Introduction

This page gives a preliminary attempt at a phenomena catalogue for the Wambaya grammar (per the SuquamishPhenomenaCatalogue discussion). The intention is to eventually fill in representative examples for all phenomena listed.

The examples are given in a 4-line variant of IGT: The first line is in the format expected by the grammar while the second shows the morpheme boundaries. The third provides a morpheme-by-morpheme gloss, and the fourth a free translation into English.

All examples on this page are from the following book, and the numbers on the examples correspond to the numbers given in that text:

• Nordlinger, Rachel. 1998. A Grammar of Wambaya, Northern Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Any work using these data should cite Nordlinger 1998.

6/28/12: It appears that many of the broken phenomena are broken because of a change-in-progress in the grammar to introduce quantifiers for all nominal positions.

Phenomena

Word Order

Second position auxiliary/clitic cluster (see Bender 2010 for analysis)

(4-23) Narungujini irringan ngurra banymanymi.
 Narunguji-ni irri-ng-a-n ngurra banymanymi.
 car.IV-LOC 3.PL.A-1.O-NF-PROG 1.PL.INC.ACC pass.by.RDP
 Cars were passing us (all night).

Free major constituent order (aside from 2nd position auxiliary; compare prevous example)

(4-32) Yanybi nga marnugujama bungmajbulija.
 Yanybi ng-a marnugujama bungmaj-buli-ja.
 get 1.SG.A-PST conkerberry.III(ACC) old.person-DU-DAT
 I got all the conkerberries for the two old people.

Discontinuous NPs (see Bender 2008 for analysis)

(4-26) Garndawuga ngiya wankurarri marrgulu.
 Garndawuga ngiy-a wankurarri marrgulu.
 one.IV(ACC) 3.SG.NM.A-PST lay egg.IV(ACC)
 She laid one egg. 

Pre-sentential “topic” position

(5-62) Ngangirna banjirna, mardima yunumarrga ngiyingagba mirnda gajigajirra.
 Ngangirna banjirna, mardima yunumarrga ngiyi-ng-agba mirnda gajigajirra.
 2.SG.POSS.II(NOM) cousin.II(NOM) chase this.way 3.SG.NM.A-1.O-HYP 1.DU.INC.ACC quickly
 Your cousin might join us soon. (lit. ... might follow us this way...)

Valence

Intransitive verbs

(4-241a) Indilyawurna ga bardbi. 
 Indilyawurna g-a bardbi. 
 curlew.II(NOM) 3.SG.S-PST run 
 The curlew ran. 

Strict transitive verbs

(7-77) Wugbardi ngiya manganyma.
 Wugbardi ngiy-a manganyma.
 cook 3.SG.NM.A-PST bread.III(ACC) 
 She cooked some bread.

Semitransitive verbs (dative object, agreement follows intransitive pattern)

(4-102) Juwanka gin ayani babanya.
 Juwa-nka gi-n ayani babanya.
 man.I-DAT 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG look.for sister.II(NOM)
 (My) sister's looking for a man.

Ditransitive verbs (accusative + dative objects)

(4-104) Janganja gininga ngurra yangadinka wagalamarrinini.
 Janganja gini-ng-a ngurra yangadi-nka wagalamarrini-ni.
 ask 3.SG.M.A-1.O-NF 1.PL.INC.ACC meat.I-DAT crow.I-LOC
 The crow's asking us for meat.

Ditransitive verbs (accusative + accuastive object, direct obj is recipient)

(5-42) Jiyawu ngirraji marndanga nyanyalu.
 Jiyawu ngirraji marndanga nyanyalu.
 give 1.PL.EXC.A-HAB.PST white.woman.II(ACC) tea.IV(ACC)
 We'd give tea to the white lady.

