569 Morphology and Syntax

On the distribution, reconstruction and varied fates of topographical deixis in Tibeto-Burman Mark W. Post University of Sydney ICSTLL51, Kyoto University 2018

What is topographical deixis? • Post (2011: 137): “a means of referencing the location or trajectory of a referent in terms of one of three topographically-oriented planes: upward, downward and on the same or an unknown level (as a shifting reference point).” tə̀ à

à bə̀

(Galo, Post 2011)

Topographical deixis in TibetoBurman • forms paradigms in many TB languages o previous descriptions/terminology used: Allen (1972) “vertical dimension”; Ebert (1994, 2003) “altitudinal case”; Bickel (1997, 2001) “environmental space deixis”; Noonan (2003) “vertical verbs/case”; Schackow (2015) “geomorphic orientational system”…

tə̀ à

à bə̀

(Galo, Post 2011)

Topographical deixis in TibetoBurman • grammatical domains o demonstratives • or adverbs > demonstratives o relational markers • often < *demonstrative + relational postposition o motion verbs o directional verbal modifiers • often < (serialized) verbs

Topographical deixis in TibetoBurman • grammatical domains

o demonstratives • or adverbs > demonstratives o relational markers • often < *demonstrative + relational postposition o motion verbs o directional verbal modifiers • often < (serialized) verbs




Topographical deixis in TibetoBurman • semantic domains o o o o

topographical orientation riverine orientation cardinal-directional orientation home/non-home orientation (?)






tə̀


à

à

bə̀



tə̀

à

à bə̀

Why this syncretism? • drainage patterns higher altitude river sources north

lower altitude river drainage south

Why this syncretism? • settlement patterns higher altitude river sources home/village north

lower altitude river drainage major population centre(s) south

A survey: Topographical deictic demonstratives • why only demonstratives?

A survey: Topographical deictic demonstratives • why only demonstratives? o o o o

easy to spot hard to get completely wrong form relatively closed class form relatively well-delineated paradigm

(1978)

Results

Results • topographical-deictic demonstratives or likely cognates found in o Bodic • Tamangic, Tibetic, W. Himalayish, E. Bodish, Tshangla o Kiranti o Lepcha o Mijiic o Macro-Tani • Tani, Koro-Milang o Kera’a-Tawrã (Digarish) o rGyalrongic-Qiangic (as directional V. prefixes – cognacy uncertain) o Lolo-Burmese • Loloish • N. Burmish o Jingphoic

Results • topographical-deictic demonstratives or likely cognates not found in o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Newaric Dura Dhimalish Hruso Sherdukpen Karenic Bodo-Garo Tujia S. Burmish Jingpho-Asakian lgs other than Jingpho Karbi Meithei Ao Angami-Pochuri Tangkhulic Mruic Kuki-Chin (?) (Sinitic)

Results • insufficient information o Gongduk, Raji-Raute, Pyu, Zeme, Bai, Nung, Kho-Bwa other than Sherdukpen...

Does it reconstruct? • most likely, yes

SIN IT IC

(Bradley 2002)

Does it reconstruct? • most likely, yes Value

Upward

Downward

Same level

Form

*tV

*bV

*yV

Found in

Tamangic Tshangla Kiranti Lepcha Mijiic Tani Milang Kera’a-Tawrã rGyalrongic (??) Qiangic (??) Loloish N. Burmish Jingpho

Tamangic Tibetic W. Himalayish E. Bodish Kiranti Lepcha Mijiic Tani Milang Kera’a-Tawrã Loloish N. Burmish

Kiranti Milang Loloish rGyalrongic (???)

Environmental perspectives • Languages that have (or perhaps retain) topographical deixis are predominantly spoken by long-term highlanders o Bodic • Tamangic, Tibetic, W. Himalayish, E. Bodish, Tshangla o Kiranti o Lepcha o Mijiic o Macro-Tani • Tani, Koro-Milang o Kera’a-Tawrã (Digarish) o rGyalrongic-Qiangic (as directional V. prefixes – cognacy uncertain) o Lolo-Burmese • Loloish • N. Burmish o Jingphoic

Environmental perspectives

• Languages that lack (and perhaps have lost) topographical deixis are predominantly spoken by lowlanders (including plateau-dwellers) o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

o (though note that language contact and/or AA substrate influence could also be a factor) Newaric Dura Dhimalish Hruso Sherdukpen Karenic Bodo-Garo Tujia S. Burmish Jingpho-Asakian lgs other than Jingpho Karbi Meithei Ao Angami-Pochuri Tangkhulic Mruic Kuki-Chin (?) (Sinitic)

Could it be parallel innovation? • Could topographical deictic demonstratives have repeatedly grammaticalized, e.g. from spatial nouns? • Certainly, and such cases can be shown to have occurred.

