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second criterion in the choice of languages for the sample was the availability of
detailed phonetic and phonological descriptions and studies on cliticization phenomena
in the language. Most of the time, these criteria enabled us to find a suitable language
within each of the various language families.
1.1.2. The languages of the sample
The following world map with its accompanying table presents the languages actually
chosen for the sample. Figure 1 shows the approximate geographical distribution of the
languages in our sample. Table 1 gives information on the area in which the languages
are spoken and the respective classifications. The order in which the languages are
presented follows from the alphabetical order of Ruhlen’s phyla, as listed above.
The majority of the languages in our sample have been studied in depth and
therefore high quality descriptions and analyses are available. For some languages,
resources are limited to a descriptive grammar and maybe an analysis of clitic
phenomena. This is true for Amele, for which we only consider two publications, i.e.
Roberts (1987, 1996). The synchronic and diachronic aspects of cliticization are rarely
studied for an individual language. For Tariana, however, a number of aspects of
cliticization have been studied from both perspectives (Aikhenvald 2000, 2002, 2003a).
It is only for the Khoisan languages that we do not have sufficient information to
answer all forthcoming questions on cliticization. For !Xóõ a detailed phonological and
phonetic description and a dictionary with a brief grammatical sketch are available
(Traill 1985, 1994). Since both publications do not make explicit reference to
cliticization, data and analysis of clitic phenomena in this language remain tentative.
Data from the respective languages will always be given in the orthography
employed in the descriptive works. Principles of interlinear morpheme translations as
used in the reference grammars will be followed. Where necessary and possible, we will
indicate the difference between phonemic and phonetic transcription by the use of
different brackets, /…/ for phonemic and […] for phonetic transcription.
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