The evolution of non-syntactic functions of applicatives: –i suffixation in Javanese and neighbouring languages

Javanese, like many other Austronesian languages, has two applicative suffixes which introduce a non-actor argument as the applied phrase in the main clause. This chapter focuses on the locative applicative -i, which introduces an applied phrase with the semantic role of location, goal or recipient. Javanese -i also has a number of non-applicative functions. It has the additional syntactic function of deriving causatives by introducing an actor participant, as well as a range of non-syntactic functions, which include encoding a pluractional meaning or indicating intensity of the event or specificity of the applied phrase. This chapter describes these uses of -i suffixation in Javanese and other languages of the Western Indonesian subgroup. Comparison of locative applicative morphology across a small sample of Western Indonesian languages suggests that the non-syntactic functions of -i suffixation developed from its applicative use through the conventionalization of meanings of higher transitivity typically associated with applicative structures.