Ditransitive verbs (accusative + allative object)

- BROKEN -

Ditransitive verbs (oblique accusative + dative object)

- BROKEN -

Cognate object verbs (dative + accusative objects)

(4-250) Gayina irra didima.
 Gayina irr-a didima.
 something.IV(ACC) 3.PL.A-PST tell
 They told him something. / What did they tell him?

Subject control verbs

(7-49) Garrajbi gin yarrunka.
 Garrajbi gi-n yarru-nka.
 want 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG go-DAT
 She wants to go. 

Object control verbs (erg-acc-purposive)

(7-108) Garnarnda gininga lingbalingbajinka.
 Garnarnda gini-ng-a lingba-lingba-ji-nka.
 send 3.SG.M.A-1.O-NF RDP-swim-TH-DAT
 He let me go swimming (lit. He sent me to swim).

Clausal complement verbs (intransitive)

- BROKEN -

Clausal complement verbs (transitive, dative addressee)

- BROKEN -

Clausal complement verbs (transitive, accusative addresee)

- BROKEN -

Impersonal verbs

(7-40b) Ngajirri gin jalanyi.
 Ngajirri gi-n jalanyi.
 be.cold 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG today
 It's cold today.

Inherent reflexive impersonal verbs.

(7-41) Barnamuluma ngiyinggan.
 Barnamuluma ngiyi-ngg-a-n.
 flash.lightening 3.SG.NM.A-RR-NF-PROG
 There was lightening.

Inherent reflexive intransitive verbs.

(4-218a) Gurda ngiyingga. 
 Gurda ngiyi-ngg-a. 
 be.sick 3.SG.NM.A-RR-NF 
 She's sick.

Inherent reflexive w/predicative complement.

(7-66) Manku ngingga gurijbirna.
 Manku ngi-ngg-a gurijbirna.
 hear 1.SG.A-RR-NF good.II(NOM)
 I feel good.

Variable Properties

Person: 1st/2nd/3rd

(4-310) Ngawurniji nguba yarru.
 Ngawurniji ng-uba yarru.
 1.SG.NOM 1.SG.S-NP.AWY go(FUT)
 I'll go.

(7-170) Yangula nginyan ngajbi nyamirniji. 
 Yangula ngi-ny-a-n ngajbi nyamirniji. 
 NEG 1.SG.A-2.O-PST-PROG see 2.SG.ACC
 I wasn't looking at you.

(4-311) Yandu ngi ngaya. 
 Yandu ngi ngaya.
 wait 1.SG.S(PR) 3.SG.F.OBL
 I'm waiting for her.

Number: sg/du/pl

(4-77) Bungmanyini gininga jiyawu.
 Bungmanyi-ni gini-ng-a jiyawu.
 old.man.I-LOC 3.SG.M.A-1.O-NF give
 The old man gave it to me.

(4-25) Wayani ngima ninagiyawulija janyinka gubajiwulija.
 Wayani ngi-ma ninagiyawulija janyi-nka gubaji-wuli-ja.
 look.for 1.SG.S-PST that.I.DU.DAT dog.I-DAT small-DU-DAT
 I've been looking for those two small dogs.

(4-23) Narungujini irringan ngurra banymanymi.
 Narunguji-ni irri-ng-a-n ngurra banymanymi.
 car.IV-LOC 3.PL.A-1.O-NF-PROG 1.PL.INC.ACC pass.by.RDP
 Cars were passing us (all night).

Clusivity: exclusive/inclusive

(4-23) Narungujini irringan ngurra banymanymi.
 Narunguji-ni irri-ng-a-n ngurra banymanymi.
 car.IV-LOC 3.PL.A-1.O-NF-PROG 1.PL.INC.ACC pass.by.RDP
 Cars were passing us (all night).

(4-93) Mirra ngirrin ngarlini.
 Mirra ngirri-n ngarli-ni.
 sit 1.PL.EXC.S(NP)-PROG talk-LOC
 We're sitting talking.

