Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CHAOCLRSC (Comparative-historical analysis of the clausal structure in Reefs-Santa Cruz languages)
Période du rapport: 2023-10-01 au 2025-09-30
The CHAOCLRSC project aims to address a significant gap in our understanding of Oceanic languages through a detailed comparative-historical analysis of the clausal structures found in the Reefs-Santa Cruz (RSC) languages spoken in Temotu Province. While these languages are classified as Oceanic, they exhibit unique features that challenge traditional linguistic categorizations, particularly concerning their clausal organization.
One of the key languages of interest, Äiwoo, demonstrates a symmetrical voice system that is quite rare among Oceanic languages, although it has been observed in other branches of the Austronesian family, such as Western Austronesian languages. In contrast, the Santa Cruz languages primarily show transitivity-based systems. This contrast suggests a complex linguistic evolution and raises important questions about how these languages developed over time. The preservation of a symmetrical voice system in Äiwoo may provide valuable insights into the historical transition from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) to Proto-Oceanic (POc). Recent research indicates that the clausal structures in Äiwoo and those in Santa Cruz languages may share subtle connections, pointing to a more gradual relationship rather than a strict divide.The main objective of the CHAOCLRSC project is to thoroughly investigate the clausal systems of the Reefs-Santa Cruz languages and to assess the broader implications of these findings for the Austronesian language family. The project will focus on how the evolution from symmetrical voice systems to transitivity-based structures occurs, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of grammatical transitions and their cognitive underpinnings.
The specific research objectives of the project include the following:
First, in Work Package 1, the project will produce a scholarly paper that analyzes the typological aspects of Santa Cruz clausal structures, with particular attention to the role of valency-changing devices, especially applicatives. Furthermore, a comprehensive data corpus on Santa Cruz systems will be compiled to enhance the database of Austronesian clausal structures as part of the ongoing research led by Professor Næss.
Second, Work Package 2 will focus on a typological analysis of the RSC languages, specifically investigating the differences between valency morphology in Santa Cruz and voice morphology in Äiwoo. This component will include a comparative study of specific morphemes, such as the voice marker =Cä in Äiwoo and the applicative morphemes =ngö/-ngö/-(n)ö in Santa Cruz, emphasizing their semantic and syntactic significance.
Finally, Work Package 3 will involve a historical analysis of the Santa Cruz clausal systems, aiming to uncover their origins and evaluate whether they represent a transition from voice systems to transitivity-based structures. This investigation will provide a theoretical framework for understanding the transitional stage represented by the Santa Cruz systems and will help identify potential traces of voice systems in other Oceanic languages, informing our broader understanding of Proto-Oceanic reconstructions.
Through these objectives, the CHAOCLRSC project is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of the typological and historical dynamics of Oceanic languages. Moreover, by sharing my research findings with both academic and general audiences through conferences, workshops, podcasts, and popular articles, I aim to raise awareness of the linguistic complexities within the Reefs-Santa Cruz languages. This work will not only enrich our understanding of linguistic diversity and evolution but also contribute to the ongoing discourse within the field of linguistics.
One of the key languages of interest, Äiwoo, demonstrates a symmetrical voice system that is quite rare among Oceanic languages, although it has been observed in other branches of the Austronesian family, such as Western Austronesian languages. In contrast, the Santa Cruz languages primarily show transitivity-based systems. This contrast suggests a complex linguistic evolution and raises important questions about how these languages developed over time. The preservation of a symmetrical voice system in Äiwoo may provide valuable insights into the historical transition from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) to Proto-Oceanic (POc). Recent research indicates that the clausal structures in Äiwoo and those in Santa Cruz languages may share subtle connections, pointing to a more gradual relationship rather than a strict divide.The main objective of the CHAOCLRSC project is to thoroughly investigate the clausal systems of the Reefs-Santa Cruz languages and to assess the broader implications of these findings for the Austronesian language family. The project will focus on how the evolution from symmetrical voice systems to transitivity-based structures occurs, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of grammatical transitions and their cognitive underpinnings.
The specific research objectives of the project include the following:
First, in Work Package 1, the project will produce a scholarly paper that analyzes the typological aspects of Santa Cruz clausal structures, with particular attention to the role of valency-changing devices, especially applicatives. Furthermore, a comprehensive data corpus on Santa Cruz systems will be compiled to enhance the database of Austronesian clausal structures as part of the ongoing research led by Professor Næss.
