The Interaction of state, prosody and linear order in Kabyle (Berber) : Grammatical Relations and Information Structure

To appear in a volume submitted to Benjamins, edited by Mauro Tosco and Alessandro MengozziThe aim of this paper is to show how, starting only from forms belonging to various domains (morphology, syntax, and prosody), it is possible to compute the grammatical relations and the information structure of Kabyle spontaneous speech. The hypothesis underlying the paper is that the marking of grammatical relations on nouns are a by-product of information structure constraints

Topic-Focus Articulation in Taqbaylit and Tashelhit Berber

This paper deals with the form/function mapping of information structure on word-order in two Berber lects, Taqbaylit (Kabyle) and Tashelhit (Shilha). We claim that the general assumption according to which Berber should be strictly VSO is wrong, and we argue for a more cautious approach, that takes into account language variation inside Berber. We show that pragmatics trigger the emergence of (relatively stable) discourse-confi gurationality, without giving rise to a VSO>SVO shift. We compare Taqbaylit and Tashelhit in terms of information structure and word order variation, and come to the conclusion that, while there is good reason to classify Taqbaylit as discourseconfi gurational, Tashelhit is somewhat more restrictive in terms of word order fl exibility. We link those characteristics with case-marking: the distinction between free state and annexation state is more clearly a dependency-oriented phenomenon in Taqbaylit, while it corresponds more closely to a subject (or marked nominative) versus absolute case system in Tashelhit.Peer reviewe

Prosodic segmentation and cross-linguistic comparison in CorpAfroAs and CorTypo: Corpus-driven and corpus-based approaches

The paper addresses the issue of corpus-design in relation to research questions for under-described languages. It shows how a corpus emerges from the methodology and habitus of its contributors, and how it is shaped by the technical tools used for data organization. It also underlines the ways in which a morphosyntactically annotated corpus, segmented into intonation units, is amenable to a wide array of searches, both corpus-based and corpus-driven, and both formal and functional. After a presentation of the annotation layout, and the segmentation choices that characterize the two projects, CorpAfroAs and CorTypo, scientific results are illustrated for two languages, Kabyle and Beja, and more marginally for Zaar, Juba Arabic, and Modern Hebrew. They exemplify corpus-driven and corpus-based approaches of information structure and grammatical relations. Both types of approaches plead for an integrated view of prosody, closely interacting with syntax, semantics, phonology, information structure, and all levels of human communication and cognition. They also plead for a general endeavour to annotate as much as possible the large array of prosodic cues that are inseparable from speech processing and interaction dynamics

Lionel Galand (1920-2017)

Permettez-moi de commencer cet hommage posthume en vous lisant l’avant-propos sur lequel s’ouvre le dernier ouvrage de Lionel Galand, paru en 2010 : On ne pratique pas la recherche et l’enseignement pendant plus de soixante ans sans avoir à traiter d’un grand nombre de problèmes. Cela m’a conduit à écrire une longue série d’articles, dispersés dans quantité de publications souvent difficiles d’accès ou introuvables. J’ai donc constaté, voici longtemps, que j’avais fait fausse route en ne pren..

Prosodic Segmentation and Grammatical Relations: The Direct Object in Kabyle (Berber) / Segmentação prosódica e relações gramaticais: o objeto direto em kabile (berbere)

Abstract: The aim of the present paper is to provide evidence for the existence, in Kabyle (Berber), of the grammatical role ‘Direct Object’, and to define it using a non-aprioristic, empirical methodology. The definition, based on the analysis of corpus data, involves formal means pertaining to morphology, syntax and prosody. Prosodic segmentation is not only crucial for the definition of the category; it also serves as supporting evidence for the tightness of the relationship between verb and direct object. Keywords: direct object; prosody; segmentation; Kabyle; Berber; grammatical relations. Resumo: O objetivo deste artigo é oferecer evidências para a existência da função gramatical “Objeto Direto” em kabile (berbere) e defini-lo utilizando uma metodologia empírica, não-apriorística. A definição, baseada na análise de dados de corpus, envolve meios formais pertinentes à morfologia, sintaxe e prosódia. A segmentação prosódica não é apenas crucial para a definição da categoria, mas também serve como evidência em favor da coesão da relação entre verbo e objeto direto. Palavras-chave: objeto direto; prosódia; segmentação; kabile; berbere; relações gramaticais

Prosodie

Le terme ‘prosodie’ vient du grec ancien πϱοσωδός, et renvoyait à un chant accompagné de musique instrumentale. Plus tard, il est venu à signifier la science de la versification, les lois de la métrique dans la lecture à haute voix de la poésie. De nos jours, en phonétique, ce terme renvoie aux propriétés suprasegmentales de la parole, comme les modulations contrôlées de la hauteur de la voix (mélodie ou fréquence fondamentale), l’allongement ou la compression des durées des segments et syll..

Qualité (Linguistique)

La qualité (et l’état) est une catégorie sémantique et syntaxique centrale en berbère.1. Il existe une sous-classe nominale des adjectifs* ; s’agissant d’une classe lexicale, il est évidemment difficile d’en établir une liste fermée : dans les dialectes pour lesquels des décomptes précis ont été réalisés (kabyle, tamazight), on relève au moins 200 à 250 unités de ce type.L’adjectif partage tous les traits combinatoires et définitoires du Nom* (genre, nombre et état) :a-səmmaḍ (M.S. + EL) « f..

Cécile Canut (éd.), Imaginaires linguistiques en Afrique. Actes du colloque de l'INALCO du 9 novembre 1996. Collection « Bibliothèque des Études africaines », L'Harmattan, 1998

Mettouchi Amina. Cécile Canut (éd.), Imaginaires linguistiques en Afrique. Actes du colloque de l'INALCO du 9 novembre 1996. Collection « Bibliothèque des Études africaines », L'Harmattan, 1998. In: L'Information Grammaticale, N. 88, 2001. p. 55