Gender: four-class system

(4-307) Ayani ngi ninaga galalarrinyinka bugayininka.
 Ayani ngi ninaga galalarrinyi-nka bugayini-nka.
 look.for 1.SG.S(PR) this.I.SG.DAT dog.I-DAT big.I-DAT
 I'm looking for the big dog.

(4-7) Yangaji ini bagijbi.
 Yangaji ini bagijbi.
 meat.I(NOM) this.I.SG.NOM bad.I(NOM)
 This meat is no good.

(3-3) Gurijbirna nana alanga.
 Gurijbirna nana alanga.
 good.II(NOM) this.II.SG.NOM girl.II(NOM)
 This girl is good.

(4-234) Mama burnaringma nga nawu.
 Mama burnaringma ng-a nawu.
 this.III.SG.ACC wild.orange.III.ACC 1.SG.A-PST step.on
 I sat on this orange.

(4-fn42) Yana ngangabani ngiyinga irrijabi.
 Yana ngangaba-ni ngiyi-ng-a irrijabi.
 this.IV.SG.NOM wood.IV-LOC 3.SG.NM.A-1.O-NF scratch 
 This stick scratched me.

Minimal/non-minimal: sg or 1du-incl v. all else

(6-2) Yarru ga ginmanji ngaba murndu ngarlwi!
 Yarru ga ginmanji ngaba murnd-u ngarl-wi!
 go(FUT) SG.IMP.TWD this.way THEN 1.DU.INC.S-FUT talk-NF
 Come here so that we can talk!

(6-30) Ngurruwani ngurrun mirra gili ngarlini.
 Ngurruwani ngurru-n mirra gili ngarl-i-ni.
 1.PL.INC.NOM 1.PL.INC.S(NP)-PROG sit(NF) here talk-EP-LOC
 We're sitting here talking.

Tense: past, present, non-past, future, immediate future

(3-18) Bardgu ga jambanmanji.
 Bardgu g-a jamba-nmanji.
 fall 3.SG.S-PST ground.IV-ALL
 He fell to the ground.

(4-33) Gujarrawulu alagulu ngi yabu.
 Gujarrawulu alag-ulu ngi yabu.
 two(ACC) child-DU(ACC) 1.SG.A(PR) have
 I have two kids.

(3-9b) Gurinyma ngu.
 Guriny-ma ng-u.
 good-FAC.FUT 1.SG.A-FUT
 I will fix it.

(4-279) Wunjugu irrala ngarlwi?
 Wunjugu irr-ala ngarlwi?
 how 3.PL.S-HAB.NP talk 
 How do they always say it?

Immediate future: no example available

Aspect: progressive, habitual, default

(3-8) Mirra gin murrgu.
 Mirra gi-n murrgu.
 sit 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG inside
 She's sitting inside.

(4-279) Wunjugu irrala ngarlwi?
 Wunjugu irr-ala ngarlwi?
 how 3.PL.S-HAB.NP talk 
 How do they always say it?

(3-18) Bardgu ga jambanmanji.
 Bardgu g-a jamba-nmanji.
 fall 3.SG.S-PST ground.IV-ALL
 He fell to the ground.

Mood: indicative, hypothetical, non-actual

(3-18) Bardgu ga jambanmanji.
 Bardgu g-a jamba-nmanji.
 fall 3.SG.S-PST ground.IV-ALL
 He fell to the ground.

(3-9b) Gurinyma ngu.
 Guriny-ma ng-u.
 good-FAC.FUT 1.SG.A-FUT
 I will fix it.

(4-299) Yarru irragba nganga maginmanji.
 Yarru irr-agba nganga magi-nmanji.
 go 3.PL.S-HYP 2.SG.OBL camp.IV-ALL
 They might go to your camp.

(5-17) Guyala ngurruji ngajbi irra.
 Guyala ngurr-uji ngajbi irra.
 NEG 1.PL.INC.A-NACT.PR see 3.PL.ACC
 We've never seen them.

