Cover not available

Article In: Asian Languages and Linguistics: Online-First Articles

Number in the western dialect of Oroqen

A moribund Tungusic language in China

ORCiD logo with link | Sun Yat-sen University
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
While the Northern Tungusic language of Oroqen is critically endangered, its Western dialect remains particularly under-described. Based on original fieldwork (2016–2020), this paper investigates its binary number system (singular vs. plural). Morphologically, nominal plurals are marked by a hierarchical suffix system, featuring a core marker -ʃVl (with extended emphatic/associative functions), a secondary marker -l, and a residual marker -nVr. Alongside this system, zero-marked plurals are also highly prevalent, a pattern that may reflect morphological attrition from contact with Sinitic languages. In contrast, personal pronouns are obligatorily inflected for number through vowel alternation and suppletion. Syntactically, number triggers agreement in several domains, including possessive agreement within the noun phrase (constrained by alienability), subject-predicate agreement, and agreement involving non-finite converbs. The paper also examines number expression in coordinate and comitative constructions. This research thus deepens our understanding of Tungusic morphosyntax while providing crucial data for endangered language documentation and linguistic typology.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Typological profile and dialectal division of oroqen
    • 2.1Typological profile
    • 2.2Dialectal division
  • 3.Data and methodology
  • 4.The morphology of number on nominals
    • 4.1Plural marking on nouns
      • 4.1.1The core plural marker -ʃVl
      • 4.1.2The secondary plural marker -l
      • 4.1.3The residual plural marker -nVr
      • 4.1.4Zero-marked plurals
    • 4.2Number on other nominals
      • 4.2.1Adjectives, demonstratives, and interrogatives
        • 4.2.1.1Adjectives
        • 4.2.1.2Demonstratives
        • 4.2.1.3Interrogatives
      • 4.2.2Personal pronouns
  • 5.Agreement and the syntax of number
    • 5.1NP-Internal number agreement
    • 5.2Subject-verb number agreement
    • 5.3Converb number agreement
    • 5.4Number in coordinate and comitative constructions
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • Author queries
  • References
References (53)
References
Acquaviva, Paolo, & Michael Daniel. (eds.). (2022). Number in the world’s languages: A comparative handbook (Vol. 5). De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. (2012). The languages of the Amazon. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2018). Number systems in grammar: Initial orientation paper for an LCRC Global Workshop “Number systems in grammar”. Language and Culture Research Centre (LCRC), James Cook University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Benzing, Johannes. (1955). Die tungusischen Sprachen: Versuch einer vergleichenden Grammatik. Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur in Mainz; in Kommission bei F. Steiner.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Campbell, Lyle & Muntzel, Martha C. (1989). The structural consequences of language death. In Nancy C. Dorian (ed.), Investigating obsolescence: Studies in language contraction and death (pp. 181–196). Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Chaoke 朝克. (2009). Nanmu Elunchun yu yanjiu 楠木鄂伦春语 [A Study of the Nanmu Dialect of Oroqen]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社 [China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cong, Shan 丛珊. (2019). Tuohelu Elunchunyu Cankao Yufa 托河路鄂伦春语参考语法 [A Reference Grammar of the Tuohe Dialect of Oroqen] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Nankai University.
