z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Developing the feature inventory of the inherent cases
Author(s) -
Jane Middleton
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
glossa
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2397-1835
DOI - 10.5334/gjgl.933
Subject(s) - computer science , occam , feature (linguistics) , syncretism (linguistics) , locative case , linguistics , natural language processing , programming language , philosophy
In this squib I propose a modification to Radkevich’s (2010) analysis of the locative cases, such that the privative features [source] and [goal] replace Radkevich’s binary features [±motion] and [±source]. I argue that these changes improve Radkevich’s analysis in three ways. The first improvement is empirical; they allow her system to account for the data of Kunimaipa, a language spoken in Papua New Guinea, which it presently cannot account for. The second improvement is also empirical; the analysis now predicts the absence of the unattested Ablative-Allative syncretism, which is not explained by alternative analyses. The final improvement is theoretical; a system employing privative features is to be preferred over one with binary features, because it is simpler (Occam’s razor).

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here