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Stability and change in alignment systems : a study of agreement patterns in Arawakan languages

Goergens, Anne LU (2011) ALSK11 20112
General Linguistics
Abstract
This essay investigates change and stability in the alignment system and its expression in morphology in Arawakan languages. The verbal alignment system and the agreement-pattern of 32 Arawakan languages were compared to each other and maps showing the geographical distribution as well as the distribution in genealogical subgroups were generated. Moreover, the nominal alignment system and case-marking which occurs in two of the investigated languages were studied as well as the correlation of alignment systems, agreement-patterns and word order. It was focused on changing patterns and in the cases where no language-internal explanation of a change could be found, the languages were compared to non-related contact-languages.

It was found... (More)
This essay investigates change and stability in the alignment system and its expression in morphology in Arawakan languages. The verbal alignment system and the agreement-pattern of 32 Arawakan languages were compared to each other and maps showing the geographical distribution as well as the distribution in genealogical subgroups were generated. Moreover, the nominal alignment system and case-marking which occurs in two of the investigated languages were studied as well as the correlation of alignment systems, agreement-patterns and word order. It was focused on changing patterns and in the cases where no language-internal explanation of a change could be found, the languages were compared to non-related contact-languages.

It was found that the alignment system is quite stable whereas the changes that had happened were very varied. There were found changes due to internal factors and such caused by contact-languages. While internal changes affected the morphology before changing the alignment system, contact-induced changes could affect either the alignment system, or the morphology or both of them. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Goergens, Anne LU
supervisor
organization
course
ALSK11 20112
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
language contact, Maipurean, Arawakan, alignment system, morphology, language change, stability, areal diffusion
language
English
additional info
The study at hand was inspired by and is part of the on-going research in the sub-project “Historical language change and cultural identity: a case in Amazonia” of the Centre for Cognitive Semiotics (CCS) at Lund University.

http://project.sol.lu.se/ccs
id
2338491
date added to LUP
2012-02-09 09:17:51
date last changed
2012-02-09 09:17:51
@misc{2338491,
  abstract     = {{This essay investigates change and stability in the alignment system and its expression in morphology in Arawakan languages. The verbal alignment system and the agreement-pattern of 32 Arawakan languages were compared to each other and maps showing the geographical distribution as well as the distribution in genealogical subgroups were generated. Moreover, the nominal alignment system and case-marking which occurs in two of the investigated languages were studied as well as the correlation of alignment systems, agreement-patterns and word order. It was focused on changing patterns and in the cases where no language-internal explanation of a change could be found, the languages were compared to non-related contact-languages.

It was found that the alignment system is quite stable whereas the changes that had happened were very varied. There were found changes due to internal factors and such caused by contact-languages. While internal changes affected the morphology before changing the alignment system, contact-induced changes could affect either the alignment system, or the morphology or both of them.}},
  author       = {{Goergens, Anne}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Stability and change in alignment systems : a study of agreement patterns in Arawakan languages}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}