. (2021). Elunchunyu de lingshu jiegou leixing yanjiu 鄂伦春语的领属结构类型研究 [A study on the possessive construction types in Oroqen language]. Minzu Yuwen 民族语文 [Minority Languages of China], (4), 29–41.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2022). Lun Tuohelu Elunchunyu de fudong xingshi 论托河路鄂伦春语的副动形式 [On the converb forms of Oroqen in the Tuohe dialect]. Yuyan Yanjiu Jikan 语言研究集刊 [Collections of Linguistic Studies], (1), 134–155.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cong, Shan 丛珊, & Chenwei Xie 谢郴伟. (2017). Elunchunyu de Yuanyin Geju jiqi Gao Yuanyin de Shengxue Fenxi 鄂伦春语的元音格局及其高元音的声学分析 [The vowel pattern of Oroqen language and acoustic analysis of its high vowels]. Zhongyang Minzu Daxue Xuebao (Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban) 中央民族大学学报(哲学社会科学版) [Journal of Minzu University of China (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition)], 44(6), 150–157.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Corbett, Greville G. (2000). Number. Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2006). Agreement. Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Delbrück, Berthold. (1893). Grundriss der vergleichenden Grammatik der indogermanischen Sprachen (Vol. 3, Syntax der indogermanischen Sprachen, Pt. 1). Trübner. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dixon, R. M. W. (2010). Basic linguistic theory: Volume 2: Grammatical topics. Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Doerfer, Gerhard. (1978). Classification problems of Tungus. In Gerhard Doerfer & Michael Weiers (eds.), Tungusica, Vol. 1, (pp. 1–26). Otto Harrassowitz. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Greenberg, Joseph H. (1963). Some universals of grammar with particular reference to the order of meaningful elements. In Joseph H. Greenberg (ed.), Universals of Language (pp. 73–113). MIT Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grenoble, Lenore A. (2000). Morphosyntactic change: The impact of Russian on Evenki. In Gilbers, Dicky, & et al. (eds.), Languages in contact (pp. 105–120). Rodopi. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grenoble, Lenore A., & Lindsay J. Whaley. (2003). The case for dialect continua in Tungusic: Plural morphology. In Dee Ann Holisky & Kevin Tuite (eds.), Current Trends in Caucasian, East European and Inner Asian Linguistics: Papers in honor of Howard I. Aronson (pp. 97–122). John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Han, Youfeng 韩有峰, & Shuxian Meng 孟淑贤. (1993). Elunchunyu Hanyu Duizhao Duben 鄂伦春语汉语对照读本 [Oroqen-Chinese Parallel Reader]. Zhongyang Minzu Xueyuan Chubanshe 中央民族学院出版社 [Central University for Nationalities Press].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hasibater 哈斯巴特尔. (1991). Guanyu Mengguyu he Manyu mouxie fushu cizhui 关于蒙古语和满语某些复数词缀 [On some plural affixes in Mongolian and Manchu]. Neimenggu Daxue Xuebao (Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban) 内蒙古大学学报 (哲学社会科学版) [Journal of Inner Mongolia University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition)], 3, 97–109.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Haspelmath, Martin. (2004). Coordinating constructions: An overview. In Martin Haspelmath (ed.), Coordinating constructions (pp. 3–39). John Benjamins Publishing Company. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hayes, Bruce. (2008). Introductory phonology (Vol. 23). Wiley-Blackwell. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hu, Zengyi 胡增益. (1986). Elunchun yu jianzhi 鄂伦春语简志 [A concise grammar of Oroqen language]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社 [China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2001). Elunchunyu Yanjiu 鄂伦春语研究 [A Grammatical Sketch of Oroqen]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社 [China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hu, Zengyi 胡增益, & Chaoke 朝克. (1986). Ewenkeyu Jian zhi 鄂温克语简志 [A concise grammar of Ewenki language]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社 [China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Janhunen, Juha, Jingxue Xu, & Yucheng Hou. (1989). The Orochen in Xinsheng. Journal de la Société Finno-Ougrienne, 82, 145–169.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Bing 李兵. (1992). Elunchunyu de Yuanyin Hexie——Jianlun Yuanyin Hexie Bushu Yu Tonghua Fanchou 鄂伦春语的元音和谐——兼论元音和谐不属于同化范畴 [Vowel harmony in Oroqen: Also on vowel harmony not belonging to the category of assimilation]. Minzu Yuwen 民族语文 [Minority Languages of China] 6: 47–53.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Bing. (1996). Tungusic vowel harmony: description and analysis. PhD diss. University of Amsterdam.
