Abstract

The paper explores verbs of cutting and breaking (C&B, hereafter) in Yélî Dnye, the Papuan language of Rossel Island. The Yélî Dnye verbs covering the C&B domain do not divide it in the expected way, with verbs focusing on special instruments and manners of action on the one hand, and verbs focusing on the resultant state on the other. Instead, just three transitive verbs and their intransitive counterparts cover most of the domain, and they are all based on ‘exotic’ distinctions in mode of severance—coherent severance with the grain vs. against the grain, and incoherent severance (regardless of grain).