SIL Electronic Working Papers
SILEWP 1998-005


SILEWP 1998-005: Author: Howard Shelden
Title: Transitivity and Galela pronominal reference
Source: First presented at the Seminar for Research of Eastern Indonesia, Manado, Indonesia, July 23-29, 1985.
Keywords: linguistics, syntax, morphology, discourse, transitivity, pronouns Indonesia, Galela
Abstract:
This paper explores the relationship between the system of pronominal reference and the transitivity of clauses in discourse in the Galela language of North Halmahera. I show that the deletion of a pronominal verb prefix correlates with decreased clause transitivity, and thus with greater backgroundedness. Furthermore, I suggest that at very low levels of transitivity, possessive pronouns partially merge with pronominal verb prefixes. Finally, I show that the addition of a pronominal verb prefix is the best indicator of increased clause transitivity, and thus of greater foregroundedness.
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