The Semantics of Verbal Classification in Bardi (Western Australia)

This paper investigates the phenomenon of verbal classification in Bardi, an Aboriginal language of north-western Australia. Verbal classification involves the categorization of processes and works primarily at the lexical level. The analysis shows that lexical valency and aspect as well as the type...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAustralian journal of linguistics Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 157 - 177
Main Author Nicolas, Edith
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published St. Lucia, Qld Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2000
Australian Linguistic Society
Subjects
Aboriginal languages
Australia
Classification
English language
Grammar
Kimberley region (WA)
Language
Lexical valency
Linguistic research
Multi-classification
Phonology
Semantics
Sociolinguistics
Trajectory
Verbs
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Summary:This paper investigates the phenomenon of verbal classification in Bardi, an Aboriginal language of north-western Australia. Verbal classification involves the categorization of processes and works primarily at the lexical level. The analysis shows that lexical valency and aspect as well as the type of trajectory contained in the process are essential to account for verbal classification. The seven most productive classifiers of Bardi are described and their semantic classifying features are outlined. The study concludes with cases of multiclassification which show a variety of output ranging from lexical contrast to syntactic oppositions.
Bibliography:Australian Journal of Linguistics, v.20, no.2, Oct 2000: (157)-177
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ISSN:0726-8602
1469-2996
DOI:10.1080/07268600020006058