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Comparative-historical analysis of the clausal structure in Reefs-Santa Cruz languages

Project description

Analysing clausal structure in the Reefs-Santa Cruz languages

The Reefs-Santa Cruz (RSC) languages spoken in the Temotu province are classified as Oceanic. However, compared to most Oceanic languages, they have unexpected characteristics, including unusual clausal structure patterns. While Äiwoo shows a symmetrical voice system, which is thought to have been lost in the transition from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian to Proto-Oceanic, the other RSC languages display transitivity-based systems with certain voice-like characteristics. In the evolutionary process from a symmetrical voice system to a transitivity-based one, Äiwoo and its sister languages might represent two different stages of development. The MSCA-funded CHAOCLRSC project aims to provide a comprehensive comparative-historical analysis of RSC languages clausal structure to better understand the principles underlying individual systems and, more generally, the change from one system to the other.

Objective

The objective of CHAOCLRSC is to fill a significant gap in the history of Oceanic languages by providing a comparative-historical
analysis of the clausal structure in the Reefs-Santa Cruz (RSC) languages spoken on the Reef Islands and Santa Cruz (SC). Despite being
classified as Oceanic, RSC show unexpected features, including unusual patterns of clausal structure. In particular, iwoo displays a
symmetrical voice system, a type of clausal structure which is highly unusual in the Oceanic family. In this respect, iwoo differs
significantly from the other RSC languages, in that, like most Oceanic languages, they display transitivity-based systems. The presence
of a symmetrical voice system in iwoo is of interest for the history of the Oceanic subgroup, since voice systems are thought to have
been lost in the transition from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) to Proto-Oceanic (POc). Recent studies on iwoo and SC systems have
shown that the two systems are unusual in two different ways. iwoo can be seen as transitional because it retains a symmetrical
voice system with Oceanic morphology, whereas SC languages retain some voice-like characteristics in otherwise largely transitivitybased systems. Historically, the change from PMP to iwoo represents one stage of development from symmetrical voice to the
Oceanic transitivity-based system, while the differences between iwoo and SC may represent a further stage. This makes
comparative-historical work on SC clause structures an urgent priority. More broadly, understanding how the shift from a symmetrical
voice system to a transitivity-based has happened in RSC will contribute to our understanding of the general principles governing
both individual systems and, more generally, the change from one clausal system to the other

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
Net EU contribution

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€ 210 911,04
Address
PROBLEMVEIEN 5-7
0313 Oslo
Norway

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Region
Norge Oslo og Viken Oslo
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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