Could it be parallel innovation? • Could topographical deictic demonstratives have repeatedly grammaticalized, e.g. from spatial nouns? • Certainly, and such cases can be shown to have occurred. • Nevertheless, the predominance of close correspondences among topographical-deictic demonstratives in genealogically distant and geographically-dispersed subgroups makes this seem unlikely (on a large scale at least).

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 1. Apatani is the only Tani language lacking topographical deictic demonstratives and postpositions

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 1. Apatani is the only Tani language lacking topographical deictic demonstratives and postpositions

Galo area

Apatani area

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 1. Apatani is the only Tani language lacking topographical deictic demonstratives and postpositions o

having come to exclusively inhabit a flat plateau area, the environmental anchor(s) effectively disappeared, and the system obsolesced

Galo area

Apatani area

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 2. Sal languages other than Jingpho appear to have lost topographical deixis

thó-rà lé-rà wó-rà

‘distal, up’ ‘distal, down’ ‘distal, same level’

Jingpho (Kurabe 2017: 999)

< *‘up’

< *‘slev’

(data from Stephen Morey)

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 2. Sal languages other than Jingpho appear to have lost topographical deixis

Singpho (present day)

Spread of Kachinic Proto-Bodo-Garo (c. 1000 ya.)

Garo

Centre of gravity

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies 3. While Loloish and N. Burmish languages tend to retain PLB topographical deixis, S. Burmish languages appear to have lost it

(Lhaovo, N. Burmish; Sawada 2012: 7)

Differential retention and loss: Some case studies • and on a larger scale... Topographical deixis usually lost (or not found) Topographical deixis usually retained (or developed)

Conclusion • topographical deixis (at least, as evidenced in demonstrative systems) is widespread in Tibeto-Burman and quite likely reconstructs fairly deeply within the family • topographical deixis tends to be retained in hill languages (often spoken by relatively smaller populations) • topographical deixis tends to be (fairly quickly) lost in plains/plateau languages (often spoken by relatively larger populations) • [this could be read as having implications for the reconstruction of early TB population prehistories, but won‘t pursue here]

Thank you!

(the Siang River, looking up/upriver/northward towards Tibet)

