The Proto-Tibeto-Burman *gV- nominalizing prefix
Matisoff (2003) reconstructs an “adjectival prefix” *gV-, based on work by Wolfenden (1929). As a result of surveying grammatical descriptions of more than 90 Tibeto-Burman languages, the present study provides evidence to reconstruct Matisoff’s adjectival prefix as a nominalizer whose functional range includes (but is not limited to) the adjectival marking. Evidence for the prefix is found in three major genetic subdivisions. Within Bradley’s (2002) Western branch, Baram (Newaric) has a particularly versatile nominalizer ki-~gi-, and Eastern Kiranti languages have *gV-…-pa nominalizing circumfixes. In Bradley’s Eastern branch, rGyalrongic languages have velar prefixes that function as the main nominalizers. Further, in DeLancey’s (2015) Central branch of Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan), we find reflexes of *gV- in many languages, most notably the versatile nominalizer kV- in Lamkang (Northwest Kuki-Chin). Other languages of the India-Myanmar border with unresolved phylogenetic status within Tibeto-Burman also have reflexes of *gV-, most prominently Karbi and Tangkhul (Konnerth 2012).
References (68)
Arokianathan, S. 1987. Tangkhul Naga Grammar. Mysore, India: Central Institute of Indian Languages.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Baxter, William H. & Sagart, Laurent. 2014. Old Chinese: A New Reconstruction. Oxford: OUP. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Benedict, Paul K. 1972. Sino-Tibetan: A Conspectus. Cambridge: CUP. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bickel, Balthasar. 1999. Nominalization and focus constructions in some Kiranti languages. In Topics in Nepalese Linguistics, Yogendra P. Yadava & Warren W. Glover (eds), 271–96. Kathmandu: Royal Nepal Academy.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bickel, Balthasar. 2003. Belhare. In The Sino-Tibetan Languages, Graham Thurgood & Randy J. LaPolla (eds), 546–570. London: Routledge.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bradley, David. 2002. The subgrouping of Tibeto-Burman. In Medieval Tibeto-Burman Languages, Vol.11, Christian I. Beckwith (ed.), 73–112. Leiden: Brill.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Burling, Robbins. 1983. The Sal languages. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 7(2): 1–32.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Burling, Robbins. 2004. The Language of the Modhupur Mandi (Garo), Vol. 11. New Delhi: Bibliophile South Asia.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chafe, Wallace L. 1970. Meaning and the Structure of Language. Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chang, Imlong. 1956. Chang Naga Dialect and English Equivalents. Mokokchung: Sri Imlong Chang.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Das Gupta, Kamalesh. 1971. An Introduction to the Nocte Language. Shillong: North-East Frontier Agency.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Das Gupta, Kamalesh. 1977. A Phrase Book in Miju. Shillong: The Director of Information and Public Relations, NEFA.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Das Gupta, Kamalesh. 1980. The Tangsa Language: A Synopsis. Shillong: North-East Frontier Agency.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
DeLancey, Scott. 2015. Adjectival constructions in Bodo and Tibeto-Burman. In Language and Culture in Northeast India and beyond: In Honour of Robbins Burling, Mark Post, Stephen Morey & Scott DeLancey (eds), 41–56. Canberra, Australian National University: Pacific Linguistics.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
DeLancey, Scott. 1994. Grammaticalization and linguistic theory. In
Proceedings of the 1993 Mid-America Linguistics Conference and Conference on Siouan/Caddoan Languages
, 1–22. Boulder CO: Department of Linguistics, University of Colorado.
DeLancey, Scott. 2002. Relativization and nominalization in Bodic. In
Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society
281, 55–72. Berkeley CA: BLS.
DeLancey, Scott. 2015. Morphological evidence for a central branch of Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan). Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale 44(2): 122–149. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
van Driem, George. 1987. A Grammar of Limbu [Mouton Grammar Library 4]. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
van Driem, George. 1993. A Grammar of Dumi. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ebert, Karen H. 1997a. A Grammar of Athpare. Munich: Lincom.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ebert, Karen H. 1997b. Camling (Chamling). Munich: Lincom.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ebert, Karen H. 2003. Kiranti languages: An overview. In The Sino-Tibetan Languages, Graham Thurgood & Randy J. LaPolla (eds), 505–17. London: Routledge.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Evans, Nicholas. 2007. Insubordination and its uses. In Finiteness: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations, Irina Nikolaeva (ed.), 366–431. Oxford: OUP.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Genetti, Carol, Bartee, Ellen, Coupe, Alec, Hildebrandt, Kristine & Lin, You-Jing. 2008. Syntactic aspects of nominalization in five Tibeto-Burman languages of the Himalayan area. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 31(2): 97–143.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hanson, Ola. 1917. A Hand-Book of the Kachin or Jinghpaw Language. Rangoon: American Baptist Mission Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hartmann, Helga. 2001a. Function of Naak/na in Daai Chin with examples from other Chin languages. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 24(2): 143–56.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hartmann, Helga. 2001b. Prenasalization and preglottalization in Daai Chin, with parallel examples from Mro and Mara. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 24(2): 123–142.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Herring, Susan C. 1991. Nominalization, relativization, and attribution in Lotha, Angami, and Burmese. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 14(1): 55–72.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hutton, John Henry. 1987. Chang Language: Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language of the Chang Naga Tribe, Satkari Mukhopadhyay (ed.). New Delhi: Gian Publishing House.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jacques, Guillaume. Under review. Generic person marking in Japhug and other Rgyalrong languages. <[URL]>
Jacques, Guillaume. 2014b. Denominal affixes as sources of antipassive markers in Japhug Rgyalrong. Lingua 1381: 1–22. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jacques, Guillaume. 2014c. On Coblin’s law. In Studies in Chinese and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics, Richard VanNess Simmons & Newell Ann Van Auken (eds), 155–65. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jacques, Guillaume, Lai, Yunfan, Antonov, Anton & Nima, Lobsang. 2015. Stau (Ergong, Horpa). Ms (Version of October 21, 2015). <[URL]>
Jacquesson, François. 2005. Le Deuri, Langue Tibéto-Birmane d’Assam. Leuven: Peeters.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jacquesson, François. 2008.
