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In the four Pama-Nyungan languages Umpithamu, Morrobolam, Mbarrumbathama and Rimanggudinhma there is a core set of impersonals centred around experiencer object constructions. They describe involuntary physical processes, and are formally characterized by lack of nominative pronominal cross-reference, and optional absence of ergative agent nominals. In addition, systematic lack of nominative cross-reference is found in constructions with inanimate agents in all four languages, and in experienced action constructions in Umpithamu, in both cases with ergatively-marked nominals. It is argued that nominative cross-reference is the basic criterion for subject status, with ergative marking merely indicating agent status. Given the lack of any specific valency-changing morphology, impersonals with ergatively-marked nominals are functional equivalents of a voice mechanism, with agents demoted from subject status. This process has developed furthest in Umpithamu where the experienced action construction is systematically available as an alternative construal for a subset of transitive clauses. Keywords: impersonal; experiencer object; inanimate agent; passive; Umpithamu; Lamalamic.

Comparative linguistics --- Grammar --- Grammar, Comparative and general --- Subjectless constructions --- Word order --- Subjectless constructions. --- Word order. --- Impersonal constructions (Grammar) --- Subjectless constructions (Grammar) --- Language and languages --- Order (Grammar) --- Impersonal constructions --- Syntax --- Languages & Literatures --- Philology & Linguistics --- Linguistics --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative and general - Subjectless constructions --- Grammar, Comparative and general - Word order --- Grammaire comparative et générale --- Grammaire comparative et générale

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The Handbook of the Syllable approaches the study of the phonology and phonetics of the syllable with theoretical, empirical and methodological heterogeneity as its guiding principle. Since the mid-nineteenth century, scholars in the phonetic and phonological sciences have found it convenient to refer to the syllable, but definitions are scarce and none apply to all areas where the syllable is frequently invoked. The Handbook’s seventeen chapters focus on empirical studies of the syllable by presenting both new data and new kinds of data. The work addresses the syllable in phonology, phonetics, experimental psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, diachronic linguistics, and orthography. It is a seminal reference book for researchers exploring any empirical area where the notion of 'the syllable' is invoked.

Grammar, Comparative and general --- Syllabication. --- Phonetics. --- Syllabe --- Syllabation --- Phonétique --- Syllable. --- Syllabication --- Phonetics --- Syllable --- Phonétique --- Division of words --- Line-end wordbreaking --- Syllabification --- Word division --- Wordbreaking --- Wordbreaks --- Articulatory phonetics --- Orthoepy --- Phonology --- Linguistics --- Speech --- Language and languages --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative and general - Syllable --- Grammaire comparative et générale --- Syllabes

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This book collects the contributions presented at the international congress held at the University of Bologna in January 2007, where leading scholars of different persuasions and interests offered an up-to-date overview of the current status of the research on linguistic universals. The papers that make up the volume deal with both theoretical and empirical issues, and range over various domains, covering not only morphology and syntax, which were the major focus of Greenberg’s seminal work, but also phonology and semantics, as well as diachrony and second language acquisition. Diverse perspectives illustrate and discuss a huge number of phenomena from a wide variety of languages, not only exploring the way research on universals intersects with different subareas of linguistics, but also contributing to the ongoing debate between functional and formal approaches to explaining the universals of language. This stimulating reading for scientists, researchers and postgraduate students in linguistics shows how different, but not irreconcilable, modes of explanation can complement each other, both offering fresh insights into the investigation of unity and diversity in languages, and pointing to exciting areas for future research.

Sociolinguistics --- Linguistics --- syntaxis --- linguïstiek --- 17.13 typological linguistics. --- Linguistic universals --- Linguistic universals. --- Sprachliche Universalien. --- Taaluniversalia. --- Universalia (språkvetenskap) --- Grammar, Comparative and general. --- Phonology. --- Grammar. --- Syntax. --- Phonology and Phonetics. --- Theoretical Linguistics. --- Comparative grammar --- Grammar --- Grammar, Philosophical --- Grammar, Universal --- Language and languages --- Philosophical grammar --- Philology --- Grammar, Comparative --- Linguistics. --- Linguistic science --- Science of language --- Grammar, Comparative and general Syntax --- Syntax --- Grammar, Comparative and general Phonology --- Phonology --- Universaux (linguistique) --- Grammaire comparative et générale --- Syntaxe