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Article published In: Studies in Language
Vol. 50:2 (2026) ► pp.396–470

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The expression of knowing and ignorance in the Indigenous languages of Australia

ORCiD logo with link | Aarhus University
Published online: 11 December 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.24047.mcg
Abstract
This paper examines a poorly studied theme in Australianist linguistics, the expression of knowing and ignorance. The investigation is typological, based on a sample of 149 Indigenous Australian languages, largely a convenience sample, though most major genetic groupings and geographical regions are covered. It examines basic lexemes and grammatical constructions employed in expressing knowledge and ignorance. It is shown that many languages lexicalise both knowledge and ignorance, usually as nominals, less commonly as types of verb. The basic grammatical properties of these lexical items are overviewed, including their semantics (they typically encompass both practical and declarative knowledge) and use in complement constructions. There are two emically distinct complement types in some languages, one expressing practical knowledge, the other declarative knowledge. The practical construction has a complement clause embedded in the matrix clause, whereas in the declarative construction the complement clause is framed as an encoding of a putative fact.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Meanings and uses of the lexemes of knowledge and ignorance
    • 2.1Personal quality
    • 2.2Practical knowledge
      • 2.2.1Procedural knowledge
      • 2.2.2Expertise
    • 2.3Declarative knowledge
      • 2.3.1Propositional knowledge
      • 2.3.2Open propositional knowledge
    • 2.4Objectual knowledge
    • 2.5Extensions
    • 2.6Qualifications
  • 3.Part of speech membership of lexemes of knowledge and ignorance
    • 3.1‘Know, knowledge(able)’
    • 3.2‘Ignorant, lacking knowledge, don’t know’
    • 3.3Concluding remarks
  • 4.Clausal syntax
    • 4.1Verbless clauses of knowledge and ignorance
    • 4.2Verbal clauses of knowledge and ignorance
  • 5.Complement constructions of knowledge and ignorance
    • 5.1Range of subtypes
    • 5.2Practical complements
    • 5.3Declarative complements
      • 5.3.1Propositional complements
      • 5.3.2Open propositional complements
      • 5.3.3Framing analysis of declarative complements
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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