Linguistics 50–5 (2012), 955 – 990 0024–3949/12/0050–0955 DOI 10.1515/ling-2012-0030 © Walter de Gruyter Do nominal classifiers mediate selectional restrictions? An investigation of the function of semantically based nominal classifiers in Mawng (Iwaidjan, Australian)* RUTH SINGER Abstract This article argues that the primary function of nominal classiiers which have a strong semantic basis is to mediate selectional restrictions. Nominal classi- iers do part of the work usually done by selectional restrictions; selecting the relevant sense of the verb and narrowing down the range of possible argu- ments. In the Australian language Mawng (Iwaidjan, Australia), gender agree- ment in the verb provides good evidence for the role of nominal classiication in mediating selectional restrictions. Mawng verb agreement distinguishes ive genders and plays a key role in selecting the relevant sense of the verb. In fact, sometimes gender agreement does not match the gender of the corresponding argument but instead relects the gender agreement usually found with the relevant verb sense. Typological work on nominal classiication systems has focused on their morphosyntax and their reference tracking function. However, nominal classiication systems with a strong semantic basis play an important role in constructing meaning by mediating the semantic interactions between verbs and nouns. Reference tracking is often portrayed as the primary function of nominal classiication universally. However, in addition to tracking existing referents, nominal classiication can be important in creating new referents and modifying existing referents. 1. Introduction Selectional restrictions are generally believed to be universal but do they operate in the same way in all languages? The term selectional restrictions is commonly understood as referring to restrictions on the types of argument a verb can take. In some cases selectional restrictions clearly fall out from the meaning of the verb. For example, the verb drink usually takes ‘liquids’ as object. The selectional restrictions of the verb drink may appear to be a natural (CS4) WDG (155×230mm) TimesNewRoman J-2630 LING, 50:5 pp. 955–990 2630_50-5_03 (p. 955) PMU: (idp) 17/07/2012 30 July 2012 9:38 AM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42