Classifiers in Yurok, Wiyot, and Algonquian

Abstract

0. Introduction and the Typology of Nominal Classification Wiyot and Yurok, Algic languages of northwestern California, have a complex system of classifiers in which a classificatory morpheme delimits the properties (primarily shape) of arguments of numerals and verbs. These morphemes also show up in nominal morphology, on nouns with verbal roots. The classificatory system of Yurok has been described in Robins’ (1958) grammar and in Haas’ (1967) article “Language and taxonomy in northwestern California.” Wiyot classifiers are described in Reichard’s (1925) grammar, and to a lesser extent in Teeter’s (1964) grammar. Teeter worked with the last native speaker of Wiyot, who did not use many of the classifiers. In this paper I expand on these descriptions and compare the classifiers of Wiyot and Yurok to each other and to those of Algonquian languages. Classifiers in Wiyot and Yurok are clearly comparable to Algonquian classificatory medials. I also discuss how the Algic classifiers fit into the typology of classifiers proposed by Aikhenvald (2000). I hope to clarify and correct some statements that have been made about Yurok and Wiyot in the literature on classifiers by showing that these classifiers occur on verbs other than numerals, that is, they are not only numeral classifiers, and that Wiyot has as extensive a system of classifiers as Yurok does. In (1) I give some basic data that illustrate the phenomenon of classifiers. The data show the verb roots ‘to be big’ in Wiyot and ‘to be black’ Yurok, with different classificatory suffixes that indicate the shape or animacy of the subject of the verb. As is usual with classificatory morphemes, they classify the subject of intransitive verbs, and the object of transitive verbs.

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