A Generative Syntax of Luangiua: A Polynesian Language

260 Pages·1974·20.847 MB·

by  Anne Salmond

JANUA LINGUARUM
STUDIA MEMORIAE
NICOLAI VAN WIJK DEDICATA
edenda curat
C. H. VAN SCHOONEVELD
Indiana University
Series Practica, 152

A GENERATIVE SYNTAX
OF LUANGIUA
a Polynesian language
by
ANNE SALMOND
Department of Anthropology
University of Auckland
1974
MOUTON
THE HAGUE · PARIS
© Copyright 1974 in The Netherlands
Mouton & Co. N.V., Publishers, The Hague
No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint
microfilm, or any other means, without written permission from the publishers
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 72-88200
Printed in Hungary
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research for this study was generously supported by the Bernice Bishop
Museum of Honolulu, Hawaii, as part of the Polynesian History project. This
project is financed by Grant No. GF/903, and Grant No. A/11 of the South
Pacific Research Distribution Committee of the Golden Kiwi Lottery Fund.
Its broad topic was suggested by Professor Biggs from the Anthropology De-
partment of the University of Auckland, for whose continuing encouragement
and advice I am deeply grateful. I also wish to thank Dr. P. W. Hohepa, Dr.
A. K. Pawley and Peter Sharpies, colleagues and friends — their unfailing
interest and knowledge of Polynesian linguistics led to long discussions which
guided every step in the writing of this work.
Finally, the Luangiua people in Honiara have my grateful thanks and lasting
affection. They opened their homes and hearts to a stranger, and regarded
the whole exercise of recording the Luangiua language as a game peculiarly
calculated for their pleasure.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgements 5
List of Figures 10
List of Abbreviations 11
0. Introduction 13
0.1. Abstract 13
0.2. Location of the Language 13
0.3. Luangiua as a Polynesian Language 14
0.3.1. General Comments 14
0.3.2. PN Internal Sub-Grouping 15
0.3.2.1. East PN, West PN 15
0.3.2.2. Tongic, Nuclear PN 16
0.4. Previous Studies oî LU A 18
0.5. Research for the Study 20
1. Theoretical Orientation 22
1.1. Abstract 22
1.2. Introductory Comments 22
1.3. Transformational-Generative Theory 24
1.3.1. Its Concept of Language 24
1.3.2. Role of Linguistics 25
1.3.3. The Model of Analysis 25
1.3.4. Evaluation . . 25
1.4. Generative Syntax of Luangiua 26
1.4.1. Aims 26
8 CONTENTS
1.4.2. Model of Analysis 26
1.4.2.1. Base 27
1.4.2.1.1. Categorical Sub-Component 27
1.4.2.1.2. The Lexicon 28
1.4.2.2. Transformational Sub-Component 31
1.4.3. Justification of Rules 31
2. Syntactic Component: Formal Rules 33
2.1. Symbols 33
2.2. Base 36
2.2.1. Categorical Sub-Component Rules 36
2.2.1.1. Context-Free Rules 36
2.2.1.1.1. Initial String # 8 # 36
2.2.1.1.2. Listing of Grammatical Formatives . .. 38
2.2.1.2. Context-Sensitive Categorical Rules 40
2.2.2. Lexicon 41
2.2.2.1. Context-Sensitive Sub-Categorization Rules . .. 41
2.2.2.2. Syntactic Redundancy Rules 42
2.3. Transformational Sub-Component 45
2.3.1. Sentence-Linking Transformations 45
2.3.2. Sentence-Linking and Partial Deletion 46
2.3.3. Permutations 47
2.3.4. Deletions 47
2.3.5. Embedding 48
2.3.6. 'Marker' Transformations 49
2.3.7. Substitutions 49
2.3.8. Interrogative Permutation 50
2.3.9. Reduplication Transformations 51
2.3.10. Phoneme Deletion 51
2.3.11. Contextual Formative Variants 51
3. Justification of Categorical Rules 52
3.1. Abstract 52
3.2. Justification of Context-Free Categorical Rules 53
3.3. Justification of Context-Sensitive Categorical Rules 152
3.4. Summary of Theoretical Issues Raised 154
4. Justification of Lexical Rules 156
4.1. Abstract 156
CONTENTS 9
4.2. Introduction 156
4.3. Context-Sensitive Sub-Categorization Rules 157
4.4. Syntactic Redundancy Rules 168
4.5. Lexical List 183
4.5.1. Introduction 183
4.5.2. Sample Lexicon 185
5. Justification of Transformational Rules 195
5.1. Abstract 195
5.2. Introduction 195
5.3. Justification 196
5.3.1. Sentence-Linking Transformations 197
5.3.2. Sentence Linking and Partial Deletion 200
5.3.3. Permutations 203
5.3.4. Deletions 205
5.3.5. Embedding 209
5.3.6. Marker Transformations 213
5.3.7. 'Possessive Substitution' Transformation 217
5.3.8. 'Interrogative Permutation' Transformation 222
5.3.9. Reduplication Transformations 222
5.3.10. Phoneme Deletion 223
5.3.11. Contextual Formative Variants 224
Appendix 1 Some Notes on Phonology 225
Appendix 2 Textual Material 232
Bibliography 254
LIST OF FIGURES
Map: The Polynesian Outliers
Figure 1 Elbert's Lexicostatistical Version of Polynesian Sub-Grouping . . ..
Figure 2 Capell's Polynesian Sub-Grouping
Figure 3 Elbert's 'Family Tree'
Figure 4 Pawley and Green's Polynesian Sub-Grouping
Figure 5 A Schematic Transformational-Generative Model
Figure 6 Full P-Marker of the Luangiua Sentence opposite page .