Anti-scope prefix order and zero-marked obliques
Unusual outcomes of a grammaticalization pathway
Brett Baker | University of Melbourne
Mark Harvey | University of Newcastle
A number of indigenous languages of northern Australia have complex systems of noun class prefixation
incorporating the formal realization of case or topicality, as well as class. The markers of case and topicality occur inside the
marking of class, in an unexpected position according to considerations of scope. In addition, where case is marked, zero marking
is associated with oblique case roles while core roles are associated with substantive marking; again, an unexpected pattern given
universals of case expression. We present evidence for the diachronic development of these noun class prefixation systems from an
older system of demonstratives prefixed for class via a grammaticalization path: demonstrative > topic article > topic
prefix. The class/topic prefixes then developed into class/case-marking prefixes through frequency correlations between topic,
case, animacy and humanness. All stages in our reconstructed pathway are attested by extant languages.
Keywords: grammaticalization, noun class, gender, case, topic, prefixation; prefix stacking, Australian languages
Published online: 10 April 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.18048.bak
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.18048.bak
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Harvey, Mark & Brett Baker
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