"Double reference" in Kala Lagaw Ya narratives
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Lesley Stirling
Abstract
The label “double reference” is introduced to describe clauses which incorporate reference to the same participant in the same grammatical function via use of two distinct nominal expressions. This paper investigates the discourse-referential function of double reference in narratives in Kala Lagaw Ya, the language of the Western Islands of the Torres Strait. A distributional analysis of the reference tracking options used in the stories is reported, with particular discussion of the Givónian measures of “Referential Distance” and “Potential Interference”. For referential distance the results situate “double reference” as an intermediate accessibility marker, falling between ellipsis and pronouns on the one hand and full nps on the other, but patterning statistically with the latter. With respect to a measure of potential interference, the results are suggestive in locating double reference at the extreme positive end of the scale, although this tendency is not statistically significant. Finally, a narrative structure analysis of one story is reported, showing that double reference almost always occurs in the introductory clauses of three highlight episodes of the story.
Abstract
The label “double reference” is introduced to describe clauses which incorporate reference to the same participant in the same grammatical function via use of two distinct nominal expressions. This paper investigates the discourse-referential function of double reference in narratives in Kala Lagaw Ya, the language of the Western Islands of the Torres Strait. A distributional analysis of the reference tracking options used in the stories is reported, with particular discussion of the Givónian measures of “Referential Distance” and “Potential Interference”. For referential distance the results situate “double reference” as an intermediate accessibility marker, falling between ellipsis and pronouns on the one hand and full nps on the other, but patterning statistically with the latter. With respect to a measure of potential interference, the results are suggestive in locating double reference at the extreme positive end of the scale, although this tendency is not statistically significant. Finally, a narrative structure analysis of one story is reported, showing that double reference almost always occurs in the introductory clauses of three highlight episodes of the story.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Maps ix
- Discourse and grammar in Australian languages 1
- Clause-initial position in four Australian languages 25
- Bardi arguments: Referentiality, agreement and omission in Bardi discourse 59
- Diverging paths: Variation in Garrwa tense/aspect clitic placement 87
- Pragmatically case-marked: Non-syntactic functions of the Kuuk Thaayorre ergative suffix 111
- The interpretation of complex nominal expressions in Southeast Arnhem Land languages 135
- "Double reference" in Kala Lagaw Ya narratives 167
- Person reference, proper names and circumspection in Bininj Kunwok conversation 203
- Index of languages 233
- Index of names 235
- Index of subjects 237
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- Maps ix
- Discourse and grammar in Australian languages 1
- Clause-initial position in four Australian languages 25
- Bardi arguments: Referentiality, agreement and omission in Bardi discourse 59
- Diverging paths: Variation in Garrwa tense/aspect clitic placement 87
- Pragmatically case-marked: Non-syntactic functions of the Kuuk Thaayorre ergative suffix 111
- The interpretation of complex nominal expressions in Southeast Arnhem Land languages 135
- "Double reference" in Kala Lagaw Ya narratives 167
- Person reference, proper names and circumspection in Bininj Kunwok conversation 203
- Index of languages 233
- Index of names 235
- Index of subjects 237
