MAUNG

Maung: Australian Language

Abstract

Many Australian languages have relatively free word order and the main function of word order is the encoding of information structure. This generalization also applies to Mawng, a non-Pama Nyungan language of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Demonstratives are also used to encode the information status of a referent. In addition, intonation clearly plays a role. Work on Mawng intonation is at a very early stage but some characteristic patterns have been identified, which are associated with particular sentence types. In these three ways Mawng fits in with our general understanding of the way that information is expressed in Australian languages.

Maung: Australian Language

Introduction

Publications on information structure on Australian Aboriginal languages are relatively rare. This may be because Australian languages usually lack specific morphology for encoding information status such as articles or focus particles. Instead elements with a much broader grammatical function such as case markers or verbal suffixes are used to encode information structure. It is observed that word order is pragmatic and new information often occurs clause initially in Australian languages. In the non-Pama-Nyungan language Mawng a wide range of resources are drawn on to encode information structure. This paper looks in detail at the ways in which word order and intonation are used to encode focus and touches on some other ways in which information structure is encoded.

Mawng basics Mawng is a member of the Iwaidjan language family, part of the non-Pama Nyungan group of Australian languages. The largest community of Mawng speakers lives at Warruwi Community, South Goulburn Island in North-West Arnhem land. Mawng is spoken by around three hundred people as their main language and is still being acquired by children. Mawng could be characterized as mildy polysynthetic because verbs cross-reference up to two arguments. Mawng has relatively free ordering of NPs with respect to the verb.

Background to this research

Another possible criterion for regarding a variety as a mixed language which is not explicit in the table, but implied by the use of the term 'conventionalized', is an increase in homogeneity and stability as compared to code-mixing or 'composite code-switching'. One must bear in mind though that all languages exhibit levels of variation which are not always reflected in formal descriptions or the selection of exemplary text materials.

There is a wide range of ways of expressing information structure in Mawng. Word order and intonation have already been mentioned. In addition there is the foregrounding/backgrounding suffix -(a)pa. When attached to nouns this suffix usually acts to foreground the noun. When attached to verbs this suffix usually backgrounds the verb but can be used to foreground the verb. There is also a wide range of ways of referring to participants. It is possible to use verbal cross-referencing alone. If an overt nominal is used to refer to a participant this can be a simple free pronoun or a demonstrative.

Alternatively a lexical NP can be used, in which case there is a choice or whether or not to use the ...