Second, Work Package 2 will focus on a typological analysis of the RSC languages, specifically investigating the differences between valency morphology in Santa Cruz and voice morphology in Äiwoo. This component will include a comparative study of specific morphemes, such as the voice marker =Cä in Äiwoo and the applicative morphemes =ngö/-ngö/-(n)ö in Santa Cruz, emphasizing their semantic and syntactic significance.
Finally, Work Package 3 will involve a historical analysis of the Santa Cruz clausal systems, aiming to uncover their origins and evaluate whether they represent a transition from voice systems to transitivity-based structures. This investigation will provide a theoretical framework for understanding the transitional stage represented by the Santa Cruz systems and will help identify potential traces of voice systems in other Oceanic languages, informing our broader understanding of Proto-Oceanic reconstructions.
Through these objectives, the CHAOCLRSC project is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of the typological and historical dynamics of Oceanic languages. Moreover, by sharing my research findings with both academic and general audiences through conferences, workshops, podcasts, and popular articles, I aim to raise awareness of the linguistic complexities within the Reefs-Santa Cruz languages. This work will not only enrich our understanding of linguistic diversity and evolution but also contribute to the ongoing discourse within the field of linguistics.
The CHAOCLRSC project has led to significant advancements in the understanding of the clausal structures in the Reefs-Santa Cruz (RSC) languages through four scholarly publications.
One of the key outcomes is the article titled "Verb Classes and Valency in Santa Cruz and Proto-Oceanic: A Historical-Comparative Analysis," co-authored with Brenda H. Boerger and published in June 2025 in Oceanic Linguistics. This article provides a comparative-historical analysis of the verb classes in the Santa Cruz languages, focusing on the changes that have occurred from the Proto-Oceanic system to those found in this specific language group. Unlike Äiwoo, which has an unusual symmetrical voice system, the Santa Cruz languages exhibit a transitivity-based system similar to many other Oceanic languages, characterized by four verb classes and their subtypes, determined by the distribution of valency-changing morphology.
In this paper, we describe the functions of valency-increasing devices, such as causatives and applicatives, from a typological perspective, which aligns with objective 1.1 of Work Package 1 (WP1). Furthermore, we analyze how these systems and their organizational parameters have evolved from Proto-Oceanic, including the shifts in valency orientation profiles and the language-internal factors that may be involved in these changes. The findings of this study also relate to objective 3.1 of Work Package 3 (WP3) by demonstrating that the characteristics of the systems observed in Santa Cruz languages can be explained without necessarily relating them to the Äiwoo system.
The second key publication, titled "Towards a Typology of P Demotion in Oceanic," co-authored with Lidia Mazzittelli and currently under review with Studies in Language, emerged from Work Package 3, specifically objective 3.2. After observing that the SC languages lack a symmetrical voice system like that of Äiwoo, I expanded my analysis to explore whether other Oceanic languages show similar voice distinctions, i.e. a distinction between actor and undergoer voices. While Oceanic languages do not seem to have symmetrical voice systems like Äiwoo does, they exhibit interesting valency-changing phenomena, particularly in the domain of P-demotion constructions. This observation prompted a focused study on these phenomena, as they are crucial to understanding morphosyntactic variation within Oceanic languages. In this paper, we examine P demotion constructions, where a demoted P argument is either incorporated into the verb or realized as a non-core, non-oblique argument. By analyzing data from 45 languages across nearly all primary subgroups, we identified three main construction types: proper incorporation, noun stripping, and transitivity discord. In the first two types, the P argument integrates into the verb, while in the latter, it shows greater syntactic independence. These constructions form a continuum of increasing transitivity, from fossilized lexical incorporation to discord constructions.
The article titled "Functions and Origins of Some Applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu," co-authored with Brenda H. Boerger and submitted to Studies in Language, aligns with Work Package 1, specifically objective 1.1. During my research on applicatives in SC languages, I noticed the emergence of innovative applicative constructions with typologically unusual origins. This observation prompted us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the functions and grammaticalization pathways of these applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu. Applicative constructions allow for the promotion of non-core participants to core status, typically marked on the verb, resulting in an increase in verbal valency. Oceanic languages are renowned for their wide range of valency-changing devices, many of which can be traced back to Proto-Oceanic derivational morphology, such as the transitivizer *-i, the applicative *akin[i], and the causative *pa[ka]-. While prior studies have predominantly focused on reflexes of POc devices, there has been limited examination of valency-changing devices that have originated from other sources. In our paper, we specifically analyze applicatives that develop from atypical sources such as verbs, oblique pronouns, and spatial markers. Notably, while verbs are commonly recognized as sources for applicatives, oblique pronouns and spatial markers are less frequently documented.
