What types of constructions in Leti replace serial verb constructions commonly found cross-linguistically?; Can verb-adverb constructions be reanalysed as serial verb constructions?; Does the...Show moreWhat types of constructions in Leti replace serial verb constructions commonly found cross-linguistically?; Can verb-adverb constructions be reanalysed as serial verb constructions?; Does the diachronic shift from verbs to adverbs in Leti show correspondence with similar cross-linguistic processes? These are the three research questions of interest addressed in this thesis.Show less
Dutch has a caused posture system that distinguishes two placement verbs, zetten 'to set' and leggen 'lay’. This study explores this semantic distinction from a descriptive viewpoint and uses this...Show moreDutch has a caused posture system that distinguishes two placement verbs, zetten 'to set' and leggen 'lay’. This study explores this semantic distinction from a descriptive viewpoint and uses this analysis to investigates the psycholinguistic effects of it on memory for placement events in native Dutch speakers. This study questions a) what factors determine the semantic distinction between zetten and leggen, b) whether linguistic encoding in general affects memory, c) whether specific linguistic encoding affects memory (i.e. does verbalizing placement events enhance memory for these events in Dutch speakers) and d) whether the fact that a language makes its speakers think about specific features i.e. encoding specific features of placement events vs. not encoding specific features of other motion events) enhances memory for these features in general. Descriptive results show that participants use leggen ‘to lay’ for horizontal scenes and zetten ‘to set’ for vertical scenes. Contrary to earlier findings, the results show that the placement of a round symmetrical object is approached differently than those of cubic symmetrical objects. Psycholinguistic results show that linguistic encoding has a positive effect on memory in general. However, specific linguistic encoding does not result in a significant enhancement of memory for placement events. At last, the results show that the fact Dutch makes her speakers think about specific features of placement event does not affect memory for these: memory for placement events in general was not enhanced compared to memory for other motion events.Show less
This thesis describes ideophones in the Bantu language Kikamba (E55). The concept of ideophones and iconicity in (African) linguistics is introduced and a typological overview of Kamba is given. A...Show moreThis thesis describes ideophones in the Bantu language Kikamba (E55). The concept of ideophones and iconicity in (African) linguistics is introduced and a typological overview of Kamba is given. A description of the Kamba ideophone is provided, as well as semantic descriptions and example sentences. Moreover, findings on phonology, syntax, and the implicational hierarchy (Dingemanse 2012) are presented.Show less
This thesis looks at positive and negative existentials in Finnish and Hungarian with the help of the framework of Denis Creissels’ 7 types of existentials for the positive constructions, as well...Show moreThis thesis looks at positive and negative existentials in Finnish and Hungarian with the help of the framework of Denis Creissels’ 7 types of existentials for the positive constructions, as well as Croft’s Cycle for the negative constructions. The findings are that neither language fits neatly within Creissels’ types, as both show several different constructions. Finnish has three distinct ways of forming existentials: ‘olla + locative’, ‘olla + agent participle of olla + locative’, or a ‘copula only’ construction. Hungarian has two different ways of forming existentials: with ‘lenni + locative’, as well as a ‘copula only’ construction. Not every construction is grammatical in every context. Often existentials cannot be clearly separated from locatives and possessives. Generally, word order and context work together with a specific construction to somewhat differentiate it from other constructions. However, multiple interpretations of a single construction are often possible, so this is not absolute. These findings go against multiple claims often made in conventional literature.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis focuses on the description of the ablative case clitic of Iraqw, a Cushitic language of Tanzania. The ablative case clitic of Iraqw is reported to have multiple functions and is...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the description of the ablative case clitic of Iraqw, a Cushitic language of Tanzania. The ablative case clitic of Iraqw is reported to have multiple functions and is attested to be used for expressing source, location, time, reason, and (simile) adverbial constructions. Especially the apparent extension of source to location marker is remarkable, as Iraqw has a separate goal marker and this particular Source=Location≠Goal syncretism is extremely rare in languages of the world. The ablative case clitic is part of the adverbial case clitics of Iraqw, which consist of the ablative, directional, instrumental, and reason case clitics. These clitics introduce an extra oblique argument to a clause and are closely tied to the verb. The source semantics of the ablative clitic inherently express Place and Path. In locational clauses the notion of Path is expressed in a durative aspect and the clitic therefore does not function as a primary locative marker. The ablative is also used in other contexts. It can be extended into the temporal domain to describe a temporal source and into the causal domain to denote the cause of an event. The ablative clitic is used in adverbial constructions that describe similarity and is grammaticalized in certain intensifying verbal adverbs. In conclusion the ablative case clitic is a source marker, and not a locative marker. Therefore I propose the pattern Source≠Location≠Goal for Iraqw.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
closed access
This thesis is a descriptive grammar sketch of the Naueti language, an Austronesian language spoken by around 15.000 people in the East Timorese subdistricts of Uatolari and Uatocarbau (Viqueque...Show moreThis thesis is a descriptive grammar sketch of the Naueti language, an Austronesian language spoken by around 15.000 people in the East Timorese subdistricts of Uatolari and Uatocarbau (Viqueque district) and the southwestern part of Baguia (Baucau district). There are a few differences between the varieties spoken in Uatolari and the Uatocarbau-Baguia area. This thesis is mostly based on the Uatolari variety. The topics covered by this thesis include phonology (chapter 2), nouns, pronouns and noun phrases (chapter 3), prepositions, prepositional verbs and prepositional phrases (chapter 4), the clause (chapter 5), predicate modification (chapter 6), serial verb constructions (chapter 7) and multiclausal constructions (chapter 8). The appendices contain a Naueti-English glossary, three transcribed texts and a Matebianic Swadesh list.Show less
Stassen (2009) defines four major types of predicate possession: with-possessives, topic-possessives, locational possessives and have-possessive. This thesis examines which of these types occur in...Show moreStassen (2009) defines four major types of predicate possession: with-possessives, topic-possessives, locational possessives and have-possessive. This thesis examines which of these types occur in a sample of the languages of the Pacific North West Coast linguistic area. The data used for this research was collected for eight languages and the sample is one of convenience, though it was attempted to gather a sample as genetically and geographically dispersed as possible. The possession-type for each language was determined by examining data gathered with a questionnaire and/or with existing data from grammars or dictionaries. The research shows that four of the languages use a predicativized with-possessive construction, one has a basic with-possessive, one has a topic-possessive, and two have a dual system consisting of a have-possessive in combination with one of the other basic types. Stassen (2009) formulates four universals of predicative possession, one for every basic type of construction. The universal for with-possessive is as follows: if a language has a with-possessive, it has deranked DS-sequences. The data shows that Gitksan is a with-possessive language, but that it has balanced DS-sequences. This makes Gitksan a counterexample to the with-possessive universal as formulated by Stassen (2009).Show less
