Metathesis and Unmetathesis: Parallelism and Complementarity in Amarasi, Timor
Abstract
In this thesis I provide a complete analysis of synchronic CV ->
VC metathesis in Amarasi, an Austronesian language of western
Timor. Metathesis and unmetathesis realise a paradigm of parallel
forms, pairs of which occur to complement each other throughout
the language.
Metathesis in Amarasi is superficially associated with a
bewildering array of disparate phonological processes including:
vowel deletion, consonant deletion, consonant insertion and
multiple kinds of vowel assimilation, any of which can (and do)
vary by lect in their realisation. By proposing that Amarasi has
an obligatory CVCVC foot in which C-slots can be empty, all these
phonological processes can be straightforwardly derived from a
single rule of metathesis and two associated phonological rules.
Three kinds of metathesis can be identified in Amarasi. (i)
Before vowel initial enclitics, roots must undergo metathesis,
responding to the need to create a phonological boundary between
a clitic host and enclitic. Such metathesis is syntactically
driven but phonologically conditioned. (ii) Metathesis occurs
within the syntax to signal attributive modification. A
syntactically metathesised form cannot occur at the end of a
phrase and thus requires the presence of an unmetathesised form
to complete it syntactically. (iii) In the discourse an
unmetathesised form marks an unresolved event or situation. Such
an unmetathesised form cannot occur in isolation and requires a
metathesised form to achieve resolution. Metathesis in Amarasi is
the central linguistic process around which linguistic structures
are organised.
Amarasi metatheses also reflect fundamental Timorese notions of
societal and cosmic organisation. Alongside weaving and other
performed activities, metathesis is an important linguistic
marker of identity in a region obsessed with similarities and
differences of identity between different groups. The
complementarity of Amarasi metathesis and unmetathesis within the
syntax and within discourse reflects the Timorese division of the
world into a series of mutually dependent binary and
complementary pairs. As well as being the key which unlocks the
structure of the language, metathesis is also a reflection of the
structure of Amarasi society and culture.