Symmetrical Voice and Applicative Alternations: Evidence from Totoli

Abstract

This paper proposes an analysis of the system of voice and applicative alternations in Totoli, a language spoken on Sulawesi in Indonesia. This system appears to be unique among Western Malayo-Polynesian languages (at least the ones reasonably well known to date). Its uniqueness is due to a particularly intricate interplay of (symmetrical) voice and applicative functions marked by a set of affixes that are clearly cognate with voice marking affixes in Philippinetype languages. In trying to tease apart the functions of the different constructions making up the system, the paper contributes to a better understanding of the commonalities and differences between symmetrical voice and applicative alternations. It also discusses variation in the use of voice-related morphology, thus providing a rather rare glimpse into the ongoing change of a western Austronesian voice system.

Predicting voice choice in symmetrical voice languages

“…Table 1 in section 2). For a detailed argument supporting the analysis summarized here, the interested reader is referred to Himmelmann and Riesberg (2013). Figure 15 shows the distribution of the two voices for "plain" voice-marked verbs and verbs with VALENCY-INCREASING MORPHOLOGY.…”

Inverse and symmetrical voice: On languages with two transitive constructions

“…Nevertheless, this fact is related to the apparently idiosyncratic development path followed by applicative constructions in Tagalog, which differs from the one seen in other Philippine languages slightly and from the one found in other Austronesian languages rather markedly (cf. the relevant facts of e. g., Indonesian, but also of Totoli as described by Himmelmann and Riesberg 2013). Further research will have to explore the likely reasons why the Tagalog voice devices targeting peripheral semantic roles (instruments, reasons, beneficiaries, locations, etc.)…”

Expressions of directed caused accompanied motion events in Totoli, a western Austronesian language of Indonesia

“…Table 1) and applicative (voice) marking. For a detailed argument supporting the analysis summarized in the two tables, see Himmelmann and Riesberg (2013). The directional clitics =ai and =ko are highly frequent in Totoli discourse, and by no means restricted to occurring with (intransitive) verbs of motion.…”