Conceptualising multiple-Marking in NZE

Abstract

Abstract Our aim with this paper is to investigate the phenomenon of multiple-marking in NZE. We endeavour to find a common label to describe different grammatical features of NZE. Three constructions are analysed here. Nonagreement in there-existentials, multiple negation, and multiple comparison. In addition, we also examine the sub-varieties of NZE and aim to find tendencies between a standard (Pākehā English – PE) and an Indigenous variety of English (Māori English – ME). As we are interested in the role sociolinguistic factors (such as speakers’ ethnicity) play in the constructions, our data are extracted from the Wellington corpus of spoken New Zealand English. Moreover, our findings reveal that multiple-marking is frequent in NZE; that PE and ME show similar productivity in multiple-marking constructions; and that sociolinguistic factors contribute to how speakers make linguistic choices. Our paper concludes by revisiting our research questions and providing suggestions for further research.