A Comprehensive Comparison of Lexemes in the ... - SIL International

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18 nuanced in each particular language. Secondary meanings and figurative senses may exist in one language but not in another. Where this is the case, rather than combining secondary meanings with the primary lexical entry, I have given them a separate entry. For instance, the entry for ‘make noise’ has a secondary meaning in N Tanna, SW Tanna, and Vaha, which is ‘sprout.’ Speakers of these languages see the growth of vegetation as semantically related to making noise. But the other languages of Tanna do not share this secondary sense. Therefore, ‘sprout’ receives a separate entry in the lexicon, as shown in example (19), with data from only those languages that employ that meaning. (19) make noise V /INTR sprout above ground V/INTR Kwamera: arukw Kwamera: — Lenakel: atp̃əluəh Lenakel: — N Tanna: atp̃erəh N Tanna: atp̃erəh SW Tanna: əməteih SW Tanna: əməteih Vaha: əməltei Vaha: əməlteih Whitesands: atp̃ərerəh Whitesands: — Another example is the entry for ‘split lengthwise.’ In Kwamera, SW Tanna, and Vaha, this lexeme has a secondary meaning, ‘interpret.’ Since not all languages of Tanna share this secondary meaning, there are two separate entries, as shown in example (20). 9 (20) split s.th. lengthwise V/TR interpret V Kwamera: ərp̃ɨfi Kwamera: ərp̃ɨfi Lenakel: whaprai Lenakel: — N Tanna: uhapɨk N Tanna: — SW Tanna: hoprai SW Tanna: hoprai Vaha: ohaptai Vaha: ohaptai Whitesands: ətamtei Whitesands: — 2.2.3.2 Semantic non-correlation in languages A comparative analysis also reveals semantic non-correlation. Sometimes, the reason for this is that synonyms in the historical lexicon seem to have been discontinued or have changed meaning (see § 2.1.2.1). Some languages have retained both nearly synonymous lexemes, whereas other languages have retained only one. For example, SW Tanna has two words for ‘bathe in coconut oil,’ ətagə and əteihuvə, but Vaha has only əteihuvə. SW Tanna has four nearly synonymous words for ‘child’: ji, tɨni, narɨ, and kwajikovə. In the case of ji and tɨni, the synonyms are both historically related to the same word but underwent different phonological shifts. Idiosyncratic lexemes are possibly vestiges of proto forms which survived in one language but which perished in others. For a more comprehensive list of lexemes, and their idiosyncratic nuances, a language-specific dictionary is 9 Note that related entries such as these are cross-referenced in section B (lexicon) of this manuscript.
19 necessary. Dictionaries in N Tanna, Vaha, and Whitesands have not yet been published for each language but are being compiled. There are scores of lexemes present in one or more languages of Tanna which are not found in others. Language-specific dictionaries include hundreds of these idiosyncratic lexemes. However, since the nature of this study is to compare lexemes across language boundaries, only lexemes which appear in three or more of the languages are listed. Table 2.5 gives some examples of lexemes which are idiosyncratic to one or more languages of Tanna. Table 2.5. Idiosyncratic lexemes in the languages of Tanna.† Language Lexeme Gloss Note N enatɨg be wise Other lgs use ‘know’ N nəutahlɨmɨs widow N asɨkitun have mercy K api cry about something Other lgs use ‘cry’ S əmkərəv be hungry Other lgs use ‘hunger carries’ or ‘hunger strikes.’ S nɨhupɨn total number of s.th. S ənyap search for fire Antiquated K, S təvɨr still, to this day K, S or nɨmirhien be difficult K, S, V pig/pegi/pin sniff K, L, S, V ətgah/ətgase bold K, L, N, S rɨpĩteitei/rɨp̃ətut motion to stop V and W use ‘block’ /əfətutu/eptutu K, L, S, V ukaa/əwhən/ going where? N and W say ‘go where?’ ətəən/awəku L, N, S V autə/autei to supply s.th., give abundantly/freely K and W use one of the verbs for ‘give.’ †The following language abbreviations are used in this table: K: Kwamera, L: Lenakel, N: N Tanna, S: SW Tanna, V: Vaha, W: Whitesands. 2.2.4 Differentiating between homonyms and polysemous lexemes A fourth application of a comparative analysis is that it helps us differentiate between homonyms and polysemous lexemes. Sometimes a lexeme appears to be polysemous and the supposed connection between the various senses can be intriguing or puzzling. However, when the data from related languages becomes available, it appears that it is not an instance of one lexeme with multiple senses but of two or more lexemes that are homophones. In this section I discuss several examples. As shown in example (21), the SW Tanna lexeme kɨr means both ‘lead’ and ‘dig.’ With just this data, it is unclear if there is some sort of semantic connection between the two ideas of leading and digging, or if there are two homonyms. However, when the data is compared to Vaha, one finds two different lexemes: kɨl
Page 1 and 2: DigitalResources SIL eBook 34 ® A
Page 3 and 4: SIL e-Books 34 ©2012 SIL Internati
Page 5 and 6: Section B. Lexicon Appendix A.Nearl
Page 7 and 8: Abstract Tanna Island in Vanuatu ha
Page 9 and 10: 1 Section A. Background Chapter 1.
