Obviation in two Innu-aimun atanukana

Hasler, Laurel Anne (2002) Obviation in two Innu-aimun atanukana. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This thesis analyzes how obviation, a grammatical structure found in Algonquian languages, is used in two Innu-aimun âtanûkana (myth-legends) told in Sheshatshiu, Labrador. Specifically, I explore the way in which obviation patterns in the two stories, and how the storyteller makes the choice of whether to assign each particular third-person referent proximate or obviative status. -- In the study, I identify seven semantic and syntactic environments in the narratives in which the storyteller generally assigns third-person referents proximate status. My study also points to exceptions to these apparent rules of proximate assignment where the storyteller will give a third person an unexpected status in order to reflect some meaning at the level of discourse, for example foreshadowing an event, placing focus on a particular character, or attributing the quality of agentivity to a particular character.

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