Abstract
The Tai languages of Assam (India), among them Tai Khamti, are characterised by AVO/SV constituent order, conditioned by a complex interplay of pragmatics, particularly focus structure. Greenberg considered Tai Khamti, a postpositional language, an exception to his Universal 4 (whereby “SOV” languages are postpositional), but this article demonstrates that it is not an exception. Older Tai languages, such as Ahom, had VO structure. However, modern Khamti and Phake exhibit both VO and OV, depending on the pragmatic structure of the clause. This change is partly due to marking animate O arguments in adpositional phrases, so that constituent order is not required for disambiguation, and partly due to contact with verb-final languages that dominate the Northeast India linguistic area.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
