Full Description
While comparative constructions have been extensively studied in the past decades, the expression of equality and similarity has so far attracted little attention in the typological literature. The fifteen contributions assembled in this volume study similative and equative constructions in typologically and genetically distant languages, albeit with a focus on Africa, and from a range of perspectives. Purely synchronically oriented case studies are supplemented by contributions that also shed light on the diachronic development of similative and equative constructions in language contact situations. Sources of similative morphemes and lexically expressed concepts of likeness are examined, and little-known multifunctionality patterns and grammaticalisation targets of similative morphemes - such as purpose clause markers, modality morphemes and markers of glottonyms - are discussed. Based on a sample of 119 languages worldwide, a new typology of equative constructions is proposed. The book should be of interest to typologists, semanticists, specialists of grammaticalization, historical linguistics and syntax.
Contents
1. Introduction (by Treis, Yvonne); 2. Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation; 3. Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective (by Haspelmath, Martin); 4. Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology oflike-expressions (by Schulze, Wolfgang); 5. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) (by Creissels, Denis); 6. Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond (by Treis, Yvonne); 7. Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity (by Konig, Ekkehard); 8. Part II. Case studies from around the world; 9. Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria (by Caron, Bernard); 10. Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) (by Vanhove, Martine); 11. Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic (by Roulon-Doko, Paulette); 12. Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) (by Boyeldieu, Pascal); 13. Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami (by Ylikoski, Jussi); 14. Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon: Form, function, and development (by Jenny, Mathias); 15. Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker =kanin Pesh (by Chamoreau, Claudine); 16. Part III. Similative constructions and language contact: The Ethiopian Language Area; 17. Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa (by Zaugg-Coretti, Silvia); 18. Chapter 14. The morpheme -(a)nain Xamtanga: Functions and grammaticalisation targets (by Darmon, Chloe); 19. Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido (by Crass, Joachim); 20. Language index; 21. Name Index; 22. Subject index
