Nominal Classification in Aboriginal AustraliaMark Harvey, Nicholas Reid This volume aims to extend both the range of analyses and the database on nominal classification systems. Previous analyses of nominal classification systems have focussed on two areas: the semantics of the classification system and the role of the system in discourse. In many nominal classification systems, there appear to be a significant percentage of nominals with an arbitrary classification. There is a considerable body of literature aimed at elucidating the semantic bases of clasification in such systems, thereby reducing the degree of apparent arbitrariness. Contributors to this volume continue this line of enquiry, but also propose that arbitrariness in itself has a role from a wider socio-cultural perspective. Previous analyses of the discourse role of classification systems posit that they play a significant role in referential tracking. For the languages surveyed in this volume, contributors propose that reference instantiation is an equally significant function, and indeed that reference instantiation and tracking cannot be properly divided from one another. This volume provides detailed information on classification in a number of northern Australian languages, whose systems are otherwise poorly known. |
Contents
1 | |
17 | |
A Typological Comparison
| 63 |
Head Classes and Agreement Classes in the Mayali Dialect Chain
| 105 |
An Areal Perspective
| 147 |
Class and Classifier in Ngangityemerri
| 165 |
Nominal Classification in Marrithiyel
| 229 |
Noun Classes Nominal Classification and Generics in Murrinhpatha
| 255 |
291 | |
293 | |
INDEX OF SUBJECTS
| 295 |
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
| 296 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal adjectives agreement class agreement marking anaphoric animal anomalous classification anomalous masculine appear assigned Australian languages body bodypart bound brolga Canberra class marking classificatory verbs classified as masculine co-occur concord Daly languages Dangbon demonstratives dillybag discussion Dixon domains Dyirbal echidna edible Enga entity example existential feminine classification freeform function Gaagudju gagu gender gender markers gendered clauses goanna Grammar Gun-djeihmi Gunwinyguan languages Harvey head and agreement head class Heath Imonda inanimate Jawoyn kardu Kune Kunrayek Kunwinjku kurum lexemes lexical Marrithiyel masculine classification Maung meat membership Merlan modifiers morphological Murrinhpatha nanthi neuter Ngan'gityemerri Ngandi nominal classification systems non-human noun class noun class marker noun class system noun phrase Nunggubuyu opposition paperbark patterns pelym phonological word plural predicative prefix proclitics prototypical reference root semantic speakers spear suffix superclassing thungku tree Unggumi vegetable wallaby Wamdarrang Wardaman Warray Waru woman woomera wudi yelhi