Noun Classes, Nominal Classification and Generics in Murrinhpatha

1997 ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Noun Classes ◽  
Nominal Classification

scholarly journals Noun class system of Kusaal

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-139
Author(s):  
Hasiyatu Abubakari
Keyword(s):  
Common Knowledge ◽  
Semantic Networks ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Semantic Classification ◽  
Phonological Features ◽  
Noun Classes ◽  
Nominal Classification

It is common knowledge that noun classes in Mabia (Gur) languages are primarily characterized by stems and affixes. Common to all studies on nominal classification in Kusaal is the observation that nouns that exhibit common morphological properties also share identical semantic features. Though this is true to some extent, the generalization breeds a lot of leakages because classifications based on semantic field alone is unable to explain the inclusion of nouns that share identical morphological and phonological features but different semantic features. Thus, this problem questions the assumption that noun classification in Kusaal is dependent on common semantic properties or coherence shared by all nouns in a group. The semantic classification of nouns, in this study, is composed based on the assumption that speakers of Kusaal put together nouns that are connected by identical semantic features and others that are linked by pragmatic associations into networks that define concepts and aspects of their survival as human beings. It is further observed that nouns within such groups also go through identical phonological rules or constraints. Nouns in this paper are classified based on their morphological features which are closely knit to their semantic networks as well as phonological constraints. The framework of Lexical-Phonology is employed in analyzing the morphophonological components of the nominal classification system of the language

scholarly journals Classes nominales et deixis : cas des suffixes de pluriel -sι et nyὶ du dadjriwale

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damanan N'dré
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Grammatical Agreement ◽  
Noun Classes ◽  
Noun Class ◽  
Nominal Classification ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Semantic Values ◽  
Context Of Utterance ◽  
Ordered Pairs

In the present paper, on the one hand, an analysis of agreement and number markers allows us to understand the disintegrated nature of the nominal classification system in the Dadjiriwale language. It turnes out that these markers show a rather phonological than grammatical agreement: While the singular is marked by a zero morpheme, it is difficult to identify "binary gender markers" or "ordered pairs". Rather, the notions of gender and noun classification become intertwined in the language. On the other hand, -sι and -ny ὶ are the plural suffixes of the noun class [+human], while the suffixes -jé and -bhó are those of the class [–human]; but furthermore, they denote divisible, and indivisible things respectively. Additionally, and analogous to the suffix-bhó, the markers -pέlώ and -kl ё́ divide objects into the group of round objects and the group of elongated objects. Finally, it is shown that the relationship established between the notion of noun classes and the notion of deixis is far from being synonymous or opposing, and that it uncovers the semantic values of the modal suffixes -sι and -nyὶ in the context of utterance: In speech, they evoke exophoric and homophoric deictic values and recall instances of interlocution and delocution.

scholarly journals Classification of Nouns and Things in Bantu

Afrika Focus ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thilo Schadeberg
Keyword(s):  
Noun Classes ◽  
Nominal Classification

Is there a semantic foundation for the system of noun classes and genders found in Bantu (and in Niger-Congo-Kordofanian) ? This question has intensely occupied many bantuists for over a century. Fundamentalist, mentalistic, and ethnosemantic approaches were used to construct explanations. The present paper reviews several such approaches, giving particular emphasis to some old and recent Dutch contributions to this field. KEYWORDS : nominal classification, Bantu, semantics 

Noun Classes and Plurality in Bantu Languages

2021 ◽  
pp. 538-557
Author(s):  
Lutz Marten
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Bantu Languages ◽  
Class System ◽  
Noun Classes ◽  
Noun Class ◽  
Nominal Classification ◽  
Grammatical Number ◽  
Theoretical Analyses

Noun classes are a prominent grammatical feature of Bantu languages where typically each noun (or noun stem) is assigned to one of between fifteen and eighteen noun classes. Noun classes are often analysed as a form of nominal classification system and seen as belonging to the same domain as grammatical gender systems. Number in Bantu languages is mediated by the noun class system and the intricate interaction between noun class and number in Bantu has given rise to different theoretical analyses. The chapter focuses on three approaches to analysing grammatical number in Bantu languages—approaches based on an inflectional notion of number, those which analyse number as a derivational relation, and approaches adopting notions of polysemy and paradigms for analysing Bantu noun class systems.

The gender system of Durop

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-425
Author(s):  
Bruce Connell
Keyword(s):  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Present Approach ◽  
Cross River ◽  
University Of Leiden ◽  
Nominal Classification ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender System ◽  
Classification Agreement

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of grammatical gender and agreement in Durop, a language of the Upper Cross subgroup of Cross River. The data used are drawn from Kastelein (Kastelein, Bianca. 1994. A phonological and grammatical sketch of DuRop. Leiden: University of Leiden Scriptie), whose analysis treats gender as the singular – plural pairings of nouns different from the present approach. Kastelein identifies eight concord classes (agreement classes); these form the basis of gender in Durop in the present analysis; as many as 24 agreement classes are identified here. The various systems comprising nominal classification, agreement and gender in Durop are compared and discussed. The agreement system comprises three subsystems of differing numbers of agreement classes.

Bare classifier phrases in Thai and other mainland Asian languages: implications for classifier theory and typology

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitipong Pichetpan ◽  
Mark W. Post
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Function ◽  
Nominal Classification ◽  
Discourse Functions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Referential Function ◽  
Asian Languages ◽  
Modern Standard

Abstract This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the little-known “bare classifier phrase” construction in Modern Standard Thai. It describes the syntax, semantics and discourse functions of Thai bare classifier phrases, and further proposes a diachronic account of their origin in reduction of post-posed numeral ‘one’. Following this synchronic and diachronic description, this article attempts to locate Thai within a working typology of bare classifier constructions in mainland Asian languages, and further argues for the importance of bare classifier constructions to the theory of classifiers more generally. Following Bisang (1999) and others, it argues that bare classifier constructions reveal the core function of classifiers in Asian languages to be individuation – a referential function. It therefore cautions against some recent proposals to merge classifiers and gender markers within a single categorical space defined on the semantic basis of nominal classification, and in favour of continuing to treat classifiers as a discrete linguistic category – in mainland Asian languages, at least.

scholarly journals The gender system of Longuda

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-346
Author(s):  
Julius-Maximilian Elstermann ◽  
Ines Fiedler ◽  
Tom Güldemann
Keyword(s):  
Historical Reconstruction ◽  
Classifier System ◽  
Class System ◽  
Nominal Form ◽  
Noun Class ◽  
Nominal Classification ◽  
Gender System

Abstract This article describes the gender system of Longuda. Longuda class marking is alliterative and does not distinguish between nominal form and agreement marking. While it thus appears to be a prototypical example of a traditional Niger-Congo “noun-class” system, this identity of gender encoding makes it look morpho-syntactic rather than lexical. This points to a formerly independent status of the exponents of nominal classification, which is similar to a classifier system and thus less canonical. Both types of class marking hosts involve two formally and functionally differing allomorphs, which inform the historical reconstruction of Longuda noun classification in various ways.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document