Summary
editOttawa syntax involves combination of words and phrases to make clauses and sentences.[1] Verbal and nominal inflectional morphology are central to Ottawa syntax, as they mark grammatical information on verbs and nouns to a greater extent than in English.[2] Preferred word orders in a simple transitive sentence are verb-initial, such as V(erb) O(bject) S(ubject) and VSO. While verb-final orders are dispreferred, all logically possible orders are attested.[3] Ottawa word order displays considerably more freedom than is found in languages such as English, and word order frequently reflects distinctions such as Topic and Focus.[4] Ojibwe verb orders correspond to one of three main sentence types: the Independent order is used in statements, the Conjunct order in subordinate clauses and the Imperative order in commands.[5] Ottawa distinguishes Yes-no question, which use a verb form in the Independent order, from Content questions, which require verbs inflected in the Conjunct order.[6] Ottawa distinguishes two types of grammatical third person in sentences, proximate indicating an 'in focus' noun phrase, and obviative, indicating an 'out of focus' noun phrase; obviation is marked on nouns and verbs. Selection of proximate or obviative forms structures Ottawa discourse.[7]
Syntax
editOttawa syntax involves combination of words and phrases to make clauses and sentences.[8] Verbal and nominal inflectional morphology are central to Ottawa syntax, as they mark grammatical information on verbs and nouns to a greater extent than in English.[9]
Word order
edit951 Preferred word orders in a simple transitive sentence are verb-initial, such as V(erb) O(bject) S(ubject) and VSO. While verb-final orders are dispreferred, all logically possible orders are attested.[10]
Clauses
edit- Main clauses
- Subordinate clauses
Sentence Types
edit- Statements
- Questions
- Commands
Constructions
editQuestions
editOttawa distinguishes yes-no or polar questions and content questions.
Yes-No (polar) questions
editYes-no (polar) questions elicit a positive or negative response. They are formed with a question particle na, which appears after the first word of the sentence. The main verb in the sentence is in the Independent Order.[11]
| (1) | Waya | na | giigoonh | ggii-debnaa? | ||
| (2) | waya | na | giigoonh | g- | gii- | -debnaa |
| (3) | any | question | fish | 2nd person | past | catch |
| (4) | Did you catch any fish?[12] | |||||
Content questions
editContent questions contain question words such as who, what', where, when, why, and how. The interrogative word typically occurs at the beginning of the clause. The verb, if present, is in the Conjunct Order.[13]
| (1) | Wenesh | dbaajimind? | |
| (2) | wenesh | dbaajm | -ind |
| (3) | who | narrate about | indefinite |
| (4) | Who is being narrated about?[13] | ||
Complementation
edit665
Negation
edit837
Coordination
editp. 996
Proximate and obviative
edit623
Location
edit721
Applicatives
edit699
Relative clauses
edit579
Reflexives
edit695
Ditransitives
edit685
Causatives
edit698====
Notes
edit- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 916
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 918
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 934-935
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 951-955
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 991-996
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 975-991
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 623-643
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 916
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 918
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, 934-935
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, pp. 975-977
- ^ Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 977
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Valentine, J. Randolph, 2001, p. 979was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
References
edit- Rhodes syntax of relative roots in PAC
- Valentine, J. Randolph. 1994. Ojibwe dialect relationships. PhD dissertation, University of Texas, Austin.
- Valentine, J. Randolph. 2001. Nishnaabemwin Reference Grammar. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-4870-6