The final contribution is a forthcoming chapter titled "The Languages of Temotu Province (The Santa Cruz Archipelago)," co-authored with Åshild Næss. It will be published in the book The Languages and Linguistics of Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific, edited by Bill Palmer and Ellen Smith-Dennis, and published by De Gruyter Mouton. I wrote this chapter as part of a strategy to address challenges in the project’s dissemination plan. I had originally planned to organize a workshop based on Work Packages 2 and 3, but unfortunately, I couldn’t proceed due to low participation. Instead, I focused on enhancing my publication record by providing an overview of the languages spoken in the Temotu region. The chapter highlights their unique features, linguistic diversity, and significance within the broader context of Oceanic languages.
One of the key outcomes is the article titled "Verb Classes and Valency in Santa Cruz and Proto-Oceanic: A Historical-Comparative Analysis," co-authored with Brenda H. Boerger and published in June 2025 in Oceanic Linguistics. This article provides a comparative-historical analysis of the verb classes in the Santa Cruz languages, focusing on the changes that have occurred from the Proto-Oceanic system to those found in this specific language group. Unlike Äiwoo, which has an unusual symmetrical voice system, the Santa Cruz languages exhibit a transitivity-based system similar to many other Oceanic languages, characterized by four verb classes and their subtypes, determined by the distribution of valency-changing morphology.
In this paper, we describe the functions of valency-increasing devices, such as causatives and applicatives, from a typological perspective, which aligns with objective 1.1 of Work Package 1 (WP1). Furthermore, we analyze how these systems and their organizational parameters have evolved from Proto-Oceanic, including the shifts in valency orientation profiles and the language-internal factors that may be involved in these changes. The findings of this study also relate to objective 3.1 of Work Package 3 (WP3) by demonstrating that the characteristics of the systems observed in Santa Cruz languages can be explained without necessarily relating them to the Äiwoo system.
The second key publication, titled "Towards a Typology of P Demotion in Oceanic," co-authored with Lidia Mazzittelli and currently under review with Studies in Language, emerged from Work Package 3, specifically objective 3.2. After observing that the SC languages lack a symmetrical voice system like that of Äiwoo, I expanded my analysis to explore whether other Oceanic languages show similar voice distinctions, i.e. a distinction between actor and undergoer voices. While Oceanic languages do not seem to have symmetrical voice systems like Äiwoo does, they exhibit interesting valency-changing phenomena, particularly in the domain of P-demotion constructions. This observation prompted a focused study on these phenomena, as they are crucial to understanding morphosyntactic variation within Oceanic languages. In this paper, we examine P demotion constructions, where a demoted P argument is either incorporated into the verb or realized as a non-core, non-oblique argument. By analyzing data from 45 languages across nearly all primary subgroups, we identified three main construction types: proper incorporation, noun stripping, and transitivity discord. In the first two types, the P argument integrates into the verb, while in the latter, it shows greater syntactic independence. These constructions form a continuum of increasing transitivity, from fossilized lexical incorporation to discord constructions.
The article titled "Functions and Origins of Some Applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu," co-authored with Brenda H. Boerger and submitted to Studies in Language, aligns with Work Package 1, specifically objective 1.1. During my research on applicatives in SC languages, I noticed the emergence of innovative applicative constructions with typologically unusual origins. This observation prompted us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the functions and grammaticalization pathways of these applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu. Applicative constructions allow for the promotion of non-core participants to core status, typically marked on the verb, resulting in an increase in verbal valency. Oceanic languages are renowned for their wide range of valency-changing devices, many of which can be traced back to Proto-Oceanic derivational morphology, such as the transitivizer *-i, the applicative *akin[i], and the causative *pa[ka]-. While prior studies have predominantly focused on reflexes of POc devices, there has been limited examination of valency-changing devices that have originated from other sources. In our paper, we specifically analyze applicatives that develop from atypical sources such as verbs, oblique pronouns, and spatial markers. Notably, while verbs are commonly recognized as sources for applicatives, oblique pronouns and spatial markers are less frequently documented.
