| Tongan
Possessives |
 |
Analyses of Oceanic
(and Polynesian) A- and O-possession typically distinquish between the two types
by making reference to the nature of the relationship between possessor and
possessed: dominant and subordinate possession (Pawley, 1973; Biggs, 1982; Lynch,
1982), or control and not-control possession (Wilson, 1976, 1982), or alienable
and inalienable possession (Lichtenberk, 1985). In 1996, Taumoefolau proposed
a fascinating analysis of Tongan possessives in which she rejected the validity
of these analyses and approached the Tongan A/O-possessive dichotomy by using
metaphor and prototype theory.
In this research I utilize some of Taumoefolau’s findings and propose an
alternative conceptual approach to Tongan possessives. Jackendoff’s (1997)
theory known as Representation Modularity, is the general cognitive framework
informing my proposal. I use concepts—like Vector, Center, Direction, Path,
Body/Route, and End-of-Path(Bennardo, 1996)—from the Spatial Representation
module to outline the conceptual structure linguistically instantiated by the
dichotomous nature of Tongan possession.
References
- Bennardo, Giovanni
(1996). A Computational Approach to Spatial Cognition: Representing Spatial
Relationships in Tongan Language and Culture. Doctoral Thesis, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois.
Biggs, B. (1969). Let’s Learn Maori: A Guide to the Study of the Maori
Language. Auckland: Auckland University Press.
- Jackendoff, Ray.
(1997). The Architecture of the Language Faculty. Cambridge, Mass.:
MIT Press.
- Lichtenberk, Frantisek.
(1985). Possessive Constructions in Oceanic Languages and in Proto-Oceanic.
In Andrew Pawley and Lois Carrington (eds.) Austronesian Linguistics at the
15th Pacific Studies Science Congress, 93-140. Pacific Linguistics, C-88.
- Lynch, John. (1982).
Towards a Theory of the Origin of the Oceanic Possessive Constructions.
In Amran Halim, Lois Carrington, and S. A. Wurm (eds.) Papers from the Third
International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics, vol. 1: Currents in
Oceanic, 243-268. Pacific Linguistics, C-74.
- Pawley, Andrew.
(1973). Some Problems in Proto-Oceanic Grammar. Oceanic Linguistics,
12:103-188.
- Taumoefolau, Melenaite
(1996). Nominal Possessive Classification in Tongan. In John Lynch and Fa’afo
Pat (eds.) Oceanic Studies: Proceedings of the First International Conference
on Oceanic Linguistics, 295-306. Pacific Linguistics, C-133.
- Wilson, William
H. (1976). The o/a Distinction in Hawaiian Possessives. Oceanic Linguistics,
15 (1), 39-50.
- Wilson, William
H. (1982). Proto-Polynesian Possessive Marking. Pacific Linguistics,
B-85.
This research resulted in the following publications:
- Bennardo, Giovanni
(2000a). A Conceptual Approach to Possession: Space and Possessives in
Tongan. In Steven R. Fischer and Wolfgang B. Sperlich (Eds.), Leo Pasifika:
Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Oceanic Linguistics,
Niue, South Pacific, 5th-9th July, 1999, pp. 44-59. Monograph Series of the
Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures, Vol. 2. Auckland, New Zealand:
Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures.
- Bennardo, Giovanni
(2000b). Possessive Markers in Tongan: A Conceptual Approach. In Steven
R. Fischer (Ed.) Possessive Markers in Central Pacific Languages, special
issue of Language Typology and Universals, Berlin 53 (2000) 3/4:269-280.
This research was
presented at the following conferences:
- "A Conceptual
Approach to Possession: Space and Possessives in Tongan." Paper presented
at the Fourth International Conference in Oceanic Linguistics (in association
with Pacific Association of Contact Languages), Niue Island, South Pacific.
July 6, 1999
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