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The Non-Lexical Basis for a Tsamosan Branch of Salish
Academic Work
The Tsamosan has been recognized as a distinct branch of the Salishan language family at least since 1950, when Swadesh set up an Olympic branch of a Coast Division based on lexicostatistical calculations. Swadesh's subgrouping of Salish has been generally accepted ever since, even by those who are not convinced by lexicostatistical evidence. The major challenge to Swadesh's Olympic branch was from Dyen (1962), who suggested that the evidence did not support Olympic as a natural subgroup within Salish. Elmendorf (1969) then added geographical continguity to explain the closer lexicostatistical relations between Twana and Southern Lushootseed and the Tsamosan languages, and concluded that Swadesh was correct in setting Olympic apart. The matter has essentially remained there, with the recognized status of Tsamosan based entirely on lexical evidence. Those who have familiarity both with Tsamosan and other Salishan languages have challenged this classification based on lexicon only to the extent of setting Tsamosan off as a branch coordinate with Central Salish, Interior Salish, etc., because it has appeared to them, even on casual acquaintance with Tsamosan, that this branch differs from Salish in all aspects of the languages. It is the purpose of this essay to elucidate the non-lexical distinctiveness of Tsamosan, drawing evidence from phonology, morphology, syntax, and discourse structure. Not all features to be treated are of equal weight in marking distinctiveness, and some traits to be discussed have congeners elsewhere in Salish, although either in a limited or distinctiveness, and some traits to be discussed have congeners elsewhere in Salish, although either in a limited or distinctive way or they are found in a non-contiguous region. Wherever possible an explanation will be given of how the Tsamosan forms developed from Proto-Salish.
AW.00112
1993
Language and Linguistics
UBC Working Papers in Linguistics Press
International Conference on Salish Languages, 28, 175-197
International Conference on Salish Languages, 28, 175-197
Tsamosan, Salishan languages, lexicostatistical calculations
Working Papers
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