New fieldwork methods for degree abstraction and a guide to their use, illustrated with Mooré

Authors

  • Ying Gong Boston University
  • Elizabeth Coppock University of Gothenburg
  • Tomiris Kaumenova The Ohio State University

Keywords:

degree abstraction, Mooré, elicitation materials, comparatives, fieldwork, Gur

Abstract

In concert with typological work on the semantic properties of the grammar of degree across a diverse set of languages, a suite of cross-linguistically applicable elicitation materials has arisen. This paper adds to that body of work, contributing storyboards and other elicitation materials designed to elicit structures involving degree abstraction. The paper also shows the results of these materials for Mooré, a Gur language of Burkina Faso that has been claimed to lack degree abstraction. Along with illustrating how the storyboard can be put to use, the results provide further insight into the case of Mooré, and the status of the Degree Abstraction Parameter. The initial assessment that it lacks degree abstraction remains tenable. However, independent properties of the language can explain why the established probes for degree abstraction will fail to yield evidence for it. The variation can thus be explained without recourse to such a parameter.

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Published

2026-09-10

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): New elicitation materials for degree abstraction and a guide to their use, illustrated with Mooré

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ying Gong, Elizabeth Coppock, Tomiris Kaumenova

Authors of articles retain the copyright of the text and data in the article itself, unless otherwise specified in the article.

However, storyboards and other visual materials that accompany the articles are distributed with the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada (CC-BY 2.5 CA) license, which allows the creation of derivative works (including commercial derivative works).  To redistribute a storyboard or other visual material in any form, modified or unmodified, you must give appropriate credit to the original author, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.  It is not necessary to license a derivative work with the CC-BY CA 2.5 license or any other Creative Commons license.