What is a Philippine-type

language?
Ricardo Ma. Nolasco
Associate Professor
UP Diliman
Prototypical characteristics of
Philippine-type languages
a) syllable-timed speech rhythm

b) affix dependent word formation

c) predicate-initial word order

d) ergative morphosyntax
Speech rhythm
a) stress timed - intervals between
stresses or rhythmic feet are said to
be near equal length.
b) syllable-timed - successive syllables
are said to be near-equal length.
c) mora-timed - contain sub-syllabic
units called morae which are more or
less equal in duration
Syllable-timed languages
In most languages, the more syllables
there are, the longer it takes to say
something.
Each syllable is more or less the same
length as other syllables.
Example:
Hindi ako magnankaw.
`I am not a thief.
Stress-timed languages
In English, the syllables are not similar in
length. It is not each syllable which
receives equal time in pronunciation but
each segment bounded by primary stresses.

Dnt pay any attn tion to what
thers say.

English is a stress-timed language

English as a stress-timed
language
In English, the amount of time it takes to say
something does not depend on the number
of syllables.
a. Dogs chase cats
b. The dogs chase cats.
c. The dogs chase the cats.
d. The dogs will chase the cats.
e. The dogs will be chasing the cats.

Language classification
according to speech rhythm
What is stress in Philippine
type languages?
Syllable prominence - usually associated
with duration. Pitch and loudness are
not reliable indicators of stress.

[ g.tm] `hunger [p.n] `tree
[ g. tm ] `hungry [p.n] `full
of
s.t.]
Morphological Typology
a) Isolating language one morpheme,
one word (e.g. Chinese)
b) Agglutinating language - one word
may consist of several meaning units
(e.g. Turkish, Tagalog)
c) Fusional language several meanings
fused into a word (e.g. Latin)

Precategoriality in Philippine-
type languages
a) Roots - any form to which an affix
may be added (e.g. bahay)
b) Affixes - dependent forms (e.g. -in)
c) Particles - forms to which you cannot
add an affix (e.g. daw, pala, diay)
You can only know the parts of speech
membership of a form when you use it
in speech or add an affix
Roots
bahay ganda takbo

To what parts of speech do the following
roots belong?

Answer: All these forms can be used as
nouns, adjectives or verbs.
What are the parts of speech
in Philippine-type languages?
Cross-linguistic categories:
nouns verbs
pronouns numerals
case markers particles

And maybe adjectives, although they may
also be classified as stative verbs.

How about adverbs and
prepositions?

In Philippine type languages, some words
which are translated into adverbs or
prepositions in other languages are
actually:

Nouns: English: under the table
Tag: sa ilalim ng mesa


How about adverbs and
prepositions? (Contd)
Statives a. Tumakbo siya nang mabilis.
b. Mabilis siya.
c. Ganoon siya kabilis.
d. Ganoon siya kabilis tumakbo.

Particles already = na
still = pa

Root-based and Stem-based
morphological analysis
How do you analyze a form like
pag-aralan?

Root based: pag--an + aral

Stem based: pag-aral + -an
What is a stem?
A stem is a form to which the last affix is
added.

beautifully = beautiful + ly
beautiful = beauty + ful

Sapin-sapin hypothesis = a word has a
layered structure.
15-item quiz
Gumawa ng tree diagram ng sumusunod
na salita
1-5. kaawaan, ikalungkot, makiisa,
magdasal, pagprituhan
6-10 Isulat ang stem ng bawat salita.
11-15. Gumawa ng panibagong salita
buhat sa naturang stem.
S, A, O (and OBL)
S = the only argument of an intransitive
verb
A = the most agentive argument of a
transitive verb
O = the most patientive argument of a
transitive verb
OBL = all others which are not S, A or O
Mga halimbawa:

1. Tumakbo si Juan.
S

2. Tinakbuhan ni Juan si Maria.
A O
Word Order
Predicate Initial = PS, PAO (e.g.
Sugbuanong Binisaya)

Predicate Medial = SP, APO (e.g.
English)

Predicate Final = SP, AOP (e.g.
Nihonggo)
Motivations for altering word
order
a) Clitics

b) Scene setting function

c) Listing

d) Exclusive contrast
Clitic word order

1. Kinain ko ang mangga. (PAO)
2. Hindi ko kinain ang mangga. (APO)
3. Hindi ko ito kinain. (AOP)

Scene setting function
1. Maya-maya pay nagpasya na ring
lumusong ang mestisahing babae.
2. Sa pataas sa dako pa roon ng daan,
may napansin si Andy.
3. Malapit sa kinatatayuan nila ay isang
malapit na puwestong meryendahan
Listing
Yung isang friend ko, nag-boyfriend.
Nagkaanak lang. Tinakbuhan. Yung isa
pa, dadalawang taon pa lang na
nakakasal, hiwalay na. At yong isa pa,
nagtitiis na lang para hindi sila
maghiwalay. Dalawa na kasing anak,
e. Pero ang dalas mabugbog!
Exclusive contrast
1. Tumawag si Andy. Isang babae ang sumagot.
2. Si Engkoy ang nagtulak ng kariton pababa sa
baha.
3. Sa N. Domingo sila lumabas.
4. Napagkayarian na si Luz ang pipili ng petsa ng
kasal; si Fe, kung saang simbahan; Si Andy kung
saan ang reception; at si Mon, kung saan ang
honeymoon.
How has Philippine
morphosyntax been analyzed?
a) Nominative accusative subject-
object and active-passive constructs
are applicable.
b) Ergative-absolutive - subject is not
meaningful because of patient
primacy; what is important is the most
affected entity;
c) None of the above
Parameters
High Low
A. Arguments Distinct A and O Distinct S
B. Kinesis Action State
C. Aspect Telic Atelic
D. Punctuality Punctual Non-punctual
E. Intentionality Deliberate Volitional
F. Particularity Particular General
G. Directionality External Internal
H. Effort Effortful Effortless
I. Affectedness of O Fully Affected Partially Affected
J. Exclusivity
Exclusive O Non-Exclusive
O
Definition of Transitivity in the
Philippine context
a) An intransitive construction is one
where the source of the action is also
the most affected entity, the S.
Example: Sumikat ang araw.

b) The S is marked by the absolutive case
(ang/si)
c) The verb is marked by um- or m-

Transitive constructions
a) A transitive construction is one where
the source of the action (A) is distinct
from the most affected entitiy (O).
Ex. Hinawakan ko siya.
b) The A is marked by the ergative case
(ng/ni), and the O is marked by the
absolutive case (ang/si);
c) Verb is marked by in, -an or i-.
Case Forms in Three (3)
Philippine Languages
Case Determiners in Three (3)
Philippine Languages
Quiz 2: Ano ang pagkakaiba
sa kahulugan ng bawat pares?
1. a) Sumalpok ang alon sa bangka.
b) Sinalpok ng alon ang bangka.
2. a) Binasa ko ang libro.
b) Nagbasa ako ng libro.
3. a) Ikinalungkot ko ang pag-alis niya.
b) Nalungkot ako sa pag-alis niya.
4. a) Nagtanim ako ng mais sa lupa namin.
b) Tinamnan ko ng mais ang lupa namin.

Maraming salamat po!