Description
Book SynopsisExamines the challenging subject of discoursemarkers in Ojibwe, one of the many indigenous languages in the Algonquian family.
Ojibwe Discourse Markers is a remarkable study that interprets and describes the Ojibwe language in its broader theoretical concerns in the field of linguistics.
Trade Review“Discourse markers, a major aspect of Ojibwe, as Brendan Fairbanks notes, are among the elements that make teaching and learning Ojibwe as a second language particularly challenging. The author’s insightful analysis of the nuances they bring to expression will greatly aid instructors and adult learners in particular.”—M. Naokwegijig-Corbiere, assistant professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Sudbury
“In
Ojibwe Discourse Markers the author has tackled a challenging and poorly understood area of Ojibwe grammar. Grounding his study in authentic Ojibwe data from multiple sources, Brendan Fairbanks has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of this important Algonquian language.”—John O’Meara, dean and faculty of education at Lakehead University in Ontario and author of
Delaware-English/English-Delaware DictionaryTable of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction and background
1.1. The language
1.2. Why study Ojibwe discourse markers?
1.3. Methodology
1.4. Orthography
2. What is a discourse marker?
2.1. Schiffrin’s definition of discourse markers
2.2. Relevance theorists’ view of discourse markers
2.3. Cross-linguistic data
2.3.1. Position
2.3.2. Clitics and affixes
2.3.3. tam (tense-aspect-mode) systems
2.3.4. Simultaneous textual and interpersonal functions of discourse markers
2.4. Defining discourse markers
3. Ojibwe discourse markers
3.1. Discourse connectives
3.1.1. Initial position
3.1.1.1. inashke
3.1.1.2. miinawaa
3.1.1.3. onzaam
3.1.1.4. dibishkoo
3.1.1.5. mii dash
3.1.2. Second position
3.1.2.1. idash as a contrastive marker
3.1.2.1.1. Digressions
3.1.2.1.2. Backgrounding and foregrounding
3.1.2.1.3. idash in adjacency pairs
3.1.3. Preverbs
3.1.3.1. Relative preverb izhi
3.2. Mystery particles
3.2.1. Initial position
3.2.1.1. mii as a veridical marker
3.2.1.2. mii as a command softener
3.2.1.3. awenh, inenh
3.2.1.4. aaniish
3.2.2. Second-position mystery particles
3.2.2.1. isa
3.2.2.1.1. isa as a marker of closings
3.2.2.1.2. isa as a marker of relinquishment
3.2.2.1.3. isa as a marker of conclusory gists
3.2.2.1.4. isa as a marker of resultant action
3.2.2.1.5. isa as a position strengthener
3.2.2.1.6. isa as a placeholder
3.2.2.1.7. sa go
3.2.2.2. gosha
3.2.2.3. sha
3.2.2.4. da
3.2.2.5. bina
3.2.2.6. goda
3.2.2.7. naa
3.2.2.7.1. Second-position discourse clusters with naa
4. Conjunct order as a discourse-marking device
4.1. Sentence-level use of conjuncts
4.1.1. Dependent clauses
4.1.2. Temporal immediacy and the connective feature of the conjunct
4.1.3. Situational immediacy
4.2. Discourse use of conjuncts
5. Conclusion
Notes
Glossary
References
Index