A Dimasa Grammar
. Ms. <[URL]>
Joseph, U.V. & Robbins, Burling. 2006. The Comparative Phonology of the Boro-Garo Languages. Manasagangotri, Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kansakar, Tej R., Yadava, Yogendra P., Prasad Chalise, Krishna, Prasain, Balaram, Dhakal, Dubi Nanda & Paudel, . Krishna. 2011. A Grammar of Baram. Linguistic and Ethnographic Documentatation of the Baram Language, Central Department of Linguistics, Tribhuvan University.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Konnerth, Linda. 2009. The nominalizing prefix *gV- in Tibeto-Burman. MA thesis, Eugene, University of Oregon.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Konnerth, Linda. 2012. The nominalizing velar prefix *gV- in Tibeto-Burman languages of Northeast India. In North East Indian Linguistics, Vol. 41, Gwendolyn Hyslop, Stephen Morey & Mark W. Post (eds). New Delhi: Foundation / Cambridge University Press India.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Konnerth, Linda. 2014. A Grammar of Karbi. PhD dissertation, University of Oregon at Eugene.
Konow, Sten. 1902. Zur Kenntnis der Kuki-Chinsprachen. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 561: 486–517.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kuolie, D. 2006. Structural Description of Tenyidie: A Tibeto-Burman Language of Nagaland. Kohima, Nagaland: Ura Academy Publication Division.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
LaPolla, Randy J. 2003. Dulong. In The Sino-Tibetan Languages, Graham Thurgood & Randy J. LaPolla (eds), 674–82. London: Routledge.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
LaPolla, Randy J. 2008. Nominalization in Rawang. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 31(2): 45–65.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Matisoff, James A. 1972. Lahu nominalization, relativization, and genitivization. In Syntax and Semantics, Vol.11, John Kimball (ed.), 237–257. New York NY: Seminar Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Matisoff, James A.2003. Handbook of Proto-Tibeto-Burman: System and Philosophy of Sino-Tibetan Reconstruction. Berkeley CA: University of California Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Mortensen, David. 2003. Comparative Tangkhul. Ms, University of California at Berkeley.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nagano, Yasuhiko. 1984. A Historical Study of the rGyarong Verb System. Tokyo: Seishido.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nagano, Yasuhiko. 2003. Cogtse Gyarong. In The Sino-Tibetan Languages, Graham Thurgood & Randy J. LaPolla (eds), 469–89. London: Routledge.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ngemu, T. 1977. Moklum Language Guide. Jorhat: Janambhumi Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Noonan, Michael. 1997. Versatile nominalizations. In Essays on Language Function and Language Type. In Honor of T. Givón, Joan Bybee, John Haiman & Sandra A. Thompson (eds), 373–94. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Pai, Pushpa. 1976. Kokborok Grammar. Mysore, India: Central Institute of Indian Languages.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sagart, Laurent. 1999. The Roots of Old Chinese [Amsterdam Studies in the Theory and History of Linguistic Science 184]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Shafer, Robert. 1966. Introduction to Sino-Tibetan. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Singh, Chunghkham Yashawanta. 2002. Tarao Grammar. New Delhi: Akansha Publishing House.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
So-Hartmann, Helga. 2008. Nominalization and relativization in Mro. Paper presented at
the ICSTLL 41
, London.
So-Hartmann, Helga. 2009. A Descriptive Grammar of Daai Chin [STEDT Monograph Series 7]. Berkeley CA: University of California Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Stack, Edward & Lyall, Sir Charles. 1908. The Mikirs. London: David Nutt.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sun, Jackson T.-S. 2003. Caodeng rGyalrong. In The Sino-Tibetan Languages, Graham Thurgood & Randy J. LaPolla (eds), 490–502. London: Routledge.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sun, Jackson T.-S. 2012. Complementation in Caodeng rGyalrong. Language and Linguistics 13(3): 471–498.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sun, Jackson T.-S. 2014. Typology of generic-person marking in Tshobdun Rgyalrong. In Studies in Chinese and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Dialect, Phonology, Transcription and Text [Language and Linguistics Monograph Series 53]. Richard VanNess Simmons & Newell Ann Van Auken (eds), 225–48. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Thounaojam, Harimohon & Chelliah, Shobhana L. 2007. The Lamkang language: Grammatical sketch, texts and lexicon. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 30(1): 1–212.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Wolfenden, Stuart Norris. 1929. Outlines of Tibeto-Burman Linguistic Morphology. London: Royal Asiatic Society.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Ding, Hongdi & Sicong Dong
2023.
Elevation and fog-cloud similarity in Tibeto-Burman languages.
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 10:1
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 8 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.