Noun Phrases in Australian Languages : : A Typological Study / / Dana Louagie.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DG Ebook Package English 2020
• VerfasserIn: Louagie, Dana,
• Place / Publishing House: Berlin ;, Boston : : De Gruyter Mouton, , [2019]; ©2020
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Language: English
• Series: Pacific Linguistics [PL] , 662
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (XX, 261 p.)

This book presents a first comprehensive typological analysis of noun phrases in Australian languages, covering the domains of classification, qualification, quantification, determination and constituency. The analysis is based on a representative sample of 100 languages. Among other points, the results call into question the classic idea that Australian languages tend to lack phrasal structures in the nominal domain, with over two thirds of the languages showing evidence for phrasehood. Moreover, it is argued that it may be more interesting to typologise languages on the basis of where and how they allow phrasal structure, rather than on the basis of a yes-no answer to the question of constituency. The analysis also shows that a determiner slot can be identified in about half of the languages, even though they generally lack 'classic' determiner features like obligatory use in particular contexts or a restriction to one determiner per NP. Special attention is given to elements, which can be used both inside and beyond determiner slots, demonstrating how part of speech and functional structure do not always align. The book is of interest to researchers documenting Australian languages, as well as to typologists and theorists.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- List of Tables -- List of Maps -- Abbreviations -- Overview of the sample -- 1. Introduction -- Part I: Survey of NP features -- Introduction -- 2. Nominal classification -- 3. Qualification -- 4. Quantification -- 5. Determination and NP constituency -- Part II: NP constituency and determination -- Introduction -- 6. Noun phrase constituency -- 7. The status of determining elements -- 8. Conclusion -- Appendix -- References -- Language Index -- Subject Index