Number in Biak; Counterevidence to two alleged language universals

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a survey of the ways in which number is indicated in the morphology and syntax of a specific Biak dialect. This survey is preceded by some introductory remarks on the sociolinguistic and geographic setting, a discussion of the phonology of the dialect in question and an introduction to the role of number and gender in its grammar. The paper concludes with an exposition of the consequences of the Biak data for the theory of language universals. The data for this paper were collected during regular fieldwork sessions at Leiden University, where my informant, Drs. Johsz Man soben from the village of Sorendiu'eri**, was doing a post-graduate programme in cultural anthropology, in the course of 1984. I am very grateful to him for his cooperation, enthusiasm and valuable sugges tions, without which this paper could not have been written. Needless to say, any errors in the presentation and interpretation of the data are completely my own responsibility.