DIALECT VARIATION AS A WINDOW INTO LANGUAGE CHANGE – A SYNTACTIC EXAMPLE FROM SASAK (LOMBOK)

Abstract

Structural contrasts in language are often accompanied by corresponding morphological contrasts. When morphological contrasts are simplified or morphology is reanalyzed, what is the effect on syntactic structure? Eastern Sasak has two syntactically transitive constructions, and with the first, the lexical verb occurs with a prefix with the underlying form /ng-/ (hence ‘nasal prefix’). The second transitive clause type occurs with the unprefixed verb (hence ‘bare’ form). In dialects without this morphological contrast, do we expect structural simplification? (i.e., a single transitive clause type). In contrast to Eastern Sasak, Central Sasak transitive clauses occur almost exclusively with the unprefixed (or ‘bare’) form of the lexical verb. On the basis of data from complex clauses (namely raising verbs), this paper argues that – despite not having a morphological contrast – Central Sasak maintains two transitive clause types.