Single versus concurrent systems: Nominal classification in Mian

Abstract

The Papuan language Mian allows us to refine the typology of nominal classification. Mian has two candidate classification systems, differing completely in their formal realization but overlapping considerably in their semantics. To determine whether to analyse Mian as a single system or concurrent systems we adopt a canonical approach. Our criteria – orthogonality of the systems (we give a precise measure), semantic compositionality, morphosyntactic alignment, distribution across parts of speech, exponence, and interaction with other features – point mainly to an analysis as concurrent systems. We thus improve our analysis of Mian and make progress with the typology of nominal classification.

Gender and classifiers in concurrent systems: Refining the typology of nominal classification

“…Interestingly, the classifiers also make a number distinction; there are complexities involved there that would take us too far afield; see Corbett, Fedden & Finkel (2017) for those issues. For present purposes we note that the classifier system is orthogonal to number, just as the gender system is.…”

Testing Semantic Dominance in Mian Gender: Three Machine Learning Models

“…Verbal affixes show gender, person and number in a portmanteau fashion. The account of the Mian gender system is based on Fedden (2011) and Corbett, Fedden and Finkel (2017). Mian gender agreement is illustrated in examples (3a) and (3b):…”

“…For a detailed description and analysis of this system, see Fedden (2011, ch. 5) and Corbett, Fedden and Finkel (2017).…”

Nominal classification

“…Mian, a Papuan language of the Ok family (Trans New Guinea), is spoken in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea by fewer than 2000 speakers (Fedden 2011: 2). The language is one of the few languages which are known to have two concurrent systems of nominal classification, with both a gender system and a system of verbal classifiers (but see Fedden &Finkel 2017 for in-depth discussions as to the nature of these systems).…”