Synchronic and diachronic aspects of valency-reducing devices in Oceanic languages

Abstract

Katarzyna Janic. Synchronic and diachronic aspects of valency-reducing devices in Oceanic languages. the poznań Society for the advancement of arts and Sciences, pL ISSn 0079-4740, pp. 151-188 this paper sketches out valency-reducing devices available in oceanic languages. the proto-oceanic prefix *paRi-and suffix *-akin [i] are specifically the focus of the discussion, being approached from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives. I explain the currently attested functions performed by the reflexes of these two morphemes by assuming that the evolution went in a particular direction: from a very general function to a more specialized, concrete one. among different functions performed by the reflexes of *paRi-and *-akin[i] within the valency-reducing domain, I will show that the antipassive has not been fully recognized and properly designated in linguistic descriptions of the oceanic languages yet.

The rise of middle voice systems

“…As anticipated in §3 and §4.1.4.2, Proto-Oceanic had a plurality prefix *paRiwhich served as source for MMs in various Oceanic languages (see Lichtenberk 2000;Bril 2005;Moyse-Faurie 2008Janic 2016b). As an example, consider the Bwatoo prefix ve-(< *paRi-) in ( 23 → ve-tatae 'try to surpass' f. tobewaa 'run'…”

Voice and Pluractionality in Äiwoo

“…This paper thus provides an analysis which both links likely cognates across Äiwoo and SC in a core area of grammar, and explains the differences in their distribution through fundamental typological differences between Äiwoo, on the one hand, and the SC languages, on the other. It moreover contributes to the discussion in the literature concerning the functions of POC *paRi- (Lichtenberk 2000;Bril 2005;Janic 2016) by providing data from a language that is possibly unique in having retained a symmetrical voice distinction while at the same time showing a reflex of *paRi-.…”

Voice and Pluractionality in Äiwoo

“…This paper thus provides an analysis which both links likely cognates across Äiwoo and SC in a core area of grammar, and explains the differences in their distribution through fundamental typological differences between Äiwoo, on the one hand, and the SC languages, on the other. It moreover contributes to the discussion in the literature concerning the functions of POC *paRi- (Lichtenberk 2000;Bril 2005;Janic 2016) by providing data from a language that is possibly unique in having retained a symmetrical voice distinction while at the same time showing a reflex of *paRi-.…”