Workshop on Indonesian-type Voice System

Aims

This workshop will primarily discuss Indonesian-type voice systems, which are characterised by the distinction of two voice constructions (actor voice and undergoer voice), and by applicative constructions (see Ross 2002: 52 and Arka and Ross 2004: 7, Adelaar 2006: 7). The main aim is to gather descriptive studies of individual languages of this type, in order to share knowledge on common features and the extent of variation to be found within the group.

The main types of variation likely to be discussed include the following:

(1) Formal variation of voice constructions.

Some Indonesian-type languages/dialects exhibit some deviation from the typical system mentioned above. Some languages retain more voice-related PAn morphemes and exhibit more complex morphology and syntax (e.g., Woollams 2006: 555-558 on Karo Batak), while other languages/dialects lack certain morphology that is characteristic to the Indonesian-type (e.g, Gil 2000 on some dialects of Malay), possibly because of language contact and/or independent developments.

In languages/dialects with a typical Indonesian-type voice system, the status of the two voice constructions as transitive constructions varies: some languages exhibit clearly ‘symmetrical’ voice alternation in which neither of the two voice constructions can be considered to be an unmarked transitive construction, while in other languages one of the voices could be considered marked (e.g., actor voice in Balinese (Himmelmann 2005:135)).

(2) Variation in the use of the voice system in discourse.

Factors that condition voice alternation seem to vary among the individual languages. Voice alternation may be conditioned by semantic features, such as the aspect of the situation expressed, definiteness of the participants, and/or by the topicality of actor or undergoer (Arka and Ross 2005: 9-12).

In addition to the synchronic/empirical studies mentioned above, historical or theoretical studies on Indonesian-type voice systems are also welcomed.

References

• Adelaar, Alexander and Nikolaus P. Himmelmann (eds), 2005. The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar. London: Routledge.
• Adelaar, Alexander, 2005. The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar: A Historical Perspective, in Adelaar & Himmelmann (eds), 1-42.
• Arka, I Wayan and Malcolm Ross, 2005. Introduction, in I Wayan Arka and Malcolm Ross (eds), The many faces of Austronesian Voice Systems: Some new empirical studies, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, 1-15.
• Gil, David, 2002. The prefix di- and N- in Malay/ Indonesian dialects, in Wouk & Ross (eds), 241-283.
• Himmelmann, Nikolaus P, 2005. The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar: Typological Characteristics, in Adelaar & Himmelmann (eds), 110-181.
• Ross, Malcolm, 2002, History and Transitivity of Western Austronesian voice, in Wouk & Ross (eds).
• Woollams, Geoff, 2005. Karo Batak, in Adelaar & Himmelmann (eds), 534-561.
• Wouk, Fay and Malcolm Ross (eds.), 2002. The History and Typology of Western Austronesian Voice Systems. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.