Ergativity and Other Alignment Types in Neo-Aramaic : Investigating Morphosyntactic Microvariation

Paul M Noorlander

ISBN 10: 9004448179 / ISBN 13: 9789004448179

Published by Brill Aug 2021, 2021

About this Item

Neuware - The alignment splits in the Neo-Aramaic languages display a considerable degree of diversity, especially in terms of agreement. While earlier studies have generally oversimplified the actual state of affairs, Paul M. Noorlander offers a meticulous and clear account of nearly all microvariation documented so far, addressing all relevant morphosyntactic phenomena. By means of fully glossed and translated examples, the author shows that this vast variation in morphological alignment, including ergativity, is unexpected from a functional typological perspective. He argues the alignment splits are rather the outcome of several construction-specific processes such as internal system harmonization and grammaticalization, as well as language contact.

Seller Inventory # 9789004448179

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ergativity and Other Alignment Types in Neo-Aramaic : Investigating Morphosyntactic Microvariation
• Publisher: Brill Aug 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9004448179
• ISBN 13: 9789004448179
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 234W x 155H x 25D millimeters 234 millimeters width by 155 millimeters height by 25 millimeters depth
• Weight: 807 grams

About this title

Synopsis

The alignment splits in the Neo-Aramaic languages display a considerable degree of diversity, especially in terms of agreement. While earlier studies have generally oversimplified the actual state of affairs, Paul M. Noorlander offers a meticulous and clear account of nearly all microvariation documented so far, addressing all relevant morphosyntactic phenomena. By means of fully glossed and translated examples, the author shows that this vast variation in morphological alignment, including ergativity, is unexpected from a functional typological perspective. He argues the alignment splits are rather the outcome of several construction-specific processes such as internal system harmonization and grammaticalization, as well as language contact.

About the Author

Paul M. Noorlander, Ph.D. (2018) is currently a Rubicon Fellow at Leiden University seconded to the University of Cambridge. He is involved in Neo-Aramaic documentation and has published on various topics in Semitic languages and linguistics and contact with Indo-European.