New book from Pacific Linguistics

[John Bowden]

Pacific Linguistics is pleased to announce the publication of the following
new books:

Kikusawa, Ritsuko, 2002. Proto Central Pacific ergativity:
Its reconstruction and development in the Fijian, Rotuman and Polynesian
languages.

Please note that all prices are given in Australian dollars. AU $1.00 =
approx. US $0.57 (as at 21 June, 2002). Australian prices include 10% Goods
and Services Tax (GST). International sales are exempt from GST. To order
Pacific Linguistics books, email thelma.sims at anu.edu.au or refer to PL's
website:

http://www.pacling.anu.edu.au


Proto Central Pacific ergativity:
Its reconstruction and development in the Fijian, Rotuman and Polynesian
languages
Kikusawa, Ritsuko
PL 520
         The main objective of this study is to determine the actancy
system (ergativity or accusativity) of Proto Central Pacific, and to
determine how this system developed in its daughter languages, Fijian and
Rotuman, which are accusative, as well as in the Polynesian languages, some
of which are ergative.  It is shown that an ergative system has to be
reconstructed for Proto Central Pacific, based on the presence of two sets
of clitic pronouns (Genitive and Nominative) used for the core arguments of
transitive constructions.  A set of independent pronouns is also
reconstructed.  These pronominal forms are shown to be reflexes of Proto
Malayo-Polynesian reconstructions.  The process by which the ergative
parent language changed into some of its accusative daughter languages is
illustrated.
         The following points in this work may be of particular
interest:  1) a description of clear cases where the actancy systems change
from ergative to accusative;  2) an illustration of how syntactic,
phonological, morphological, and/or lexical changes are synthesised;  3)
typological descriptions of three Central Pacific languages, namely
Rotuman, Fijian, and Tongan, applying Lexicase Dependency Grammar;  5) a
modification to the currently accepted subgrouping hypothesis for the
Central Pacific group.

ISBN 0 85883 438 3      xxii + 213 pp.
AUS $53.90      International $49.00




Dr John Bowden
Managing Editor
Pacific Linguistics
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA
Ph: +61 (0) 2 6125 3281
Fax: +61 (0) 2 6125 4896
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