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Article published In:
Studies in Language
Vol. 43:3 (2019) ► pp.533–584

The naked truth about the Chamorro dual

| University of Bremen

It is argued that the traditional belief that the formal expression of the dual in Chamorro is restricted to intransitivity / low transitivity is inadequate since it precludes the possibility of accounting constructions in which the dual is also expressed in combination with transitive verbs. In the empirical part of the study, evidence of the recurrent violations of the intransitivity-based restrictions is discussed. It is shown that the dual is not excluded from transitive predicates. The dual is also firmly established in the realm of transitivity albeit only in the third person. In addition, the dual also exists in areas of Chamorro grammar for which it has hitherto been ignored. The hypothesis is put forward that the dual in the domain of transitivity is a diachronic innovation. The Chamorro facts are compared to those of Numic languages in North America.

Keywords: dual, Chamorro, indirect marking, transitivity
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Conventions
  • 3.Basic facts about Chamorro grammar and the dualint
  • 4.Taking issue with a tradition
    • 4.1What is commonly believed
    • 4.2How idm is usually illustrated
    • 4.3Preliminary summary
    • 4.4What has been ignored
  • 5.Fresh evidence of the dual
    • 5.1 idm: Dualtra and dualint
      • 5.1.1The dualtra
      • 5.1.2The dualint
        • 5.1.2.1Parallels with the dualtra
        • 5.1.2.2Definite numeral
    • 5.2Further evidence of the dualtra
      • 5.2.1The dualtra without co-referential lexical NP
      • 5.2.2Reflexive constructions
      • 5.2.3The Dual with Class IIIc words
      • 5.2.4Passive voice
    • 5.3Variation: Dual vs Plural
      • 5.3.1Irrealis
      • 5.3.2Variation with the passive
    • 5.4Diachrony
  • 6.North American parallels
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • Primary sources
  • References
Published online: 18 November 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.17063.sto
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