Cover not available
Part of
Imperatives and Directive Strategies
Edited by Daniël Van Olmen and Simone Heinold
[Studies in Language Companion Series 184] 2017
► pp. 181–208

Imperatives and other directives in the Polynesian languages

| University of Auckland
| University of Auckland
The languages of the Polynesian family exhibit considerable homogeneity with respect to various linguistic patterns. This state of affairs is reflected in imperative constructions, in which canonical imperatives form a comparatively tight core. At the same time, and as is typical of other constructions in Polynesian, there is notable variation to be found, especially in non-canonical imperatives, modifiers in imperatives and other directives. It is the goal of this chapter to document some of the different strategies for forming imperatives and directives in the Polynesian languages, situating these patterns in the larger discussion surrounding the typology of imperatives.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Canonical imperatives
    • 2.1Zero-marked imperatives
    • 2.2Particle-marked imperatives
    • 2.3Zero- and particle-marked imperatives
      • 2.3.1Free variation
      • 2.3.2Phonological augmentation
    • 2.4Passive imperatives
    • 2.5Summary of canonical imperatives
  • 3.Non-canonical imperatives
    • 3.1First person (inclusive) imperatives
    • 3.2First person inclusive and third person imperatives
  • 4.Modifiers in imperatives
    • 4.1Intensifiers
    • 4.2Downtoners
  • 5.Other directive structures
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Abbreviations
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 11 April 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.184.06bro
References (51)
References
Académie Tahitienne. 1986. Grammaire de la Langue Tahitienne. Papeete: Fare Vanaʻa.Google Scholar
Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. 2010. Imperatives and Commands. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar
Allardice, Ron W. 2000. A Simplified Dictionary of Modern Samoan. Auckland: Pasifika Press.Google Scholar
Bauer, Winifred. 1993. Maori. London: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Besnier, Niko. 1981. Tuvaluan Lexicon. Funafuti: United States Peace Corps.Google Scholar
. 2000. Tuvaluan. A Polynesian Language of the Central Pacific. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Biggs, Bruce. 1998. Let’s Learn Maori. A Guide to the Study of the Maori Language. Auckland: Auckland University Press.Google Scholar
Birjulin, Leonid A. & Victor, S. Xrakovskij. 2001. Imperative sentences: Theoretical problems. In Typology of Imperative Constructions, Victor S. Xrakovskij (ed.), 3–50. Munich: Lincom.Google Scholar
Brown, Jason. 2015. The minimal phonological phrase: Evidence from Māori. Oceanic Linguistics 54(2):531–557. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Brown, Jason & Koch, Karsten. 2016. Focus and change in Polynesian languages. Australian Journal of Linguistics 36(3): 304–349. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Buse, Jasper & Taringa, Ruatuti. 1996. Cook Islands Maori Dictionary. With English-Cook Islands Maori Finderlist. Canberra: Australian National University.Google Scholar
Cablitz, Gabriele H. 2006. Marquesan. A Grammar of Space. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Carpentier, Tai Tepuaoterā Turepu & Beaumont, Clive. 1995. Kai Kōrero. A Cook Islands Maori Language Coursebook. Auckland: Pasifika Press.Google Scholar
Chung, Sandra. 1978. Case Marking and Grammatical Relations in Polynesian. Austin TX: University of Texas Press.Google Scholar
Churchward, C. Maxwell. 1959. Tongan Dictionary (Tongan-English and English-Tongan). London: OUP.Google Scholar
. 1985. Tongan Grammar. Nukuʻalofa: Vavaʻu Press.Google Scholar
Clark, Ross. 1976. Aspects of Proto-Polynesian Syntax. Auckland: Linguistic Society of New Zealand.Google Scholar
. 1994. The Polynesian outliers as a locus of language contact. In Language Contact and Change in the Austronesian World, Tom Dutton & Darrell T. Tryon (eds), 109–139. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Coppenrath, Hubert & Prevost, Paul. 1975. Grammaire Approfondie de la Langue Tahitienne (Ancienne et Moderne). Papeete: Librairie Pureora.Google Scholar
