6.0 Introduction
In this preliminary study we will discuss the basic construction of Kavalan’s numeral and kinship terms. In Section 1, we will provide a preliminary account of the numeral system in Kavalan. Section 2 deals with kinship terms; we will show that kinship terms can be categorized into two groups: one indicating genealogical relation and the other one indicating relationship acquired through marriage, and both groups can be further functionally classified into terms for addressing and terms for indicating relationship.
6.1 Numerals
In this section we will discuss the Kavalan numeral system. By observing expressions of counting, the principles listed in (1) are found to represent the operation of the numeral system in Kavalan. The counting form of Saisiyat is decimal, and its numeral expressions are combinations of numbers receiving lexical representation by addition. From ten onwards, the tens digit is expressed by the combination of a number and the lexical representation of ten.
(1) generating rules for numbers in Kavalan a) below 10: terms with lexical representation b) from 10 to 99:
X yau a)
X: lexical term consisting of a lexical representation of a numeral and the lexical representation of ten (betin)
c) from 100 to 999:
Y yau b)
Y: lexical term consisting of a lexical representation of a numeral and the
lexical representation of one hundred (Rasibu) d) from 1000 to 9999
Y yau c)
Y: lexical term consisting of a lexical representation of a numeral and the lexical representation of one thousand (mararazan)
e) 10,000 on wards Y yau d)
Y: lexical term consisting of a lexical representation of a numeral and the lexical representation of ten thousand (banan)
Numerals more than ten require a conjunctor yau between two lexical items; the order followed in a complex numeral expression is: the larger numeral precedes the smaller numeral. The lexical representation for the number 9,999 would be usiwa
mararazan yau usiwa’ kasibu yau usiwa betin yau usiwa. Table 1 below lists the
numeral expressions in Kavalan.Table 1. Numeral expressions in Kavalan
Cardinal
Numeral
[-Human] [+Human] Ordinal Number of times
1 usiq paknanem saka-usiq ka-usiq ‘once’2 dusa kin-ausa saka-dusa ka-dusa ‘twice’
3 turu’ kin-turu saka-turu ka-turu ‘thrice’
4 sepat kin-sepat saka-sepat ka-sepat ‘four times’
5 lima kin-lima saka-lima ka-lima ‘five times’
6 ‘nem kin-anem saka-‘nem ka-‘nem ‘six times’
7 pitu kin-pitu saka-pitu ka-pitu ‘seven times’
8 waru kin-waru saka-waru ka-waru ‘eight times’
9 siwa kin-siwa saka-siwa ka-siwa ‘nine times’
10 habetin habetin saka-betin ka-betin ‘ten times’
In counting objects [-Human] the cardinal system, as in the second column in Table 1, is used. There is a separate system for counting persons from one to nine, as in the third column in Table 1. Numeral expressions can be used as verbs.
(2) Numerals as verbs
saka-dusa-ti q-em-an aizipna
ORD-two-PFV eat-AF 3SG.NOM
‘He has eaten his second (serving).’ (Elicited) ka-dusa-ti q-em-an aizipna
times-two-PFV eat-AF 3SG.NOM
‘He has eaten twice.’ (Elicited)
6.2 Kinship terms
Kavalan does not have a set of complicated kinship terms in Kavalan are basically nominal kind terms. The terms indicating consanguineal relation and those indicating affinal relations (through marriage) are basically the same. Moreover, there is no difference between terms for addressing and terms indicating relationship.
Kinship terms indicating genealogical relationship refer to terms used in one group of people who are related to each other by blood. Terms for addressing are how members in the same blood group address each other. These terms for addressing are often extended to second- and third- degree relations, and even to familiar persons in the community and to strangers. Although people living in the same community can identify each other’s complicated relations, e.g., ‘sister of wife’s uncle’s mother-in-law,’ it is interesting to note that they have not developed expressions to refer to such complicated relationships. Addressing terms are usually binary, and these are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Addressing terms in Kavalan
Kinship term Gloss Kinship term Gloss
baki’ grandfather bai’ Grandmother tama’ father tina’ Mother
tma’ uncle tna’ Aunt
kaka’ elder sibling suani’ younger sibling
The terms in Table 2 can basically function both to address and to indicate specific relationship between members in one genealogical group. These can oftentimes be extended to distant relations as well as to addressing strangers on the street. Similar to Saisiyat, there is no extra lexical item in current use coding ‘parent’
as the lexical item in English. However, an old person’s terms for addressing one’s grandchildren are the same as how they are addressed by these grandchildren. That is, grandsons and granddaughters are addressed baki’ (male) or bai’ (female), depending on the gender of the Ego. There is no specific lexical item indicating ‘son’, ‘daughter’,
‘grandchildren;’ in actual use, the addressing form is the individual’s name.
The only kinship terms indicating relationship acquired through marriage are
napawan-ku, referring to one’s spouse, and kdavu, which indicates as well as is used
for addressing ‘sons-/daughters-in-law.’ Other relationships and terms of address follow the basic pattern in Table 1. Therefore there is basically no difference in the term and form of address between blood relations and relationship acquired through marriage. Again, the same forms of address are used to address people not related at all to the address-er.Further, Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate the consanguineal and affinal kin of ego, respectively.
Figure 1. Consanguineal kin of Ego
Figure 2. Affinal kin of Ego
L C1 C2 C3 C4