Selected references East Indian Linguistics Volume 3. New Delhi, Cambridge University Press Andvik, Erik E. (2010). A Grammar of Tshangla, E. J. Brill. Hargreaves, David (2003). 'Kathmandu Newar (Nepal Bhasa).' In Graham Thurgood India: 137-154. Arokianathan, S. (1987). Tangkhul Naga Grammar. Mysore, Central Institute for and Randy J. LaPolla, Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: Poudel, Kedar Prasad (2006). Dhankute Tamang Grammar. München, Lincom Indian Languages. 371-384. Bartee, Ellen (2007). A Grammar of Dongwang Tibetan. PhD Dissertation, Europa. Hyslop, Gwendolyn (2017). A Grammar of Kurtöp. Leiden, Brill. University of California. Jacques, Guillaume (2004). Phonologie et Morphologie du Japhug (rGyalrong). PhD Pulu, Jatan (1978). Idu Phrase-Book. Shillong, Director of Information and Public Relations, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Bickel, Balthasar (2001). "Deictic transposition and referential practice in Belhare." Thesis, University de Paris VII - Denis Diderot. Sangdong, David (2012). A Grammar of the Kadu (Asak) Language. PhD Thesis, Journal of Linguistic Anthroplogy 10(2): 224-247. Kato, Atsuhiko (2003). 'Pwo Karen.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, La Trobe University. Bradley, David (2003). 'Lisu.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, Eds., The Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 633-648. Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 222-235. Konnerth, Linda (2014). A Grammar of Karbi. PhD Thesis, University of Oregon. Sawada, Hideo (2012). On the composition of noun phrases in Lhaovo. 45th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics. Burling, Robbins (2004). The Language of the Modhipur Mandi (Garo). Volume I: Kurabe, Keita (2017). 'Jinghpaw.' In Randy LaPolla and Graham Thurgood, Eds., Singapore, Nanyang University. Grammar. New Delhi, Bibliophile South Asia. The Sino-Tibetan Languages [2nd Edition]. London, Routledge: 993-910?? Schackow, Diana (2015). A Grammar of Yakkha. Berlin, Language Science Press. Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1997). Meithei. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter. LaPolla, Randy J. (2017). 'Dulong.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, Simon, I. M. (1979). Miji Language Guide. Shillong, Philological Section, Coupe, Alec (2007). A Grammar of Mongsen Ao. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter. Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London/New York, Routledge: 635-645. Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Das Gupta, K. (1977). A Phrase Book in Miju. Shillong, IN, Government of LaPolla, Randy J. and Chenglong Huang (2003). A Grammar of Qiang: With Simon, Ivan Martin (1970). Aka Language Guide. Shillong, Meghalaya, India, Arunachal Pradesh Research Department. Annotated Texts and Glossary. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter. NEFA Director of Information and Public Relations. Ding, Picus Sizhi (2003). 'Prinmi: A sketch of Niuwozi.' In Graham Thurgood and Lidz, Liberty (2010). A Descriptive Grammar of Yongning Na. PhD Thesis, So-Hartmann, Helga (2009). A Descriptive Grammar of Daai Chin. Berkeley, CA, Randy J. LaPolla, Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 588University of Texas. Sino-Tibetan Etymological Dictionary and Thesaurus Project. 601. Lieberherr, Ismael (2017). A Grammar of Bulu Puroik: Phonology, Morpho-Syntax, Solnit, David B. (1997). Eastern Kayah Li: Grammar, Texts, Glossary. Honolulu, Doornenbal, Marius (2009). A Grammar of Bantawa: Grammar, Paradigm Tables, Lexicon. PhD Thesis PhD Thesis, Universität Bern. University of Hawai'i Press. Glossary and Texts of a Rai Language of Eastern Nepal. PhD Dissertation, Manson, Kenneth (2010). A Grammar of Kayan, a Tibeto-Burman Language. PhD Sreedhar, M. V. (1980). A Sema Grammar. Mysore, Central Institute of Indian Leiden University. Thesis, LaTrobe University. Languages. Ebert, Karen (1997). A Grammar of Athpare. Munich, Lincom Europa. Matisoff, James A. (1973). The Grammar of Lahu. Berkeley, University of --- (2003). 'Kiranti languages: An overview.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. van Breugel, Seino (2014). A Grammar of Atong. Leiden, Brill. California Press. van Driem, George (1998). Dzongkha. Leiden, Leiden University Research School LaPolla, Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 505-517. Modi, Yankee (2017). A Grammar of Milang. PhD Thesis, University of Berne. CNWS. Gawne, Lauren (2016). A Sketch Grammar of Lamjung Yolmo. Canberra, AsiaNoonan, Michael (2003). 'Chantyal.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, Pacific Linguistics. Watters, David E. (2002). A Grammar of Kham. Cambridge, Cambridge University Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 315-335. Genetti, Carol (2007). A Grammar of Dolokha Newar. Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter. Okell, John (1969). A Reference Grammar of Colloquial Burmese [2 Volumes]. Press. Giridhar, P. P. (1980). Angami Grammar. Mysore, Cental Institute of Indian Widmer, Manuel (2016). A Descriptive Grammar of Bunan. PhD Thesis, University Oxford, Oxford University Press. of Berne. Languages. Opgenort, Jean Robert (2005). A Grammar of Jero: With a Historical Comparative Zemp, Marius (2013). A Historical Grammar of the Tibetan Dialect Spoken in Study of the Kiranti Languages. Leiden, Brill. --- (1994). Mao Naga Grammar. Mysore, Central Institute of Indian Languages. Kargil (Purik). PhD Thesis, University of Berne. Hansson, Gerd, Ed. (1997). A Synoptic Glossary of Athpare, Belhare, and Yakkha, Peterson, David A. (2003). 'Hakha Lai.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, Zhang, Sihong (2013). A Reference Grammar of Ersu, a Tibeto-Burman Language Eds., The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 409-426. with Further Contributions: Findings of the Linguistic Survey of Nepal. of China. PhD Thesis, James Cook University. Plaisier, Heleen (2007). A Grammar of Lepcha. Leiden, Brill. München, Lincom Europa. Hansson, Inga-Lill (2003). 'Akha.' In Graham Thurgood and Randy J. LaPolla, Eds., Post, Mark W. (2011). 'Topographical deixis and the Tani languages of North-East India.' In Gwendolyn Hyslop, Stephen Morey and Mark W. Post, Eds., North The Sino-Tibetan Languages. London, Routledge: 236-252.