Devos, Maud & Van Olmen, Daniël. 2013. Describing and explaining the variation of Bantu imperatives and prohibitives. Studies in Language 37(1): 1–57. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Du Feu, Veronica. 1996. Rapanui. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Elbert, Samuel H. & Pukui, Mary Kawena. 1979. Hawaiian Grammar. Honolulu HI: University Press of Hawaii.Google Scholar
Fuentes, Jordi. 1960. Diccionario y Gramática de la Lengua de la Isla de Pascua. Pascuense-Castellano, Castellano-Pascuense. Dictionary and Grammar of the Easter Island Language. Pascuense-English, English-Pascuense. Santiago: Editorial Andrés Bello.Google Scholar
Hooper, Robin. 1993. Studies in Tokelauan Syntax. PhD dissertation, University of Auckland.Google Scholar
. 1996. Tokelauan. Munich: Lincom.Google Scholar
Hopkins, Alberta Pualani. 1992. Ka Lei Haʻaheo. Beginning Hawaiian. Honolulu HI: University of Hawaii Press.Google Scholar
Hovdhaugen, Even. 2006. A Short Dictionary of the Vaeakau-Taumoko Language. Oslo: Kontiki Museum, Institute for Pacific Archaeology and Cultural History.Google Scholar
Kasevič, Vadim. B. 1988. Semantika, Sintaksis, Morfologija (Semantics, Syntax, Morphology). Moscow: Nauka.Google Scholar
Kaulima, Aiao & Beaumont, Clive. 2002. Learning Niuean. Combined Edition – Tohi Ako Vagahau Niue. Auckland: C. H. & D. J. M. Beaumont.Google Scholar
Kingstone, Taria. 2008. Te Pepe Kuki Airani. A Beginners Guide to Cook Islands Maori. Auckland: University of Auckland.Google Scholar
Lazard, Gilbert & Peltzer, Louise. 2000. Structure de la Langue Tahitienne. Paris: Peeters.Google Scholar
Le Cléac’h, Hervé. 1997. Pona Teʻao Tapapatina. Lexique Marquisien-Français. Papeete: STP Multipress.Google Scholar
Lemaître, Yves. 1973. Lexique du Tahitien Contemporain. Tahitien-Français, Français-Tahitien. Paris: Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-Mer.Google Scholar
Lynch, John, Ross, Malcolm & Crowley, Terry. 2002. The Oceanic Languages. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
McEwen, Jock M. 1970. Niue Dictionary. Wellington: Department of Maori and Island Affairs.Google Scholar
Mosel, Ulrike & Hovdhaugen, Even. 1992. Samoan Reference Grammar. Oslo: Scandinavian University Press.Google Scholar
Mutu, Margaret & Teìkitutoua, Ben 2002. Ùa Pou. Aspects of a Marquesan Dialect. Canberra: Australian National University.Google Scholar
Næss, Åshild & Hovdhaugen, Even. 2011. A Grammar of Vaeakau-Taumako. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pukui, Mary Kawena & Elbert, Samuel H. 1986. Hawaiian Dictionary. Hawaiian–English, English–Hawaiian. Honolulu HI: University of Hawaii Press.Google Scholar
Ryan, Peter M. 2008. The Raupō Dictionary of Modern Māori. Auckland: Raupo.Google Scholar
Salisbury, Mary C. 2002. A Grammar of Pukapukan. PhD dissertation, University of Auckland.Google Scholar
Salmond, Anne. 1974. A Generative Syntax of Luangiua. A Polynesia Language. The Hague: Mouton.Google Scholar
. 1975. A Luangiua (Ontong Java) Word List. Auckland: University of Auckland.Google Scholar
Seiter, William J. 1980. Studies in Niuean Syntax. New York NY: Garland.Google Scholar
Simona, Ropati (ed.). 1986. Tokelau Dictionary. Apia: Office of Tokelau Affairs.Google Scholar
Sperlich, Wolfgang B. (ed.). 1997. Tohi Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Dictionary. Niuean-English, with English-Niuean Finderlist. Niue: Government of Niue.Google Scholar
Tuʻinukuafe, Edgar. 1992. A Simplified Dictionary of Modern Tongan. Auckland: Polynesian Press.Google Scholar
van der Auwera, Johan & Devos, Maud. 2012. Irrealis in positive imperatives and in prohibitives. Language Sciences 34(2): 171–183. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
van der Auwera, Johan, Dobrushina, Nina, & Goussev, Valentin. 2013. Imperative-hortative systems. In The World Atlas of Language Structures Online, Matthew S. Dryer & Martin Haspelmath (eds), Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.Google Scholar
Yasuda, Ayako. 1968. The Structure of the Penrhyn Phrase. MA dissertation, University of Hawaii.Google Scholar
Zewen, Père François. 1987. Introduction à la Langue des Îles Marquises. Le Parler de Nukuhiva – Hamani Ha ʻAvivini ʻI Te ʻEo ʻEnana. Kohuʻotetua. Papeete: Éditions Haere Po No Tahiti.Google Scholar