[PapuanLanguages] New SIL PNG publication: Nukna Grammar Sketch

[piet lincoln]

Thank you René, and Matthew,

Looks good, and useful.
I for one applaud the decision to give the kinship terms such good coverage.
thank you,
Piet

Piet as an homage to Danish polymath, Piet Hein.

On 1/31/16 7:00 PM, René van den Berg wrote:
> SIL-Papua New Guinea is happy to announce the publication of the following
> book.
>
> Nukna Grammar Sketch by Matthew A. Taylor (Data Papers on Papua New Guinea
> Languages,  volume 61). 2015. Ukarumpa: SIL. xiii + 299 pages.
>
> Nukna is a Finisterre-Huon language (part of the large Trans New Guinea
> family), spoken by some 1,000 people on the northern side of the Saruwaged
> Mountains in Morobe Province.
>
>   
>
> Nukna shows many characteristics typical of Papuan languages. Default word
> order is SOV, but this order can vary for pragmatic reasons. A
> nominative-accusative pattern is found in the cross-indexing of subject and
> object on verbs. Postpositions and modifiers follow their head nouns. Verbs
> are obligatorily marked for singular, dual or plural number, and are also
> marked for person, tense, aspect, mood and modality through various
> strategies including verb suffixation, serial verb constructions and clausal
> particles. Nukna clause structure is characterised by frequent use of
> clause-chaining, with a distinction between medial and final verbs as well
> as anticipatory switch-reference. Serial verb constructions are common.
>
>   
>
> An unsual feature of Nukna is an optional evidential suffix on verbs to
> indicate that an action was heard or smelt, but not seen. It can also
> indicate that what is being communicated is second-hand information.
>
>    
>
> The grammar, which is the first description of this language, is based on
> more than ten years of interaction with speakers of Nukna. It is thoroughly
> data-driven and includes appendices with the traditional number system, a
> list of kinship terms and two interlinearised texts.
>
> Paper copies will come off the press shortly and can be obtained from
> lr-webpub at sil.org.pg. The estimated price is around US$30 (excluding
> postage).
>
>   
>
> A pdf version of the book is available at:
> www-01.sil.org/pacific/png/show_work.asp?id=928474564222
>
>   
>
>   
>
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