Part of
Imperatives and Directive StrategiesEdited by Daniël Van Olmen and Simone Heinold
[Studies in Language Companion Series 184] 2017
► pp. 181–208
The languages of the Polynesian family exhibit considerable homogeneity with respect to various linguistic patterns. This state of affairs is reflected in imperative constructions, in which canonical imperatives form a comparatively tight core. At the same time, and as is typical of other constructions in Polynesian, there is notable variation to be found, especially in non-canonical imperatives, modifiers in imperatives and other directives. It is the goal of this chapter to document some of the different strategies for forming imperatives and directives in the Polynesian languages, situating these patterns in the larger discussion surrounding the typology of imperatives.