A Grammar of Kambera

Description

Acknowledgements Figures and tables Abbreviations and conventions 1. Introduction 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The language and its speakers 1.2 Previous linguistic studies of Kambera 1.3 Fieldwork, informants, methodology and database 1.4 Theoretical background, goals 2. Phonology 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Segmental inventory 2.2 Phonotactics 2.3 Non-root phonotactics 2.4 Vowel distribution in the prosodic word 2.5 Word games and names 2.6 Reduplication 2.7 Summary and conclusions 3. Morphological and syntactic units 3.0 Introduction 3.1 Morphological units 3.2 Inflection and derivation 3.3 Pronominal clitics 3.4 Grammatical relations 3.5 Structure of the clause 4. Word classes 4.0 Introduction 4.1 Distinctions between nouns and verbs 4.2 Similarities between nouns and verbs 4.3 The absence of adjectives 4.4 Adverbs 4.5 Prepositions 4.6 Other categories 4.7 Summary and conclusions 5. Intransitive argument linking 5.0 Introduction 5.1 The distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs 5.2 Deictic verbs: S is marked with dative clitic 5.3 The ‘continuative aspect’ construction: S is marked with genitive and dative clitics 5.4 The ‘double-S’ construction: S is marked with nominative and accusative clitics 5.5 The ‘absolutive’ construction 5.6 Conclusions 6. Derivational morphology 6.0 Introduction 6.1 The prefix pa 6.2 The morpheme .ng 6.3 The interaction of pa. and .ng 6.4 The circumfix ka.-.k 6.5 The prefixes ha.1 and ha.2 6.6 The prefix ka 6.7 The prefix la 6.8 The prefix ma 6.9 The prefix [nas]./mutation: non-controlled intransitive verbs 6.10 The prefix ta. \ agentless intransitive achievement verbs 6.11 Overview: interaction of some prefixes 6.12 Summary and conclusions 7. Complex verbs 7.0 Introduction 7.1 Serial verb constructions 7.2 Instrumental, comitative and locative complex verbs 7.3 Phrasal verbs of emotion and appearance 7.4 Summary and conclusions 8. Subordinate clauses 8.0 Introduction 8.1 Relative clauses 8.2 Complement clauses 8.3 Summary and conclusions Appendix: Kambera texts 1. Conversation 2. Process description Na ngara ngia tundung uhu ‘How to grow rice’ 3. Prayer 4. Mythological story: Njara Hawurung ‘A flying horse’ 5. Historical narrative: La rehi Nipong ‘In the Japanese Era’ 6. Story: Landu Niki Notes References Index