Agreement

Auxiliary-subject (transitive) in PNG

(3-9b) Gurinyma ngu.
 Guriny-ma ng-u.
 good-FAC.FUT 1.SG.A-FUT
 I will fix it.

Auxiliary-subject (intransitive) in PN

(3-18) Bardgu ga jambanmanji.
 Bardgu g-a jamba-nmanji.
 fall 3.SG.S-PST ground.IV-ALL
 He fell to the ground.

Auxiliary-object in person

(5-12) Daguma gininga ngirra.
 Daguma gini-ng-a ngirra.
 hit 3.SG.M.A-1.O-NF 1.PL.EXC.ACC
 He hit us.

Noun-modifier in number, gender and case

(4-25) Wayani ngima ninagiyawulija janyinka gubajiwulija.
 Wayani ngi-ma ninagiyawulija janyi-nka gubaji-wuli-ja.
 look.for 1.SG.S-PST that.I.DU.DAT dog.I-DAT small-DU-DAT
 I've been looking for those two small dogs.

Case

“Locative”/ergative case on agents

(4-31) Janybuliji wurlunga nyurrunyurru.
 Jany-buli-ji wurlu-ng-a nyurrunyurru.
 dog-DU-LOC 3.DU.A-1.O-NF chase
 Two dogs chased me.

Nominative case on intransitive subjects

(4-27) Naniyawulu bungmajbulu wurlun yarru.
 Naniyawulu bungmaj-bulu wurlu-n yarru.
 that.II.DU.NOM old.person-DU(NOM) 3.DU.S(NP)-PROG go
 Those two old women are coming.

Accusative case on objects

(4-9) Aliyulu nga bulyungu wawunji.
 Aliyulu ng-a bulyungu wawunji.
 find 1.SG.A-PST little.IV(ACC) sugarbag.I(ACC) 
 I found a little sugarbag.

Dative case on objects

(4-25) Wayani ngima ninagiyawulija janyinka gubajiwulija.
 Wayani ngi-ma ninagiyawulija janyi-nka gubaji-wuli-ja.
 look.for 1.SG.S-PST that.I.DU.DAT dog.I-DAT small-DU-DAT
 I've been looking for those two small dogs.

Locative case modifiers

(4-83) Gulugbi ga magini.
 Gulugbi g-a magi-ni.
 sleep 3.SG.S-PST camp.IV-LOC
 He slept at camp.

Allative case modifiers

(4-125) Bardgu ga murlunmanji.
 Bardgu g-a murlu-nmanji.
 fall 3.SG.S-PST eye.IV-ALL
 It fell into my eye.

Ablative case modifiers

(4-129) Yarru gamany gagarrangani.
 Yarru g-amany gagarra-ngani.
 go 3.SG.S-PST.TWD east-ABL 
 He came from the east. 

Perlative case modifiers

(4-135) Milarra gin bardbi warankanyi.
 Milarra gi-n bardbi wara-nkanyi.
 tears.IV(NOM) 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG run face.IV-PERL
 Tears are running down (his) face.

Comitative case modifiers

(4-287) Alaji gin mirra ngarriyili.
 Alaji gi-n mirra ngarri-yili.
 boy.I(NOM) 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG sit 1.SG.OBL-COMIT
 The boy lives with me.

Argument Optionality

Dropped arguments

(3-9b) Gurinyma ngu.
 Guriny-ma ng-u.
 good-FAC.FUT 1.SG.A-FUT
 I will fix it.

Argument positions filled only by modifiers

(4-40) Gujarra nga aliyulu.
 Gujarra ng-a aliyulu.
 two.IV(ACC) 1.SG.A-PST find
 I found two (eggs).

(4-46) Murrgunbalarna irrin mirra ngarlini.
 Murrgun-balarna irri-n mirra ngarli-ni.
 three-PL.II(NOM) 3.PL.S(NP)-PROG sit talk-LOC
 The three women are sitting talking.

