Is Kanakanavu an Ergative Language?

Voice and transitivity in Kanakanavu Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades einer Doktorin der Philosophie (Dr. phil.) der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Erfurt vorgelegt von Ilka Wild Erfurt, März 2018 Gutachter der Arbeit: Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann, Universität Erfurt Prof. Dr. Volker Gast, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Datum der Defensio: 6. August 2018 Universitätsbibliothek Erfurt Electronic Text Center URN:nbn:de:gbv:547-201800530 Abstract This is a dissertation on the Kanakanavu language, i.e. that linguistic phenomena found while working on the language underwent a deeper analysis and linguistic techniques were used to provide data and to present analyses in a structured manner. Various topics of the Kanakanavu language system are exemplified: Starting with a grammar sketch of the language, the domains phonology, morphology, and syntax are described and information on the linguistic features in these domains are given. Beyond a general overview of the situation and a brief description of the language and its speakers, an investigation on a central part of the Kanakanavu language system, namely its voice system, can be found in this work. First, it is analyzed and described by its formal characteristics. Second, the question of the motivation of using the voice system in connection to transitivity and, in the literature less often recognized, the semantic side of transitive constructions, i.e. its effectiveness, is discussed. Investigations on verb classes in Kanakanavu and possible semantic connections are presented as well as investigations on possible situations of different degrees of effectiveness. This enables a more detailed view on the language system and, in particular, its voice system. I Table of contents List of tables ...................................................................................................................IX List of figures ................................................................................................................XI List of constructions .....................................................................................................XII Abbreviations ..............................................................................................................XIV Preface .......................................................................................................................XVIII 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................1 1.1 Aims and scope of this dissertation ...........................................................................1 1.2 Research objective ......................................................................................................2 1.3 State of research .........................................................................................................3 1.3.1 Austronesian languages, Formosan languages and Kanakanavu ............................3 1.3.2 Research in valency phenomena and effectiveness ................................................6 1.4 Theoretical framework ...............................................................................................7 1.5 Methodological aspects ..............................................................................................9 1.5.1 Data and analysis ....................................................................................................9 1.5.2 Structure of the present description .....................................................................12 2. Setting of the language .....................................................................................14 2.1 Name of the language ..............................................................................................14 2.2 Ethnographic setting ................................................................................................14 2.2.1 Demography ..........................................................................................................14 2.2.2 Historical overview ...............................................................................................16 2.2.3 Geography .............................................................................................................17 2.2.4 Native speakers .....................................................................................................19 2.2.5 Other ethnic groups in the area ............................................................................20 2.2.6 Cultural setting of the community ......................................................................20 2.2.6.1 Organization of society: Basic needs.................................................................. 20 2.2.6.2 Life cycle ............................................................................................................22 2.2.6.3 Social structure ..................................................................................................22 2.2.6.4 Economic structure ............................................................................................23 2.2.6.5 Spirituality and rituals .......................................................................................24 II 2.3 Genealogical setting .................................................................................................25 2.4 Social setting ............................................................................................................28 2.4.1 Internal: Speakers and stratification ....................................................................28 2.4.2 External .................................................................................................................28 2.4.2.1 Competing languages .........................................................................................28 2.4.2.2 Status of the language ........................................................................................29 3. System of the language .....................................................................................30 3.1 Phonology ...............................................................................................................30 3.1.1 Phonemic inventory ..............................................................................................30 3.1.1.1 Consonants ........................................................................................................30 3.1.1.2 Vowels ................................................................................................................33 3.1.2 Phonotactic rules and stress .................................................................................34 3.1.2.1 Syllable structure ...............................................................................................34 3.1.2.2 Consonant clusters ............................................................................................35 3.1.2.3 Vowel clusters ....................................................................................................35 3.1.2.4 Stress.................................................................................................................. 36 3.1.3 Phonological processes .........................................................................................36 3.1.3.1 Assimilation processes....................................................................................... 36 3.1.3.1.1 Palatalization ...................................................................................................36 3.1.3.1.2 Vowel fronting ................................................................................................36 3.1.4 Idiosyncratic alternation .......................................................................................37 3.1.4.1 Syncope ..............................................................................................................37 3.1.4.2 Monophtongization............................................................................................ 37 3.1.4.3 Variation of vowel articulation ...........................................................................37 3.1.4.4 Haplology ...........................................................................................................38 3.1.4.5 Apocope .............................................................................................................38 3.1.4.6 Procope .............................................................................................................38 3.1.4.7 Syllable deletion .................................................................................................38 3.1.4.8 Glottalization of [s] ...........................................................................................38 3.2 Orthography ............................................................................................................ 39 3.3 Morphemes and words ............................................................................................ 40 III 3.3.1 Morphemes and words as smallest units ..............................................................40 3.3.2 Word classes .........................................................................................................42 3.3.2.1 Nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs ................................................................42 3.3.2.2 Particles ..............................................................................................................46

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