Clause-initial position in four Australian languages
-
Jane Simpson
Abstract
Word order in Australian languages has frequently been described as “free” or subject to pragmatic or discourse constraints rather than governed by syntactic rules. This paper examines both the pragmatic and syntactic factors which motivate the placement of constituents in clause initial position. We find striking similarities across four languages – Warlpiri, Jiwarli, Nyangumarta and Garrwa – suggesting underlying principles for ordering that belie their description as “free word order” languages. Clause initial position is dominated by “prominent” constituents” – both those which are inherently prominent and thus obligatory in initial position, and those which are prominent by virtue of the discourse context.
Abstract
Word order in Australian languages has frequently been described as “free” or subject to pragmatic or discourse constraints rather than governed by syntactic rules. This paper examines both the pragmatic and syntactic factors which motivate the placement of constituents in clause initial position. We find striking similarities across four languages – Warlpiri, Jiwarli, Nyangumarta and Garrwa – suggesting underlying principles for ordering that belie their description as “free word order” languages. Clause initial position is dominated by “prominent” constituents” – both those which are inherently prominent and thus obligatory in initial position, and those which are prominent by virtue of the discourse context.
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
