

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Pronouns in Mexican Sign Language (MSL) can be divided into two distinct classes: the manual pronouns, formed by configurations and movements of the hand, and the non-manual pronouns, formed by means of eye movements and body shifts which carry linguistic content. Within each class, several types of pronouns are found. This paper discusses the morphology of various types within each class and provides examples which illustrate their use in MSL discourse.

MSL speakers constitute a linguistic minority who are in frequent contact with a majority group using Spanish, the language of higher prestige in the society at large. An additional …

Front Matter For Sil-Und Work Papers Vol. 39 (1995)

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

A Grammar Sketch Of The Kaki Ae Language, John M. Clifton

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Kaki Ae is a non-Austronesian language spoken by approximately 300 people on the south coast of Papua New Guinea. It is at best distantly related to any other language in Papua New Guinea. This paper presents a brief grammar sketch of the language, including discussion of the phonology, sentences, phrases, words, and morpheme categories. Three appendices include a Kaki Ae to English Lexicon, an English to Kaki Ae word finder list, and seven short texts.

Madija Predicates, Pamela S. Wright

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

This article examines several previously-unexplained aspects of verbal morphology and syntax in Madija, an Arauan language spoken in Peru and Brazil. These include the distribution of an auxiliary verb which occurs with some predicates but not with others, the factors determining the choice among three different affixes marking third person agreement, and three different affixes indicating a plural subject.

Using the framework of Relational Grammar, a unified analysis of Madija predicate classes and verbal morphology can be given. This provides further evidence for such proposals as the Unaccusative Hypothesis, Postal's proposed analysis for antipassive, the analysis of impersonal constructions as …

Laryngeal Licensing And Syllable Well-Formedness In Quiegolani Zapotec, Cheryl A. Black

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

A number of the complex onset clusters allowed in Quiegolani Zapotec do not follow the Sonority Sequencing Generalization (Greenberg 1978, Selkirk 1984, etc). The distribution of the laryngeal features likewise does not follow the Laryngeal Constraint (Lombardi 1991, 1995a). These recalcitrant facts are analyzed here via a combination of language-specific rules and universal constraints ordered within a constraint hierarchy, which operates within a derivational phonology.

Who's Speaking Whose Language? A Study Of Contact Signing Between Deaf And Hearing Co-Workers, Marilyn K. Plumlee

Theses and Dissertations

This study documents signed communication between a deaf woman and five hearing co-workers who have worked together for periods ranging from two and a half to twenty-three years.

The study has two primary foci:

(1) to describe the linguistic features observed during contact signing between deaf and hearing interlocutors, all fluent in English, who communicate in a manual, visual channel, and

(2) to identify the dynamics affecting the linguistic choices made by both the hearing and deaf signers during contact signing.

The primary data base for this study were videotaped recordings of conversational dyads consisting of the deaf woman and …

Relative Clauses In Southern Uzbek, Benjamin Unseth

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the structure of both finite and nonfinite relative clauses in Southern Uzbek. As such, it represents the first linguistic analysis of a topic in Southern Uzbek published in English. English research on Standard Uzbek establishes the existence of nonfinite relative clauses but does not examine them thoroughly, nor does it even sketch Standard Uzbek's uncommon finite relative clauses. In Southern Uzbek, finite relative clauses are more common than in Standard Uzbek. This research is based on texts collected from three men from Andkhuy, Afghanistan, and on elicited sentences.

A few characteristics of Southern Uzbek's relative clauses emerge …

One Less Crazy Rule, Stephen A. Marlett

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

An earlier description of Seri morphology contained a crazy metathesis rule. This rule is shown to be spurious, that what was thought to be one morpheme is actually the combination of two independently attested and previously described morphemes. The combination of the two has the illocutionary force of a hortative.

