Appeal: Inflectional morphology cross-linguistic database

[Daniel Nettle]

Inflectional Morphology Database
or
What's the point of inflectional morphology anyway?

Dear Funknetters,
I am currently interested in looking at how the distinctions expressed
morphologically in languages with rich systems of morphological marking are
realised in languages which lack it, if they are. In a language such as
Mangarayi (Merlan 1982) where inflectional morphology is highly developed,
morphology takes over almost all the marking of grammatical relations from
syntax, but it also does much more. Nominal morphology replaces the category
of PP, and allows pronouns in many sentences to be dropped, whilst verbal
inflection replaces not only tense and aspect marking words but some adverbs.
The questions which obviously arise are: (a) diachronically, why do some
languages come to achieve morphologically what others do syntactically;
and (b) synchronically, what are the systemic consequences of having more
or less developed inflection.

I am appealing for help in building up a cross-linguistic database relevant
to these issues. The data required are a set of simple sentences translated
into a large number of different languages. The languages I am interested are
listed below. They are drawn from a standard cross-linguistic sampling frame.
I would like data from as many of them as possible, though I appreciate that
in practice only a small proportion can be done.

To respond for a particular language requires both competence in the language
(or access to native speakers) AND linguistic expertise on it (since
phonological transcription and interlinear glosses are required). I will be
extremely grateful if readers can contribute on languages with which they are
familiar.  I will post results on the Internet and also make the data available
to anyone who contributes and is interested. The questionnaire is available
from my website at:
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mert0362

- or by e-mailing me at:
Daniel.Nettle at merton.ox.ac.uk

- or by post from:
Daniel Nettle
Merton College
Oxford
OX1 4JD, UK.

Many thanks in anticipation to all!
Daniel Nettle

List of languages follows (sorry all the diacritics are lost):

African languages
Amharic
Dizi
Fulfulde
Gbeya
Hausa
Ik
!Kung
Logbara
Luganda
Maasai
Mandinka
Nama (Hottentot)
Nera
Orig (Kordofanian)
Oromo
Sandawe
Songhai
Yoruba

South and South-East Asian Languages
Acehnese
Fur
Gurung
Kota
Temiar
Thai

Languages from New Guinea and Oceania
Abelam
Alamblak
Amele
Arapesh
Asmat
Awtuw
Drehu
Hua
Kate
Kewa
Kiwai
Kobon
Kombai
Nasioi
Ponapean
Salt-Yui
Sentani
Suena
Sulka
Telefol
Vanimo
West Futuna
Yali
Yessan-Mayo
Yimas

Australian Languages
Djingili
Dyirbal
Garawa
Gunwinggu
Kuniyanti / Gooniyandi
Malak-Malak
Maung
Nunggubuyu
Nyigina
Tiwi
Ungarinjin / Ngarinjin
Uradhi
Warndarang
Western Desert / Pintupi
Yukulta


Central and South American Languages
Axininca Campa
Canela-Kraho
Cashinahua
Cayuvava
Chontal
Guarani
Hixkaryana
Huallaga Quechua
Huave
Jaqaru
Jivaro
Mixe
Mixtec
Nambiquara
Pipil
Piraha
Tarascan
Tepehua
Tzutujil
Yagua