Page 11 and 12: 3 Map 1. Map of Tanna: Language are
Page 13 and 14: 5 Compiling comprehensive dictionar
Page 15 and 16: 7 Table 1.4. Potential errors when
Page 17 and 18: 9 Table 2.1. Consonant corresponden
Page 19 and 20: 11 hyphens refer to word-initial, w
Page 21 and 22: 13 (10) show-off N Kwamera: yemamso
Page 23 and 24: 15 (15) shelter N Kwamera: Lenakel:
Page 25: 17 Table 2.4. (Nearly) identical ka
Page 29 and 30: 21 (23) take feces out of intestine
Page 31 and 32: 23 (27) Kwamera hymn with English t
Page 33 and 34: 25 There are also variations in how
Page 35 and 36: 27 Section B. Lexicon. Notes: 1) Ph
Page 37 and 38: 29 Lenakel: N Tanna: SW Tanna: Vaha
Page 39 and 40: 31 Whitesands: mɨne anger N kros K
Page 41 and 42: 33 hips; (5) support oneself with o
Page 43 and 44: 35 Lenakel: nəuəlɨ* N Tanna: noa
Page 45 and 46: 37 barren, be V/A no save bonem pik
Page 47 and 48: 39 be bad tasting V/A See bland, be
Page 49 and 50: 41 be dried up V/A See dried up, be
Page 51 and 52: 43 belch; bleat V /INTR sakem win K
Page 53 and 54: 45 be proud V/A See proud, be be si
Page 55 and 56: 47 bicker; argue (1) V/TR agu Kwame
Page 57 and 58: 49 bleed; menstruate V/INTR blad i
Page 59 and 60: 51 book N See pattern bore a hole V
Page 61 and 62: 53 branches for birds to nest in N
Page 63 and 64: 55 Lenakel: əmtətiapɨn N Tanna:
Page 65 and 66: 57 calm, be (1) V/A See peaceful Va
Page 67 and 68: 59 carver; hypocrite giaman Kwamera
Page 69 and 70: 61 Kwamera: əm̃ ai Lenakel: əm̃
Page 71 and 72: 63 circumcision; penis wrapper; bra
Page 73 and 74: 65 SW Tanna: Vaha: Whitesands: coar
Page 75 and 76: 67 coconut leaf torch N See torch m
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69 SW Tanna: okrig Vaha: oklig† W
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71 cousin N See cross-cousin; paral
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73 crash; bash V i kilim Kwamera: L
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75 SW Tanna: Vaha: Whitesands: crum
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77 N Tanna: SW Tanna: Vaha: Whitesa
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79 Kwamera: eivini Lenakel: eanean
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81 dew; condensation wota blong nae
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83 disobey V brekem toktok Kwamera:
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85 Vaha: mak Whitesands: mak See al
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87 Lenakel: mərh N Tanna: mətu SW
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89 easy; slow; gentle; easily; slow
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91 ramaklah N Tanna: nɨki* tatəkl
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93 karemaot long graon Kwamera: Len
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95 Vaha: Whitesands: faint V ae i b
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97 SW Tanna: Vaha: Whitesands: See
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99 fire faea Whitesands: apə See a
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101 Whitesands: noanao †fr. Bis.
