Directed caused accompanied motion events in Sudest, an Oceanic language with classificatory verbs

Abstract

This chapter explores the expression of directed caused accompanied motion events (directed CAM) in Sudest, an Austronesian language of Vanatɨna and Yeina Islands, Papua New Guinea. Directed CAM expressions in Sudest typically involve a caused motion verb in combination with a directional element, which can be a directional verb, associated motion prefix, or deictic enclitic. In the majority of cases, the caused motion verb is selected from a set of verbs that can be described as ‘classificatory verbs’, a type of verbal classifier. The Sudest verbs mean ‘get’ and are selected based on properties of the object referent, including consistency, flexibility, fullness, and number. Sudest is unique among the Austronesian languages as it is the only attested language of the family that has verbal classifiers.