Modifiers of nominal projections/positions

Demonstrative adjectives

(4-25) Wayani ngima ninagiyawulija janyinka gubajiwulija.
 Wayani ngi-ma ninagiyawulija janyi-nka gubaji-wuli-ja.
 look.for 1.SG.S-PST that.I.DU.DAT dog.I-DAT small-DU-DAT
 I've been looking for those two small dogs.

Genetive

(4-149) Yarru ngi bungmanyanaganka maginmanji.
 Yarru ngi bungmanya-naganka magi-nmanji.
 go 1.SG.S(PR) old.woman.II-GEN.IV camp.IV-ALL
 I'm going to the old woman's camp.

Possessive pronouns

 - BROKEN -

Dative possessive

 - BROKEN -

Privative

(4-190) Yandu ngin murluwajanganka.
 Yandu ngi-n murlu-wajanga-nka.
 wait 1.SG.S(PR)-PROG eye-PRIV.II-DAT
 I'm waiting for the blind woman.

Proprietive

(4-173) Yandu ngin bungmanyanka gijilulungunyanka.
 Yandu ngi-n bungmanya-nka gijilulu-ngunya-nka.
 wait 1.SG.S(PR)-PROG old.woman.II-DAT money-PROP.II-DAT
 I'm waiting for the old woman with money.

Inalienable possession

 - BROKEN -

Clausal modifiers of NP: ?? what are these

Internally headed relative clauses

(8-44) Ilinga gina galyurringi gin bardbi.
 Ilinga gin-a galyurringi [gi-n bardbi].
 hear 3.SG.M.A-PST water.I(ACC) 3.SG.S(PR)-PROG run
 He heard the water running.

Secondary predicates

(7-132) Gurdanymila giningan yandu.
 Gurdanymila gini-ng-a-n yandu.
 sick.one.II(ACC) 3.SG.M.A-1.O-NF-PROG look.after
 He looks after me, the sick one.

Modifiers of verbal projections

Adverbs

Vocatives

Beneficiaries

Locatives

Instrumentals

Directional suffixes on auxiliaries

Comparatives

Non-finite subordinate clauses: simultaneous action, same subject

Non-finite subordinate clauses: simultaneous action, different subject

Non-finite subordinate clauses: prior action/purposive, same subject

Non-finite subordinate clauses: prior action/purposive, different subject

Finite temporal subordinate clauses (marda “when”, ngaba “then”)

• -> FIXME: Where is the semantics introduced for those?

Quantifiers

Default quantifiers introduced by selecting heads

“group” suffix (~ universal quantifier)

Non-verbal predicates

Predicate adjectives

Predicate nominals

Predicate adverbials

Copular constructions

Valence changing operations

Reflexive/reciprocal construction

Causatives of verbs.

Causatives of adjectives

Other transitivizers (list??)

Deverbal nouns

Agent nominalization

Other deverbal nouns (argument marking)

Imperatives

ordinary imperatives

negative imperatives

directional imperatives

Questions

yes/no questions

negative yes/no questions

information (wh) questions

Coordination

S coordination

NP coordination

Negation

Sentential negation

Immediate future negatives

Constituent negation

Misc

Kinship terms

Inferentials

Indefinite =miji

Minimizng =nima (“just”)

=minyi “again”

References

• Bender, Emily M. 2008. “Radical Non-Configurationality without Shuffle Operators: An Analysis of Wambaya.” In Mueller, S. (ed) Proceedings of the HPSG 2008 Conference.
• Bender, Emily M. 2010. “Reweaving a Grammar for Wambaya: A Case Study in Grammar Engineering for Linguistic Hypothesis Testing.” Linguistic Issues in Language Technology 3(3) pp.1-34.
• Nordlinger, Rachel. 1998. A Grammar of Wambaya, Northern Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Last update: 2012-06-29 by EmilyBender [edit]