Building Predicates The View from Palauan [Hardcover]

This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the syntax of Palauan that will appeal to anyone interested in Austronesian languages or formal syntactic and morphological theory. This volume proposes that words in Palauan are not drawn directly from a mental lexicon, but are instead composed at least partially in the syntax.  Using original data from syntactic constructions not previously explored in the language, the author entertains several competing theories of word formation and highlights the compatible and incompatible aspects of each, through an exploration into new corners of Palauan syntax and morphology.  

1. Setting the Stage.- 2. The Morphosyntactic Encoding of Subjects.- 3. Licensing Internal Arguments.- 4. Idioms and Lexical Insertion.- 5. From Roots to Words to Predicates.- 6. Changing Categories.- 7. Overall Conclusions.- Appendix: Remarks on the Palauan Data.- Name Index.- Palauan Predicate Index.- Subject IndexThis volume proposes that words in Palauan are not drawn directly from a mental lexicon, but are instead composed at least partially in the syntax.  Using original data from syntactic constructions not previously explored in the language, the author entertains several competing theories of word formation and highlights the compatible and incompatible aspects of each, through an exploration into new corners of Palauan syntax and morphology.  The volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the syntax of Palauan that will appeal to anyone interested in Austronesian languages or formal syntactic and morphological theory more generally.

Offers fresh insights on the morphology and syntax of Palauan, based on new empirical data

Contains the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of Palauan syntax available

Based on the new data, the author offers arguments that challenge common analyses