On the context layer of Bangla pronouns

Abstract

This paper proposes an account of the formality agreement found in the Bangla pronounominal system, suggesting hierarchical values, rather than a binary one, for one of the formality determining features, (STATUS). With evidence from data on child language acquisition of Bangla pronouns, which points towards a long delay in children's acquisition of the formal pronouns, the paper suggests that contexual featureal agreement must be posited as a post-syntactic phenomenon. This also helps explain why formality or other contexual featureal agreement are riddled with variation and subject to generational language change.