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TRENDS IN LINGUISTICS is a series of books that open new perspectives in our understanding of language. The series publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighbouring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science.
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Salish Languages and Linguistics W G DE Trends in Linguistics Studies and Monographs 107 Editor Werner Winter Mouton de Gruyter Berlin · New York Salish Languages and Linguistics Theoretical and Descriptive Perspectives edited by Ewa Czaykowska-Higgins M. Dale Kinkade Mouton de Gruyter Berlin · New York 1998 Mouton de Gruyter (formerly Mouton, The Hague) is a Division of Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin. © Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the ANSI to ensure permanence and durability. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication-Data Salish languages and linguistics : theoretical and descriptive perspectives / edited by Ewa Czaykowska-Higgins. M. Dale Kinkade. p. cm. - (Trends in linguistics. Studies and monographs ; 107) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 3-11-015492-7 (cloth : acid-free paper) 1. Salishan languages. I. Czaykowska-Higgins, Ewa. II. Kinkade, M. Dale (Marvin Dale), 1933III. Series. PM2261.S35 1998 497'.9-dc21 97-40944 CIP Die Deutsche Bibliothek — Cataloging-in-Publication-Data Salish languages and linguistics : theoretical and descriptive perspectives / ed. by Ewa Czaykowska-Higgins. M. Dale Kinkade. — Berlin ; New York : Mouton de Gruyter, 1998 (Trends in linguistics : Studies and monographs ; 107) ISBN 3-11-015492-7 © Copyright 1997 by Walter de Gruyter & Co., D-10785 Berlin All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed: Werner Hildebrand, Berlin. Binding: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin. Printed in Germany. Preface The Salish language family comprises 23 languages spoken over a large area in northwestern North America. Although the languages have been studied by linguists and anthropologists for over 100 years, and the first International Conference on Salish Languages (an annual forum for the discussion of these and neighboring languages) was held in 1966, no collection of papers has ever been dedicated exclusively to Salish linguistics. Furthermore, since the most recent survey of Salish linguistics (Thompson 1979b), a great deal of new linguistic research on Salish has been undertaken and it has become increasingly apparent to linguists that the Salish languages are characterized by properties which make them particularly relevant to the study of theoretical issues in phonology, morphology, morphosyntax, and syntax. In addition, on the applied side, many of today's Salish communities have,