Abstract
We examine the development of the Austronesian first-person pronouns in nonstandard varieties of Malay/Indonesian. The fact that of the inclusive and exclusive pronouns only the form of the inclusive, * kita?, is ever retained in the nonsingular forms when the inclusive-exclusive distinction is lost, or extended to a singular meaning, is taken as a sign of an oppositional relationship being retained even after the functional basis for that opposition has ceased to exist. Evidence for the markedness relationship that exists between the two pronominal forms is presented on the basis of qualitative and quantitative data, with both Classical Malay and Modern (written) Indonesian being examined. A discussion of the shifts in meaning that have been observed to occur, and the shift in the pronominal paradigm in the light of Blust's treatment of the politeness shifts in earlier varieties of Austronesian, offers a functional explanation for the kinds of changes observed. Additional data from local languages of Southeast Sulawesi, in which both forms are preserved, even though the function encoded is now one of plural/paucal, strengthen this argument.
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