Possessive classifiers in North Ambrym, a language of Vanuatu: explorations in Semantic classification

Franjieh, Michael James

Abstract

North Ambrym, an Oceanic language spoken in Vanuatu, exhibits the two
common Oceanic possessive construction types: direct and indirect. This thesis
focuses on the indirect construction which occurs when the possessed noun
refers to a semantically alienable item. In North Ambrym the indirect possessive
construction is marked by one of a set of possessive classifiers. The
theory within Oceanic linguistics is that the possessive classifiers do not classify
a property of the possessed noun but the relation between possessor and
possessed (Lichtenberk 1983b). Thus, it is the intentional use of the possessed
by the possessor that is encoded by the possessive classifier, such that an ‘edible’
classifier will be used if the possessor intends to eat the possessed or the
‘drinkable’ classifier will be used if the possessed is intended to be drunk. This
thesis challenges this theory and instead proposes that the classifiers act like
possessed classifiers in North Ambrym and characterise a functional property
of the possessed noun. Several experiments were conducted that induced different
contextual uses of possessions, however this did not result in classifier
change, which would be expected in the relational classifier theory.
Each classifier has a large amount of seemingly semantically disparate members
and they do not all share the semantic features of the central members, thus
an analysis using the classical theory of classification is untenable. Instead the
classifier categories are best analysed using prototype theory as certain semantic
groups of possessions are considered to be more central members. This
hypothesis is supported by further experimentation into classification which
helps define the centrality of classifier category members. Finally an analysis
using cognitive linguistic theory proposes that non-central members are
linked to central members via semantic chains using notions of metaphor and
metonymy.
All languge data from this project has been deposited at the Endangered Language
Archive (ELAR) at SOAS,University of London.

Citation

Franjieh, M. J. Possessive classifiers in North Ambrym, a language of Vanuatu: explorations in Semantic classification. (Thesis). SOAS, University of London

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2013
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00016808
• Keywords: Ambrym language
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2012