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Deictic Features of Demonstratives: A Typological Survey with Special Reference to the Miao Group

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Matthias Gerner
Matthias Gerner*
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong
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Abstract

This article is centred on the concept of the deictic feature embedded in demonstratives. A principled taxonomy of deictic features attested cross-linguistically is proposed, with the aim of being as comprehensive as possible. The list of deictic features previously identified is greatly expanded to include 15 features, with which 52 deictic values are associated. The morphological strategies for encoding deictic features in demonstratives are also examined. Three techniques are identified: (i) isolating; (ii) agglutinative or serial; and (iii) inflectional encoding. A number of the deictic features discussed in this article, along with their morphological realization strategies, are illustrated with data from the Miao Group of languages, spoken in the People’s Republic of China.

Résumé

Résumé

Le présent article se concentre sur le concept du trait déictique implantée dans les démonstratifs. On y propose une taxonomie structurée, aussi complète que possible, des traits déictiques attestés dans les langues du monde. La liste des traits déictiques reconnus précédemment est élargie pour inclure 15 traits, auxquels sont associées 52 valeurs déictiques. En outre, une attention particulière est consacrée aux stratégies morphologiques permettant de coder ces traits déictiques dans les démonstratifs. Trois techniques sont identifiées : le codage (i) isolant; (ii) agglutinant ou sériel; et (iii) flexionnel. Un bon nombre des traits déictiques présentés ici, ainsi que leurs stratégies morphologiques de réalisation, sont illustrés avec des données venant du groupe Miao, un ensemble de langues parlées dans la République populaire de Chine.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 54 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 43 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2009 

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