Nuclear Layer Serialization in Lewo

Abstract

Lewo is spoken on Epi Island in Vanuatu. In Lewo, nuclear layer serialization is very widespread. However, the process of incorporation has progressed to the extent that most of the serialized verbs have become morphologically indistinguishable from a class of verbal suffixes. In 1982, Crowley described for Paamese a class of postverbal adjunct modifier particles. His 1987 reanalysis presented the same form as nuclear layer serialized verbs. He suggests that similar phenomena exist in other languages in the area.