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Article published In: Asia-Pacific Language Variation
Vol. 10:2 (2024) ► pp.140–182

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Information structure and changes in Moklen word-form

ORCiD logo with link | Chulalongkorn University
 | Chulalongkorn University
 | The University of Sydney
ORCiD logo with link | Chulalongkorn University
Published online: 4 March 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/aplv.23008.los
Abstract
In this study, we investigate an apparent discourse-based alternation between monosyllabic and disyllabic word-forms in Moklen, an Austronesian language spoken in Thailand. We explore whether factors of information structure condition the variable elision of the first syllable of certain disyllabic lexemes. Data was obtained through the implementation of a picture-based field stimulus to elicit a range of lexical material within narrow discourse contexts. Our results reveal that no single information status category (e.g., “given” or “new”) accounted for use of monosyllabic alternants overall. Applying a “bottom-up” approach to the study of information structure ( (2022). Alternatives to information structure. In Davide Garassino & Daniel Jacob (Eds.), When data challenges theory: Unexpected and paradoxical evidence in information structure (pp. 91–112). Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Ozerov, Pavel (2018). Tracing the sources of information structure: Towards the study of interactional management of information. Journal of Pragmatics, 1381, 77–97. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar), we propose a shift to “topics” — information conveyed as mutual knowledge (Masia, Viviana (2022). Remarks on information structure marking asymmetries: The epistemological view on the micropragmatic profile of utterances. In Davide Garassino & Daniel Jacob (Eds.), When data challenges theory: Unexpected and paradoxical evidence in information structure (pp. 57–90). Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) — as one possible account for the observed changes in Moklen word-form. More generally, our study shows how information structure processes have the potential to contribute to contextual alternation between monosyllabic and disyllabic word-forms, a matter with implications for broader historical changes in word-form.
Abstract (Thai)
งานวิจัยนี้มุ่งศึกษาการสลับรูประหว่างรูปคำพยางค์เดียวและรูปคำสองพยางค์ที่อิงกับสัมพันธสารในภาษามอแกลน ซึ่งเป็นภาษาใกล้สูญในตระกูลออสโตรนีเซียนในประเทศไทย งานวิจัยนี้สำรวจว่าปัจจัยด้านโครงสร้างสาระมีผลต่อการตัดเสียงพยางค์แรกของหน่วยศัพท์สองพยางค์หรือไม่ ข้อมูลที่ใช้เป็นข้อมูลที่มาจากการเก็บข้อมูลภาคสนามโดยใช้รูปภาพเพื่อกระตุ้นให้ผู้บอกภาษาพูดคำศัพท์เป้าหมายภายในบริบททางสัมพันธสารที่กำหนด ผลการวิจัยแสดงให้เห็นว่าหมวดหมู่ของสถานะสาระ (เช่น “สาระเดิม” หรือ “สาระใหม่”) ไม่สามารถใช้อธิบายการใช้รูปแปรพยางค์เดียวได้อย่างครอบคลุม งานวิจัยนี้จึงประยุกต์ใช้วิธีการแบบ “จากล่างขึ้นบน” ในการศึกษาด้านโครงสร้างสาระ ( (2022). Alternatives to information structure. In Davide Garassino & Daniel Jacob (Eds.), When data challenges theory: Unexpected and paradoxical evidence in information structure (pp. 91–112). Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar; Ozerov, Pavel (2018). Tracing the sources of information structure: Towards the study of interactional management of information. Journal of Pragmatics, 1381, 77–97. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) และเสนอว่าการเปลี่ยนไปเป็นแก่นความ ซึ่งเป็นสาระที่สื่อออกมาเป็นความรู้ร่วมกัน (Masia, Viviana (2022). Remarks on information structure marking asymmetries: The epistemological view on the micropragmatic profile of utterances. In Davide Garassino & Daniel Jacob (Eds.), When data challenges theory: Unexpected and paradoxical evidence in information structure (pp. 57–90). Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) สามารถใช้อธิบายการสลับรูปของรูปคำที่พบในภาษามอแกลนได้ งานวิจัยนี้แสดงให้เห็นว่ากระบวนการด้านโครงสร้างสาระนั้นสามารถทำให้เกิดการสลับรูประหว่างรูปคำพยางค์เดียวและสองพยางค์ในบริบทต่าง ๆ ได้ ถือว่ามีนัยสำคัญต่อการศึกษาการเปลี่ยนแปลงเชิงประวัติของรูปคำในระดับที่กว้างขึ้นต่อไป
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Intonation units
    • 2.2Information status
    • 2.3Topic-focus distinction
    • 2.4Moklen clausal syntax
  • 3.Methods
    • 3.1Materials and task
    • 3.2Participants and procedure
    • 3.3Information-status tagging
    • 3.4Scope
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Nouns
    • 4.2Verbs
    • 4.3Closed-class items
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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