Pacchiarotti, S. and F. Zúñiga, eds. "Applicative morphology: Neglected syntactic and non-syntactic functions". Berlin, deGruyter., 2022
This chapter discusses applicative constructions in Macro-Tani, a small group of Trans-Himalayan ... more This chapter discusses applicative constructions in Macro-Tani, a small group of Trans-Himalayan languages spoken in northeastern India and Tibet. We first present a background discussion of Macro-Tani grammatical relations and predicate structures. We then outline some basic properties of Macro-Tani applicatives, focusing more closely on less-commonly identified applicative properties. We find that: (a) there is no "promotional" relationship between base and applied phrases in Macro-Tani languages; Macro-Tani applicatives do not function to "promote" an oblique to core argument status, but instead add an argument which in most cases could not otherwise be expressed in the clause at all. (b) While Macro-Tani applicatives principally add grammatical (indirect) Objects, some applicatives add oblique phrases such as Goals and Instruments. (c) Macro-Tani applicatives form an unusually large class (at least dozens), and include semantically rich and typologically rare functions such as "Territive" (addition of an object that is "shocked" as a result of the predicate) and "Eruditive" (an object that is "educated" or "shown how" by means of the predicate). (d) Macro-Tani applicatives are closely aligned to Macro-Tani causatives, and could be argued to constitute a single formal and functional class. The chapter closes with our reconstruction of the origin of Macro-Tani applicatives via morphologization of an earlier serial verb construction.
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cognitive category, but rather from a heterogeneous set of developments from similar diachronic source forms.
1. ŋorumme paasan geaabikumaape, ahan dadaabikumaape.
ŋoru=me paasa=en ge-aŋ-bi-ku-ma(ŋ)-pe
1. pl=nagt firewood=def.acc carry/wear-dir:inward-appl:ben-cmpl-neg-sjnc
aha=en dat-aŋ-bi-ku-ma(ŋ)-pe
sago=def.acc remove.skin.from.plant-dir:inward-appl:ben-cmpl-neg-sjnc
‘You’re not bringing us firewood, you’re not getting us sago...’ (Tangam, Tani; NEIndia)
Tani applicatives can also add non-objects, such as goal obliques. In the absence of -lək (2), hɨɨ would have the status of an adjunct location. Still, this is not “promotion”, as an adjunct location could again be added to (2).
2. hime loorəəpara…hɨ ahi birəəra.
hi=me lok-lək-pa-la prx=nagt carve-dir/appl:into.goal-mod:achv-nf
hɨɨ ahi bi-lək-la
prx.loc water give-dir/appl:into.goal-nf
‘(We) carve this out….and put [the pigs’] water into here.’ (Tangam, Tani; NEIndia)
Applicative functions in Tani include Causative (erstwhile A is added O), Benefactive, Comitative, Instrumental, and Comparative (Comparand is added O). Applicative functionality is also found in predicate derivations otherwise devoted to manner, result and direction (e.g. -lək in (2)). In (3), the result derivation -lom adds an experiencer object.
3. homénə́ rɨgîilò umlôm dagèe.
homen¹=ə¹ rɨgii²=lo² um¹-lom²-dak²=ee¹
tiger=def field.boundary=loc grunt-res/appl:startle.O-stat.antr.altr ‘The tiger at the field’s edge roared, frightening (us).’ (Galo, Tani; NEIndia)
We will next discuss the relationship of applicatives to other types of valence- changing derivation in Tani languages, including passive and middle-like constructions, and finally provide an account of the historical origin of Tani applicatives in earlier clause union through verb serialization.
However, data from Tani and Milang, at a minimum, indicate that Sun (1982) and Liu (1988) were on the right track, and that data sets that have been used to justify a “middle” analysis are in at least some cases incomplete in key respects. Specifically, they fail to show clear evidence of de-transitivization - evidence which we will argue cannot be found, at least in some Tibeto-Burman languages. We thus argue for the recognition of a distinct type of “subject autonomy” marking in Tibeto-Burman, and urge scholars whose languages appear to show evidence of “middle” marking in a reflex of *-si/*su (or anything else) to attend closely to the transitivity properties of the resulting stems.
In the Tani system, naming principles follow core grammatical principles, and reflect distinctive and readily identifiable cultural traits.
In other parts of the Eastern Himalayan region, naming principles have changed drastically as a result of more extensive/intensive contact with Tibetospheric and/or Indospheric groups. However, remnants of the older system can be still traced out in some of these languages as well.
This paper will first describe the Tani system, then compare the Tani system to those of some other Eastern Himalayan languages.
cognitive category, but rather from a heterogeneous set of developments from similar diachronic source forms.
1. ŋorumme paasan geaabikumaape, ahan dadaabikumaape.
ŋoru=me paasa=en ge-aŋ-bi-ku-ma(ŋ)-pe
1. pl=nagt firewood=def.acc carry/wear-dir:inward-appl:ben-cmpl-neg-sjnc
aha=en dat-aŋ-bi-ku-ma(ŋ)-pe
sago=def.acc remove.skin.from.plant-dir:inward-appl:ben-cmpl-neg-sjnc
‘You’re not bringing us firewood, you’re not getting us sago...’ (Tangam, Tani; NEIndia)
Tani applicatives can also add non-objects, such as goal obliques. In the absence of -lək (2), hɨɨ would have the status of an adjunct location. Still, this is not “promotion”, as an adjunct location could again be added to (2).
2. hime loorəəpara…hɨ ahi birəəra.
hi=me lok-lək-pa-la prx=nagt carve-dir/appl:into.goal-mod:achv-nf
hɨɨ ahi bi-lək-la
prx.loc water give-dir/appl:into.goal-nf
‘(We) carve this out….and put [the pigs’] water into here.’ (Tangam, Tani; NEIndia)
Applicative functions in Tani include Causative (erstwhile A is added O), Benefactive, Comitative, Instrumental, and Comparative (Comparand is added O). Applicative functionality is also found in predicate derivations otherwise devoted to manner, result and direction (e.g. -lək in (2)). In (3), the result derivation -lom adds an experiencer object.
3. homénə́ rɨgîilò umlôm dagèe.
homen¹=ə¹ rɨgii²=lo² um¹-lom²-dak²=ee¹
tiger=def field.boundary=loc grunt-res/appl:startle.O-stat.antr.altr ‘The tiger at the field’s edge roared, frightening (us).’ (Galo, Tani; NEIndia)
We will next discuss the relationship of applicatives to other types of valence- changing derivation in Tani languages, including passive and middle-like constructions, and finally provide an account of the historical origin of Tani applicatives in earlier clause union through verb serialization.
However, data from Tani and Milang, at a minimum, indicate that Sun (1982) and Liu (1988) were on the right track, and that data sets that have been used to justify a “middle” analysis are in at least some cases incomplete in key respects. Specifically, they fail to show clear evidence of de-transitivization - evidence which we will argue cannot be found, at least in some Tibeto-Burman languages. We thus argue for the recognition of a distinct type of “subject autonomy” marking in Tibeto-Burman, and urge scholars whose languages appear to show evidence of “middle” marking in a reflex of *-si/*su (or anything else) to attend closely to the transitivity properties of the resulting stems.
In the Tani system, naming principles follow core grammatical principles, and reflect distinctive and readily identifiable cultural traits.
In other parts of the Eastern Himalayan region, naming principles have changed drastically as a result of more extensive/intensive contact with Tibetospheric and/or Indospheric groups. However, remnants of the older system can be still traced out in some of these languages as well.
This paper will first describe the Tani system, then compare the Tani system to those of some other Eastern Himalayan languages.