Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics.pdf

A-Z 717MaipuranArawakan(major) constituentRelatively independent basic structural element of a sentence; the exact number andfunction of constituents depends on the particular language. The determination andclassification of constituents depends on the theoretical assumptions of the syntacticapproach employed. An operational definition can be given as follows. (a) Constituentscan appear before the finite verb in declarative sentences ( topicalization). (b) Theycan be moved around in the sentence (as a unit, if they are complex). Thus thesubstitution test shows that attributes are not constituents since they cannot be movedfrom their antecedent. (c) Constituents can be replaced by single words or pronounsthrough substitution. This operational definition does not coincide with the traditionaldefinition of constituents, where syntactic and functional aspects are also considered, cf.the traditional definitions of subject, object, predicate, and adverbial. For a differentdefinition of constituent, valence. Constituents include single words (today, works,she), phrases (in the morning, the new book, without a doubt), and constituent clauses.MakahWakashanMalagasyGroup of closely related Malayo-Polynesian languages in Madagascar; the Merinadialect is the official language of Madagascar (about 10 million speakers).Characteristics: word order VOS; well-developed voice system.ReferencesDez, J. 1980. Structures de la langue malgache. Paris.Domenichini-Ramiaramanana, B. 1976. Le Malgache: essai de description sommaire. Paris.Faublée, J. 1946. Introduction au malgache. Langues de l’Orient 1:3.Rabenilaina, R.-B. 1983. Morpho-syntaxe du malgache. Paris.