Inclusory constructions in the Māori languages of Aotearoa and the Southern Cook Islands

Abstract

This paper discusses Lichtenberk’s (2000) notion of inclusory constructions as manifested in two closely related East Polynesian languages of the realm of New Zealand: New Zealand Māori and Cook Islands Māori. Both languages have productive inclusory constructions typically used to denote sets of human referents as in the following New Zealand Māori example.

(1) Kua hoki atu a Mere rāua ko Reremoana. ‘Mere and Reremoana have gone back.‘

Inclusory constructions in both languages are formally identical and fit Lichenberk’s typology well. The two languages differ in their preference for using this construction, which is strongly preferred in New Zealand Māori but merely possible in Cook Islands Māori.