associative plurals

[Alex Francois]

Hello Edith and everybody,

What if we know of an associative plural construction in a language
which is not mentioned in your list? Is your sample already closed for some
reason?

Thanks,
Alex.


********
Alex François
Lacito-CNRS
Univ. Paris-III & IV
22, Chemin de la Justice
92290 Châtenay Malabry
   FRANCE


----- Original Message -----
From: "Edith A Moravcsik" <edith at CSD.UWM.EDU>
To: <LINGTYP at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2001 8:50 PM
Subject: associative plurals


> Mikhail Daniel and I are working on a paper on the world-wide
> distribution of associative plurals, forming part of the World Atlas for
> Language Structures project now under preparation. Out of the 200
> languages in our sample, there are many for which we have been able to
> ascertain either the presence or the absence of this construction; but
> there are also many for which we have not found relevant information.
> These are languages for which grammars do not mention associative plurals
> and we do not have  informants available to find out whether this is an
> accidental omission or whether the language does not in fact have the
> construction.
>
> This message is to ask whether you are familiar with any of the languages
> listed below to the extent that you could tell us whether there is an
> associative plural construction in them or not. We will much appreciate
> your help.
>
> The associative plural construction consists of a noun N - usually a
> proper name or a kinship term - and a marker (often the same as the
> regular plural marker of the language). The meaning is 'N and his
> family (or friends; or associates)'. An example is Japanese:
>
>    Tanaka-tachi 'Tanaka and his friends'
>
> The information that we would need is this:
>
>    (a) Does language L have associative plurals or not?
>    (b) If it does,
>        - could you give us one or two examples?
>        - can you describe the composition and/or additional use of
>          the associative marker? In particular, is it or is it
>          not identical to the regular plural marker of the language?
>
> Here are the languages that we are primarily interested in:
>
>    - Acoma
>    - Bagirmi
>    - Barasano
>    - Burushaski
>    - Canela-Kraho
>    - Copainale Zoque
>    - Cree
>    - Daga
>    - Egyptian Arabic
>    - Grebo
>    - Guarani
>    - Harar Oromo
>    - Hmong Njua
>    - Imonda
>    - Jacaltec
>    - Kewa
>    - Kiowa
>    - Koasati
>    - Mangarayi
>    - Mapuche
>    - Maricopa
>    - Maung
>    - Maybrat
>    - Otomi
>    - Paiwan
>    - Rama
>    - Sanuma
>    - Supyire
>    - Tamazight (Ayt Nghir dialect)
>    - Tiwi
>    - Tukang Besi
>    - Warao
>    - Wari
>    - Apiboni
>    - Awa Pit
>    - Aymara
>    - Bawm
>    - Beja
>    - Bribri
>    - Cahuilla
>    - Cambodian
>    - Carib
>    - Cayuvava
>    - Coast Tshimshian
>    - Dehu
>    - Diola-Fogny
>    - Dongolese Nubian
>    - Ekagi
>    - Epena Pedee
>    - Fur
>    - Haida
>    - Hanis Coos
>    - Hunzib
>    - Igbo
>    - Ika
>    - Iraqw
>    - Kapau
>    - Karo Batak
>    - Kawesqar
>    - Ket
>    - Khasi
>    - Khmu
>    - Kilivila
>    - Koromfe
>    - Kunama
>    - Ladakhi
>    - Latvian
>    - Lealao Chinantec
>    - Maba
>    - Maranungku
>    - Mundari
>    - Murle
>    - Ndyuka
>    - Nenets
>    - Ngiti
>    - Nkore-Kiga
>    - Paamase
>    - Passamaquoddy
>    - Pitjantjatjara
>    - Selknam (Ona)
>    - Semelai
>    - Sentani
>    - Shipibo-Konibo
>    - Southeastern Pomo
>    - Squamish
>    - Suena
>    - Taba
>    - Tetelcingo Naguatl
>    - Tlingit
>    - Trumai
>    - Tunica
>    - Una
>    - Ungarinjin
>    - Usan
>    - Wambaya
>    - Witoto
>    - Yimas
>    - Yuchi
>    - Yurok
>    - !Xu (Ju/'hoan)
>
> Thank you for your attention.
>
> Mikhail Daniel (daniel at qub.com)
> Edith Moravcsik (edith at uwm.edu)
>
************************************************************************
> Edith A. Moravcsik
> Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics
> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
>          Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413
>                          USA
>
> E-mail: edith at uwm.edu
>          Telephone: (414) 229-6794 /office/
>     (414) 332-0141 /home/
>          Fax: (414) 229-2741
>
>
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