The final contribution is a forthcoming chapter titled "The Languages of Temotu Province (The Santa Cruz Archipelago)," co-authored with Åshild Næss. It will be published in the book The Languages and Linguistics of Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific, edited by Bill Palmer and Ellen Smith-Dennis, and published by De Gruyter Mouton. I wrote this chapter as part of a strategy to address challenges in the project’s dissemination plan. I had originally planned to organize a workshop based on Work Packages 2 and 3, but unfortunately, I couldn’t proceed due to low participation. Instead, I focused on enhancing my publication record by providing an overview of the languages spoken in the Temotu region. The chapter highlights their unique features, linguistic diversity, and significance within the broader context of Oceanic languages.
The article titled "Verb Classes and Valency in Santa Cruz and Proto-Oceanic: A Historical-Comparative Analysis," co-authored with Brenda H. Boerger, provides a comparative-historical analysis of verb classes in the Santa Cruz languages, focusing on the changes from the Proto-Oceanic system to those in this specific language group. The contribution of the paper is significant for Oceanic linguistics because it presents a detailed analysis of verb classes and the morphology of the Santa Cruz languages, demonstrating how the current system—although different from the original—can be explained through a series of changes that are also attested in other Oceanic languages and observed elsewhere in the world's languages. More generally, this article contributes to historical linguistics by showing how internal changes within the system, due to the loss of original morphology, can cause shifts in the valency orientation of languages, making their systems appear substantially different.
The article "Towards a Typology of P Demotion in Oceanic" is significant for its new approach to classifying P-demotion constructions across Oceanic languages, presenting the first typology of its kind based on a comprehensive analysis of 45 Oceanic languages. This study introduces three distinct construction types—proper incorporation, noun stripping, and 'transitivity discord—offering new insights into the morphological and syntactic variations within P-demotion that have not been systematically identified in previous research. The classification highlights the unique formal and functional properties of these constructions and addresses gaps in the existing literature that have often conflated different phenomena. The typological framework proposed in this paper not only enhances our knowledge of P-demotion in Oceanic languages but also establishes a model that could be applied to analyze similar constructions in other language families, thereby opening new avenues for cross-linguistic research.
The article "Functions and Origins of Some Applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu" makes a significant contribution to the typology of applicative markers in Oceanic languages, and beyond. The paper explores the origins and functions of six applicative markers, demonstrating that they developed not only from traditional sources like verbs, but also from oblique pro-forms and spatial markers—diachronic sources that have been largely overlooked in the typological literature. The study proposes a grammaticalization pathway showing how an oblique pro-form can evolve into what is termed a 'continuity-motivated' applicative and ultimately into a 'true' applicative. Additionally, it demonstrates how spatial markers can develop into valency-increasing applicatives. Spatial markers as applicative sources are generally very rare in the world's languages. These findings sheds new light on the less-explored origins of applicatives, improving our typological understanding of these phenomena.
The article "Towards a Typology of P Demotion in Oceanic" is significant for its new approach to classifying P-demotion constructions across Oceanic languages, presenting the first typology of its kind based on a comprehensive analysis of 45 Oceanic languages. This study introduces three distinct construction types—proper incorporation, noun stripping, and 'transitivity discord—offering new insights into the morphological and syntactic variations within P-demotion that have not been systematically identified in previous research. The classification highlights the unique formal and functional properties of these constructions and addresses gaps in the existing literature that have often conflated different phenomena. The typological framework proposed in this paper not only enhances our knowledge of P-demotion in Oceanic languages but also establishes a model that could be applied to analyze similar constructions in other language families, thereby opening new avenues for cross-linguistic research.
The article "Functions and Origins of Some Applicatives in Nalögo and Natügu" makes a significant contribution to the typology of applicative markers in Oceanic languages, and beyond. The paper explores the origins and functions of six applicative markers, demonstrating that they developed not only from traditional sources like verbs, but also from oblique pro-forms and spatial markers—diachronic sources that have been largely overlooked in the typological literature. The study proposes a grammaticalization pathway showing how an oblique pro-form can evolve into what is termed a 'continuity-motivated' applicative and ultimately into a 'true' applicative. Additionally, it demonstrates how spatial markers can develop into valency-increasing applicatives. Spatial markers as applicative sources are generally very rare in the world's languages. These findings sheds new light on the less-explored origins of applicatives, improving our typological understanding of these phenomena.