Li, Charles N., & Thompson, Sandra A. (1989). Mandarin Chinese: A functional reference grammar. University of California Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Fengxiang. (2005). Contact, attrition, and structural shift: Evidence from Oroqen. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 173, 55–74. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Fengxiang, & Lindsay J. Whaley. (1998). The rise and fall of derivational morphology: The case of reduplication in Oroqen. In Proceedings of the 34th Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society (pp. 259–268). Chicago Linguistic Society.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2000). Emphatic reduplication in Oroqen and its Altaic context. Linguistics, 38(2), 355–372. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2009). Loanwords in Oroqen, a Tungusic language of China. In Martin Haspelmath & Uri Tadmor (eds.), Loanwords in the world’s languages: A comparative handbook (pp. 524–544). De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Li, Shulan 李树兰. (1981). Elunchunyu Cihui Shulüe 鄂伦春语词汇述略 [A sketch of Oroqen vocabulary]. In Minzu Yuwen Editorial Department 《民族语文》编辑部 (ed.), Minzu Yuwen Lunji 民族语文论集 [Collected essays on Minority Languages of China] (pp. 405–426). Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe 中国社会科学出版社 [China Social Sciences Press].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Moravcsik, Edith A. (2003). A semantic analysis of associative plurals. Studies in Language, 27(3), 469–503. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nedjalkov, Igor V. (1995). Converbs in Evenki. In Martin Haspelmath & Ekkehard König (eds.), Converbs in cross-linguistic perspective: Structure and meaning of adverbial verb forms — adverbial participles, gerunds (pp. 441–464). De Gruyter Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1997). Evenki. Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nevins, Andrew. (2011). Marked targets vs. marked triggers and the impoverishment of the dual. Linguistic Inquiry, 42(3), 413–444. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ounan Wuzhuer 欧南·乌珠尔. (2004). Dawo’eryu gailun 达斡尔语概论 [Introduction to the Dagur Language]. Ha’erbin Chubanshe 哈尔滨出版社 [Harbin Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sa, Xirong 萨希荣. (1981). Jianming Hanyu Elunchunyu duizhao duben 简明汉语鄂伦春语对照读本 [A Concise Chinese-Oroqen Parallel Reader]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社[China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sauerland, Ulrich. (2003). A new semantics for number. In Robert Young & Yuping Zhou (eds.), Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory (SALT) 13 (pp. 258–275). Cornell University, CLC Publications. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Shirokogorov, S. M. (1923). Anthropology of northern China. Royal Asiatic Society. (Reprinted 1966 by Anthropological Publications, Oosterhout)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1929). Social organization of the northern Tungus (Vols. 1–2). The Commercial Press Limited.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1944). A Tungus dictionary: Tungus-Russian and Russian-Tungus (2nd ed., photogravured from the manuscripts). Minzokugaku Kyōkai.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Smith-Stark, Thomas Cedric. (1974). The plurality split. In Mary W. L. Galy, Robert A. Fox, & Anne Bruck (eds.), Papers from the 10th Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society (pp. 657–671). Chicago Linguistic Society. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stassen, Leon. (2000). AND-languages and WITH-languages. Linguistic Typology, 4(1), 1–54. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Trudgill, Peter. (2011). Sociolinguistic typology: Social determinants of linguistic complexity. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2020). Sociolinguistic typology and the uniformitarian hypothesis. In Mily Crevels & Pieter Muysken (eds.), Language dispersal, diversification, and contact: A global perspective (pp. 44–57). Oxford University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Whaley, Lindsay J., & Fengxiang Li. (1998). The suffix -kan in Oroqen. Studies in Language, 22(2), 447–471. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2000). Oroqen dialects. Central Asiatic Journal, 44(1), 105–130.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Whaley, Lindsay J., Lenore A. Grenoble, & Fengxiang Li. (1999). Revisiting Tungusic classification from the bottom up: A comparison of Evenki and Oroqen. Language, 75(2), 286–321. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhang, Yangchang, Bing Li, & Xi Zhang. (1989). The Oroqen Language. Jilin University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zhong, Suchun 仲素纯. (1982). Dawo’eryu Jian zhi 达斡尔语简志 [A concise grammar of Daur language]. Minzu Chubanshe 民族出版社[China Ethnic Publishing House].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 jbe-platform.quadraat-sans-bold jbe-platform.quadraat-sans-bold-dark jbe-platform.quadraat-sans-bold-light jbe-platform.quadraat-sans-bold prag Twitter_Logo_Blue