A Four-Way Distance Contrast in Takbanuaz Bunun Demonstratives

Abstract

Bunun is an Austronesian language spoken in Taiwan. Previous research on two of its dialects, Takivatan and Isbukun, indicates complex paradigms of demonstrative pronouns, locative verbs, and adverbial elements. All demonstrate two-way or three-way distance contrasts, sometimes alongside underspecified forms and a distinction in visibility. However, in the Takbanuaz dialect, a four-way distinction has been observed in certain demonstrative paradigms, which, in addition to the typical proximal-medial-distal contrast, encodes vague distance. This article describes this atypical demonstrative system and discusses how its complex distance distinction aligns with our general understanding of the properties of deixis in Austronesian languages and beyond. After providing a typological outline of demonstrative distance distinctions and a summary of research on demonstrative distance in Formosan languages in Section 2, Section 3 offers an overview of previous research on Bunun demonstratives and describes the Takbanuaz demonstrative system, with a special focus on the expression of vague and indeterminate distance. Section 4 compares distance contrasts across Bunun dialects and suggests accessibility as an explanation for the semantics of vague forms in Takbanuaz.