Rungus and English/Contrastive Grammar

Grammatical Differences

• Word order: Rungus is primarily VSO
• Austronesian alignment: the word order in Rungus is [predicate - focused argument - non-focused argument], and the focus marking on the verb determines the thematic role of the focused argument (e.g., if verb is actor focused, then the focused argument is the actor/agent)
  • Determiners and pronouns have focused/non-focused forms (tagged nom and acc)

Actor focus

• (drg) Mamanau it ulun → (eng) The person goes

  (drg) panau<v><impf><af> it<det><def><nom> ulun<n> → (eng) the<det><def><sp> person<n><sg> go<vblex><pres><p3><sg>

• (drg) Mangagama i tukang do meja → (eng) The workman makes a table

  (drg) gama<v><impf><af> i<det><def><nom> tukang<n> do<det><ind><acc> meja<n> → (eng) the<det><def><sp> workman<n><sg> make<vblex><pres><p3><sg> a<det><ind><sg> table<n><sg>

Patient focus

• (drg) Duaton oku dikau → (eng) I am asked by you

  (drg) panau<v><pf> oku<prn><pers><p1><sg><nom> dikau<prn><pers><p2><sg><acc> → (eng) I<prn><pers><subj><p1><mf><sg> be<vblex><p1><sg> ask<vblex><pp> by<pr> you<prn><pers><p2><mf><sg>

Beneficiary focus

• (drg) Tinahakan oku do tinggol → (eng) I was given necklaces

  (drg) tahak<v><pf><perf> oku<prn><pers><p1><sg><nom> do<det><ind><acc> tinggol<n> → (eng) I<prn><pers><subj><p1><mf><sg> be<vblex><past><p1><sg> given<adj> necklace<n><pl>