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103 flood N bigfala wota Kwamera: L
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105 fork in the road N rod i seraot
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107 Vaha: Whitesands: təm rɨm Vah
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109 N Tanna: koko SW Tanna: koko Va
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111 go around (1) V/INTR See happen
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113 Lenakel: rɨp* N Tanna: tɨp̃
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115 Kwamera: əjai Lenakel: əjai N
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117 Lenakel: nɨpkəlu* N Tanna:
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119 have diarrhea (2) See run V hav
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121 Kwamera: kum̃ er, kurpəs Lena
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123 hillside N saed blong wan hil K
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125 Hong Kong taro (Xanthosoma sagi
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127 N Tanna: osiəhau atɨp SW Tann
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129 Kwamera: uvnihi, əghan Lenakel
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131 interpret (1) V eksplenem Kwame
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133 Kwamera: Lenakel: N Tanna: SW T
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135 lastborn N lasbon Kwamera: kwə
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137 Whitesands: nelk* See also (1)
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139 Linckia laevigata N See blue st
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141 look like s.o. or s.th. V/TR Se
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143 make s.th. level V See spread o
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145 Lenakel: əwai-əwai N Tanna: a
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147 midget; mythical dwarf N sotfal
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149 morning star N moning sta Kwame
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151 murmur V/INTR See hum muscle al
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153 need V See love V nettles N See
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155 nundei, sidaon long ples we san
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157 Kwamera: narɨs Lenakel: noanea
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159 orgasm, have an V See have sexu
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161 Kwamera: təpag* Lenakel: təpa
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163 Vaha: Whitesands: †See scoope
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165 Lenakel: N Tanna: SW Tanna: Vah
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167 Vaha: Whitesands: hu arfwəi pl
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169 pour liquid out of s.th. V/TR k
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171 N Tanna: SW Tanna: Vaha: Whites
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173 Kwamera: Lenakel: N Tanna: SW T
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175 quiet, be V/INTR See stop cryin
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177 Vaha: Whitesands: ətəuatəu
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179 reveal V talemaot bakgraon Kwam
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181 roll up s.th. (1), such as a ma
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183 Whitesands: See also chief yerm
Page 193 and 194:
185 Vaha: Whitesands: kɨsətu əht
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Page 197 and 198:
189 Kwamera: əvriwe Lenakel: əvra
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191 sharpen s.th. V/TR See cut s.th
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193 See also (1) hit the bull’s e
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195 N Tanna: əni SW Tanna: əni Va
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197 slave (1) N slef Kwamera: yo tu
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199 Whitesands: təkaku See also ka
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201 Lenakel: aunɨpɨn N Tanna: emk
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203 spill out of the mouth, not all
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205 spread out s.th.; make s.th. le
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207 Whitesands: məhau See also (1)
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209 N Tanna: nəvitok SW Tanna: nə
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211 N Tanna: SW Tanna: Vaha: Whites
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213 Kwamera: meri Lenakel: mɨt N T
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215 N Tanna: nəu SW Tanna: nɨkwə
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217 TB N See hunger (3) teeth, gnas
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219 Vaha: kap̃əliu Whitesands: r
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221 third person dual object pronou
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223 throw s.th. by flicking of the
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225 tomorrow ADV tumora Kwamera: r
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227 Vaha: Whitesands: †See lead t
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229 N Tanna: noekoeko SW Tanna: nar
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231 two NUM tufala Kwamera: kəru L
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233 SW Tanna: ətawə Vaha: asə Wh
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235 volition (2) N See inside of s.
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237 wart N strongskin Kwamera: Lena
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239 SW Tanna: əvəvhao Vaha: əvə
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241 which REL See that; which while
Page 251 and 252:
243 Kwamera: nətaan Lenakel: — N
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Page 255 and 256:
247 wounded, be (2) i soa Kwamera:
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249 SW Tanna: Vaha: Whitesands: you
Page 259 and 260:
251 Appendix A.Nearly identical lex
Page 261 and 262:
253 Appendix B. Birds of Vanuatu in
Page 263 and 264:
255 Abbreviations The table below l
Page 265 and 266:
257 Lynch, John, and Terry Crowley.
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