Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis aims to describe the noun class system and its interaction with semantics in the Tanzanian Bantu language Kimbugwe (ISO 639-3). This thesis adds to the existing literature on Kimbugwe,...Show moreThis thesis aims to describe the noun class system and its interaction with semantics in the Tanzanian Bantu language Kimbugwe (ISO 639-3). This thesis adds to the existing literature on Kimbugwe, but also has typological value, and shows the linguistic diversity of the area the language is spoken in. The main research question of the thesis is; ‘How does the noun class system of Kimbugwe interact with semantics?’. The thesis shows that the noun class system interacts with semantics on a lexical level, through the inherent semantics of the noun classes, on a morphological level, through the derivational semantics of the noun classes, and on a syntactic level, through the semantic agreement of the noun classes.Show less
The phenomenon of Russian honorific agreement was first mentioned and used as evidence in Agreement Hierarchy by Greville Corbett (1979). Since then it has received little attention in the...Show moreThe phenomenon of Russian honorific agreement was first mentioned and used as evidence in Agreement Hierarchy by Greville Corbett (1979). Since then it has received little attention in the literature, unlike the other, more famous, cases of semantic agreement, e.g. hybrid nouns (Corbett 2015), pancake sentences (Enger 2004). This thesis is dedicated to investigating honorific agreement in Russian on the basis of independently collected data from the Russian National Corpus and a number of individually selected literary works.Show less
This thesis builds on the idea that subtle, culturally induced differences in semantic meaning remain between translation equivalent words across different languages. This study further argues that...Show moreThis thesis builds on the idea that subtle, culturally induced differences in semantic meaning remain between translation equivalent words across different languages. This study further argues that these differences in meaning may be approached through the examination of the linguistic contexts within which these words occur. Consequently, this work provides a quantitative methodology for highlighting relevant areas in which such cultural differences may be reflected. The method is based on intuition derived from several existing, structuralist methods and works primarily by comparing the frequency of hypernyms of nouns that appear in the neighborhood of an examined word. This thesis focuses on the indigenous Dolgan language as a case study; one that is purposely exploratory in nature. This minority language poses the research with the additional challenge of working with a small-sized language corpus for computational purposes: it demands a ‘rough’ look at data to act as a means, instead of being a limitation. Overall, the results indicate that culturally determined differences between words exist to a measurable degree, despite the unavailability of an adequately sized dataset. Although the results provide insufficient guidance for drawing anthropological conclusions, the findings reassert that cultural knowledge is encoded within language and reiterate the need to preserve endangered indigenous languages.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
The basis of this study is an observation of a Mandarin expression, which was heard in a Chinese television programme. The expression is qí le guài le, which I tentatively translate as ‘how strange...Show moreThe basis of this study is an observation of a Mandarin expression, which was heard in a Chinese television programme. The expression is qí le guài le, which I tentatively translate as ‘how strange’. Double le is well-described for verb–object (VO) compounds, as in nà le mèr le ‘have been perplexed’. However, qíguài is listed in dictionaries as an adjective meaning ‘strange’ and as a verb meaning ‘to find strange’. It is not documented as a VO, raising questions about its syntactic status. In this study, I investigate what qí le guài le means, what each instance of le contributes to its meaning, and whether qí and guài should be analysed as two different syntactic elements. The second paragraph contains an overview of the methodology. Here, it is explained that I understand syntax primarily as the study of relations between meanings. This contravenes a popular view of syntax as primarily concerning relations between forms. I also make a fundamental distinction between meaning and interpretation. In the following paragraphs, the analyses are presented step by step, and any linguistic jargon is explained and illustrated with examples. The reader is not expected to have prior knowledge of either Mandarin or linguistics.Show less
Research master thesis | Linguistics (research) (MA)
open access
In Dutch, one can order a drink, denoted by a mass noun, using phrases such as: Ik will graag twee (glazen) rode wijn, "I would like two glasses of red wine". Interestingly, the usage of the...Show moreIn Dutch, one can order a drink, denoted by a mass noun, using phrases such as: Ik will graag twee (glazen) rode wijn, "I would like two glasses of red wine". Interestingly, the usage of the classifier, in this case glazen ‘glasses’, is not obligatory. Borer (2005) argues that such sentences, without classifiers, are possible in a register she calls Restaurantese. This construction, however, is not possible with all adjective-noun combinations. Therefore, this study proposes two main hypotheses, similar to van Erkel (2020). First, one could argue that the acceptability of these configurations depends on the syntactic classification of the adjective. Second, one could argue that it depends on the relation between the adjective and the noun, which I refer to with the term combinability. There are different approaches one could take to define