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Article published In:
Diachronica
Vol. 37:2 (2020) ► pp.133–177

Anti-scope prefix order and zero-marked obliques

Unusual outcomes of a grammaticalization pathway

ORCID logo | University of Melbourne
| 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
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Reconstruction of nominal prefixation in Australia
  • 3.Stage 1: Topic Demonstrative
  • 4.Stage 2: Topic Demonstrative > Topic Article
  • 5.Stage 3: Topic Article > Class-Topic prefixation
    • 5.1Ngalakgan
    • 5.2Wubuy
  • 6.Stage 4: Class-Topic > Class-Case
    • 6.1Zero prefixal case
    • 6.2Prefixation and case in Wubuy
    • 6.3Historical development of zero prefixal case
  • 7.Scope and zero oblique case marking as synchronically active factors
  • 8.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 10 April 2020
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.18048.bak
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