Front Matter For Sil-Und Work Papers Vol. 38 (1994)

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Vowel Length In Seri Possessed Nouns, Stephen A. Marlett, Mary B. Moser

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Texmelucan Zapotec Verbs, Charles H. Speck

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

The Tapir: A Yanomami Text, Irma Thiele, Pierrette Ziegler-Birraux, Sandy Cue

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

A traditional Yanomami story is presented with interlinear glosses and free translation. The text relates the characteristics of three animals: the tapir, the squirrel, and the sloth.

The Distribution And Properties Of Babole Prenasalized Segments, Myles Leitch

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Babole, a Bantu language of Congo, has both voiced and voiceless prenasalized consonants. While the consonants of the voiced series have free distribution as segments, those of the voiceless series occur only stem-initially following a prefix. In the case of unprefixed imperatives, stem-initial voiceless prenasals drop the prenasalization. Adopting the ranked-constraint approach of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993), the paper shows that both the skewed distribution of voiced and voiceless prenasals, and the phenomenon of nasal-dropping follow from the intersection of three constraints. One constraint, ClusterVoi, reflects the grammar's preference for voiced prenasals. A second, ALIGN, insists that prefixes …

Vowel Features In Madija, Patsy Adams Liclán, Stephen A. Marlett

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Switch Reference In Seri, Stephen A. Marlett, Mary B. Moser

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Nasalization In Huajuapan Mixtec, Stephen A. Marlett

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Seri Vowels And The Obligatory Contour Principle, Stephen A. Marlett, Mary B. Moser

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

No abstract provided.

Writing, Teacher Training, And Grammar, Jim Meyer

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

In many English syntax courses aimed at future middle and high school teachers of English, we perpetuate grammar separated from any meaningful context. We ought instead to use the students' own writing as the basis for the syntactic analysis of English; this allows them to break out of the workbook mode of teaching and learning and encourages them to see syntax as a dynamic field of research.

The Paragraph: Towards A Richer Understanding, Jim Meyer, Brendan Cooney

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

Paragraph analysis has typically proceeded by doing autopsies on polished final texts. In a fuller analysis, however, we must consider the choices the writer made before arriving at the final text. In this paper we examine a college student's paper, first examining an analysis based on vocabulary changes (Vocabulary Management Profile) and second referring to an interview with the writer about her paragraphing choices.

Dakota Sioux Objects, Thomas M. Pinson

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

This article is a study of certain syntactic and morphological processes in Dakota Sioux within the Relational Grammar framework. There are three main topics dealt with as they relate to verb agreement: advancements to direct object, Possessor Ascensions, and Clause Union. All three of these topics distinguish between direct objects, indirect objects and obliques.

Verb agreement is examined and shown to consist of two distinct systems: person agreement and number agreement. These two systems give empirical evidence to the support of the multilevel relational network of Unaccusative and Reflexive clauses. It is also shown that an analysis which posits advancements …

Nontonal Floating Features As Grammatical Morphemes, James S. Roberts

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

The concept of floating tones is no longer controversial in tonal analysis; important insights into the morphology of numerous tonal languages have relied on the positing of morphemes that are composed simply of prosodically unlicensed tones. Employing data from three of Africa's four major language families, this paper builds on this notion by recognizing the existence of nontonal floating features -- morphemes composed solely of phonological features that have no segmental support. The first example, from Kanembu (Nilo-Sarahan, Chad), shows that the [+ATR] feature is the sole marker of incompletive aspect in the verb. Again, in Mafa and Podoko (Chadic, …

The Existential Use Of Positional Verbs In Texmelucan Zapotec, Charles H. Speck

Work Papers of the Summer Institute of Linguistics, University of North Dakota Session

In Texmelucan Zapotec there is no single verb with just an existential meaning. Rather, eleven positional verbs cover the same range of meaning that one verb covers in other languages. Each of these eleven verbs may occur as predicate of the locative clause, the existential clause or the possessive clause, and none of them occur as predicate of the attributive clause or of the identifying clause. This article explores the syntax of clauses determined by these predicates and the semantic parameters by which the Zapotec speaker controls their use. The results are then compared with what is known about existential …