Overview

Applicative constructions are a distinctive grammatical feature of the Austronesian languages of western Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. Applicatives in these languages show varied syntactic and semantic properties, and are closely connected to causativization, aspectual meanings, and symmetrical voice. As a result, they do not fit neatly into 'canonincal' patterns for applicatives. This book adopts a construction-based, typologically-grounded approach, treating applicatives as pairings of form and meaning. Data from 85 languages is analyzed systematically, combining careful description with quantitative methods and extensive use of geomapping to explore the diverse properties of applicatives in this region and their diachronic development.

Full Product Details

Author:   Christina L. Truong
Publisher:   Brill
Imprint:   Brill
Volume:   4
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.90cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.758kg
ISBN:  

9789004737129

ISBN 10:   900473712
Pages:   380
Publication Date:   28 August 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments List of Figures and Maps List of Tables Abbreviations 1 Introduction  11 What are Applicatives?  12 Why Study Applicatives in Languages of West Nusantara?  13 Background and Sources of Data  14 Scope of the Study  15 Previous Research on Applicatives in West Nusantara Languages  16 Framework and Assumptions  17 Content and Structure 2 Case Study: Sundanese Applicatives  21 The Sundanese Language and Community  22 Basic Morphosyntax  23 Overview of Applicative Morphology  24 Locative-selecting Constructions Marked with ‑an  25 Theme- and Instrument-selecting Constructions Marked with ‑keun  26 Beneficiary-selecting Constructions Marked with pang‑ ‑keun  27 Beneficiary-selecting Constructions Marked with ‑keun  28 Other Applicative Constructions  29 Other AM-marked Constructions  210 Summary and Discussion 3 Towards a Typologically-grounded, Constructional Approach to Applicatives  31 What are Applicatives?  32 Problematic Constructions and Their Significance  33 Constructional Approaches as a Lens for West Nusantara Applicative Systems  34 On the Problem of Philippine-type Voice in a Study of Applicatives  35 On the Relationship between Serial Verb Constructions and Applicatives  36 West Nusantara Applicatives in Typological Perspective 4 The Distribution of Applicatives in West Nusantara Languages: A Bird’s Eye View  41 Establishing the Basic Distribution  42 Properties Considered in the Survey  43 Overview of Results and Multivariable Analysis  44 Detailed Results for Structural Properties  45 Location and Genetic Affiliation  46 Summary and Implications 5 Interpreting Distributional Patterns through Geographic Typology  51 Sumatra and the Barrier Islands  52 Java and Madura  53 The Lesser Sundas  54 Mainland Southeast Asia and Peninsular Malaysia  55 Borneo and the Southern Philippines  56 Sulawesi  57 Summary of Major Findings 6 Properties of Applicative Constructions and their Distribution in West Nusantara  61 Distribution of Function and Form  62 Properties of ACs and AMs Considered in the Survey  63 Forms Marking Pivot-selecting Constructions  64 Forms Marking Pivot-neutral Constructions  65 Polyfunctionality of West Nusantara Applicative Morphemes  66 Comparative and Other Degree Constructions  67 Syntactic Properties of Applicative Constructions  68 Summary of Findings and Implications 7 A Functional Typology of Applicative Constructions in Languages of West Nusantara  71 Introduction  72 Sampling of Languages  73 Basic Morphosyntax  74 Applicative Morphology  75 Beneficiaries and Recipients  76 Instruments and Themes  77 Goals and locations  78 Circumstantial and Comitative Roles  79 Other Applied Phrases  710 Aspect, Intensity and Other Semantic Effects  711 Causative AM-marked Constructions  712 Applicatives and Voice  713 Summary of Findings 8 Conclusion Appendix 1: Language Sample for Typological Survey Appendix 2: Questionnaires Used in the Typological Survey Appendix 3: Database for Typological Survey References Index

Reviews

Author Information

Christina L. Truong, PhD (2024), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is a documentary linguist whose work has focused on the Austronesian languages of Asia and the Pacific. Her research explores linguistic diversity and typology, verbal constructions, and language change.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions