The Melanesian Languages (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

R. H. Codrington

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0484376128 ISBN 13: 9780484376129

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2022

Synopsis

Discover the grammar and structure of Melanesian languages in a rigorous, readable reference.

This scholarly work presents detailed analysis of Melanesian grammar, including pronouns, demonstratives, possessives, adjectives, and verbs. It uses clear examples and comparative notes to show how these languages form meaning, tense, and reference. The material is grounded in descriptive data, offering practical insight into how speakers encode relation, possession, and action in everyday speech.

Readers will find concrete explanations of sentence construction, noun and verb forms, and the morphosyntactic patterns that differentiate Melanesian languages from other families. The book emphasizes core concepts and provides a solid foundation for further study or fieldwork in Oceania.

• How pronouns and possessives agreement work across forms
• How demonstratives and interrogatives are used in discourse
• How adjectives and verbs interact to express shading of meaning
• Observations on tense, aspect, and mood markers in verbal forms

Ideal for students, researchers, and language professionals concerned with Melanesian linguistics and descriptive grammar.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0484376128
• ISBN 13: 9780484376129
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 636