Mark W. Post, TB Nominalization – MPI Nijmegen, May 16, 2008 Nominalization-based constructions in Tibeto-Burman: Synchronic and diachronic perspectives 1 1. A typological divide: Languages with clausal nominalization and without Clausal nominalization: (1) kʰui 55 khə 55 dõ 353 -sɑ ŋe 13 tʰũ 353 sõ [3.SG.ERG 3.SG.ABS hit-NZR] O [1.SG.ERG ] A [see EGO] PRED ‘I saw him hit him/I saw his hitting of him.’ (Dongwang Tibetan, data from Bartee (2007), cited in Genetti, Bartee et. al. (MS-2008)) With the exception of a predicate nominalizer, the clausal nominalization has main- clause-like structure. (Matisoff 1972; Noonan 1997; Bickel 1999; DeLancey 2002) Action nominalization/action nominal construction: (2) aɪ sɔ hɪz hɪɾ-ɪŋ əv hɪm. [1.SG.NOM ] A [see.PST] PRED [3.SG.GEN hit-NZR of 3.SG.ACC] O ‘I saw his hitting of him.’ In addition to a predicate nominalizer, the action nominalization has noun-phrase-like structure. (Chomsky 1970; Comrie and Thompson 1985; Koptjevskaya-Tamm 1993) Clausal nominalization in relative clause construction: (3) dokhunuŋ āmu cilā=n bi=e cij=pen [all [that goat=ERG Ø i give=NZR ] RELC thing=PL i ] NP ‘all the things (that) the goat gave’ (Dolokha Newar, data from Genetti, Bartee et. al. (MS-2008)) Relative pronominal relative clause: (4) ɔl ðə θɪŋ-z (ðæt) ðə got geɪv [all DEF thing-PL i [(REL ) DEF goat.NOM give.PST Ø i ] RELC ] NP ‘all the things (that) the goat gave’ (? ‘all the things (of) the goat’s giving’) Other reported functions of clausal nominalization include “standalone” uses (like main clauses, but usually with a marked semantic/pragmatic value) and in various dependent clause (or “converbal”) functions (Genetti, Bartee et al. MS-2008; Noonan to appear 2008; Watters to appear 2008). 1 All data is sourced as cited. In most cases, authors’ transcriptions have been preserved, although some small changes have been made here and there to improve consistency within this paper. Abbreviations have been similarly changed for consistency where possible. In preparing this I’ve benefited greatly from discussions with Jackson Sun, Randy LaPolla, Stephen Morey, Guy Deutscher and Seino van Breugel. 1