combinability. This study takes three different approaches: the collocation of the adjective and the noun; the familiarity of the combination; the chance one could find a combination on a menu, which I call the Restaurantese reading. Through different surveys, this study has shown that the syntactic level of the adjectives does not influence the acceptability of sentences in which you order drinks in Dutch. The combinability of the adjective-noun pair, on the other hand, plays a large role in the acceptability. This effect is, remarkably, not restricted to Restaurantese expressions. By comparing adjective-noun pairs that were ranking differently amongst the three approaches for combinability, I show that the Restaurantese reading is the best indicator for the acceptability of different adjective-noun pairs. Then I discuss the connection between the sentences with and without the overt classifier. I argue that the configurations without the overt classifier contain a covert classifier that introduces countability and the portion needed to express such sentences. Lastly, I note that the acceptability of these configurations is not set in stone. It is hugely dependent on cultural history and the usage of language by all its language users on the one hand, and one’s personal background and world knowledge on the other hand.Show less
This thesis is a contribution to descriptive work on emotion expression in sign languages. The main purpose is providing a detailed description of anger expression in Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL),...Show moreThis thesis is a contribution to descriptive work on emotion expression in sign languages. The main purpose is providing a detailed description of anger expression in Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL), as well as placing this description within the framework of anger expression in the languages of the world. Anger is considered a basic emotion, resulting in a discussion about the universality of anger expression. This thesis aims to include sign languages in this discussion, by analysing anger expression in GSL in the context of proposed universals. Multiple data collection methods were applied, among which the usage of movie- and picture stimuli, scenarios containing different types of anger, and storytelling. Six signers of GSL were provided with these stimuli and asked to either narrate the movie, identify emotions, create a story containing expression of anger or act out scenarios. Results showed that GSL has a division, phonologically as well as semantically, between signs at the head and signs at the chest area. Furthermore, anger expression is largely iconic and metaphorical. GSL confirms existing theories about universals, such as the embodiment of anger expression and the universality of anger metaphors. However, GSL does distinguish itself from earlier research on anger expression in its usage of intensifiers. Furthermore, although GSL is based in American Sign Language (ASL), many of the signs belonging to the anger lexicon are unique to GSL. Nonetheless, the two signs most frequently used to express anger are the same in both languages.Show less
Dutch uses cardinal posture verbs (/zitten/ ‘to sit’, /staan/ ‘to stand’, and /liggen/ ‘to lie’) for all sorts of purposes, many of which have received considerable research attention — like the...Show moreDutch uses cardinal posture verbs (/zitten/ ‘to sit’, /staan/ ‘to stand’, and /liggen/ ‘to lie’) for all sorts of purposes, many of which have received considerable research attention — like the posture progressive, e.g. /zitten te lezen/ ‘lit. sit to read: to be reading’. This thesis investigates an understudied posture verb pattern in which a posture verb is combined with a complementive past participle, e.g. /zitten vastgeplakt/ 'lit. sit stuck: to be stuck' and /staan volgepriegeld/ 'lit. stand scribbled full: to be scribbled full'. Previous analyses disagree on the status of this pattern in terms of its productivity (is it fixed or are new combinations possible?), meaning (what does the pattern as a whole express?), and structure (is the complementive participle verbal or adjectival?). By examining over 6,000 attestations of the pattern in a corpus of written Dutch, this thesis evaluates these competing accounts, concluding that (i) the patterns are indeed productive; (ii) constraints on that productivity can be accounted for in terms of the meaning of the pattern as a whole, i.e. 'locativity' and 'resultativity'; and (iii) the pattern's syntax appears highly heterogeneous: some past participles behave like adjectives, others like verbs. Finally, I show that this heterogeneity is compatible with the semantic properties of past participles in general, and of the posture verb-participle pattern in particular.Show less
This thesis discusses emotion lexicon in Tarifiyt, an Afro-Asiatic Berber language of North Morocco. I will discuss the meaning of several negative emotion terms and expressions in this language....Show moreThis thesis discusses emotion lexicon in Tarifiyt, an Afro-Asiatic Berber language of North Morocco. I will discuss the meaning of several negative emotion terms and expressions in this language. In the study of anthropological linguistics, the meaning of emotions in several languages has received attention. However, until now, the semantic field of emotions in Tarifiyt has not been researched. I will use the Natural Semantic Metalanguage and linguistic examples in order to discuss the semantics of these terms and expressions. I will conclude that there is a diverse emotion lexicon in Tarifiyt and that emotions are presented as verbs or as nouns and are something internal to a human being. The seat of emotions, ur (‘heart’) is crucial in understanding emotional expression in Tarifiyt. Furthermore, emotions are often expressed via emotion symptom expressions, so by expressing the bodily sensations that typically accompany the emotion.Show less
