Conjunctive agreement in Lamaholot

Abstract

This paper presents a description and a theoretical analysis of agreement within coordination in Lamaholot (Austronesian), where the first conjunct agrees with the conjunction ‘and’. Conjunctive agreement is obligatory in the subject position but is optional in the object position. The analysis is couched in terms of markedness of case and proposes that the case of the subject (nominative) is unmarked compared to the case of the object (accusative), and that only unmarked case enables phi-features of the agreement control to be copied onto the agreement host. Apparent optionality is accounted for by manners of case spreading in coordination. Conjunctive agreement is also reported in the genetically unrelated but areally related language of Walman. Although conjunctive agreement originates in verbal agreement with the comitative function in both languages, it is shown that grammaticalization from the comitative to the conjunction is more advanced in Lamaholot, at least in terms of syntax and morphology.

Negative Markers in Lamaholot, Eastern Flores – Indonesia: The Case of Kiwangona Dialect

“…In fact, Glottolog 4.4, in its language website, lists 25 sources of Lamaholot (Hammarstrom,2021). For example, the most recent publications on Lamaholot are Conjunctive Agreement in Lamaholot by Nishiyama (2011), Reconstruction of the Proto-Language of Baranusa-Kedang-Lamaholot in Eastern Indonesia by Sulistiyono (2015) and a Grammar of Solor-Lamaholot: a Language of Flores -Eastern Indonesia by Kroon (2016). Beyond the most current pieces of works above, there are a number of either classic or influential Lamaholot works that cannot be denied, such as Morfologi Dialek Lamalera by Keraf (1978), Koda Kiwang: Dreisprachiges Worterbuch der Lamaholot Sprache, Dialekt von Lewolema by Pampus (2008) and A Grammar of Lamaholot, Eastern Indonesia: The Morphology and Syntax of the Lewoingu Dialect by Nishiyama and Kelen (2007).…”