Plains Cree: A Grammatical Study - Computer Science Club

40 [TRANS. AMER. PHIL. SOC.
classification). In Cree, however, the evidence for
this subtype is inconclusive, and further informant
work is required before a fuller statement can be
attempted.
5.14. Inanimate Intransitive
Inanimate intransitive (II) verbs are always
intransitive. (Cf. also 6.43.)
5.2. PARADIGM TABLES
The basic paradigms are presented here to summa-
rize the data which are analyzed in this chapter.
Without this aid to orientation, the analytic sections
might be difficult to follow. The paradigms may
also serve as a practical reference guide in the identifi-
cation of newly encountered forms.
5.21. Sources
With the exception noted below, the tables only
include forms which are textually attested, either in
my own or in Bloomfield's texts.
A few forms which are not attested in the texts
are cited in parentheses. These forms are considered
to be of fairly high authenticity since they are uni-
formly given by the four major missionary sources
on Plains Cree (Lacombe, Hunter, Lessard, Edwards).
They are also at least partially confirmed by the
remainder of their respective paradigms.64
5.22. Empty Positions
A paradigmatic position which is left empty in
principle presents a choice of two interpretations:
either no such form exists, or it has not been recorded.
The non-existence of a form for a paradigmatic
position may reflect the neutralization of a contrast;
this is indicated by the layout and the choice of
parameters. For example, contrast the direct and
inverse third-person sets of the TA independent
indicative paradigm. Other cases may involve se-
mantic restrictions (e.g., TA imperative 21-1) or
they may correlate with the development of suppletive
forms (e.g., the indefinite form of the AI independent
indicative paradigm). In such cases, the fact that
no form exists is indicated by a dash: - .
Where a lacuna is considered accidental, it is
indicated by empty brackets: [ ]. In the present
tables, this type is restricted to the conjunct non-
indicative (subjunctive and iterative) paradigms
which are readily derived from the conjunct indicative
paradigms (cf. 5.33).
Since the various preterit and dubitative paradigms
are very incompletely attested, they are presented
4 No attempt is made to incorporate the incredible diversity
of paradigms found in missionary sources; while composite pre-
sentation would obviously open interesting perspectives, practical
difficulties and problems of interpreting these sources preclude
such an approach in the present context.
WOLFART: PLAINS CREE
as lists rather than two-dimensionally. They follow
the remainder of the basic paradigms.
5.23. Level of Representation
The paradigms are given in phonemic represen-
tation; cf. appendix A, especially footnote 85. How-
ever, to facilitate use of these tables for quick reference
purposes, suffix-initial i which reflects the palatalizing
/i/ (rather than /e/) is underlined (cf. appendix A: 2).
The codes for the person-number-gender-obviation
categories are defined in table 1 of section 2.01.
For the alternant forms of the personal prefixes, see
appendix A: 6. Direct and inverse are discussed in
2.5, and the terms mixed, third-person, and you-and-me
are introduced in 5.611 and 5.612.
5.24. Versions of the TA Independent
Indicative Paradigm
The TA independent indicative paradigm is pre-
sented in two versions; version B is omitted for the
TA conjunct. The rationale for this double presen-
tation is discussed in detail in sections 5.61-5.63.
Version A reflects the semantic structure of the
paradigm as a whole, as well as the morphemes
actually present in each form; thus, there is no
obviative (3') morpheme present in wapamew 'he sees
him.'
Version B reflects the syntagmatic relations entered
into by each individual form; for example, refer-
entially and with regard to concord, wapamew 'he
sees him' has a proximate (3) actor as well as an
obviative (3') goal.
TABLE 5
SUMMARY OF VERBAL PARADIGMS
Basic paradigms:
TA independent indicative
(A: meaning and morphemes present)
TA independent indicative
(B: reference)
TA conjunct simple and changed
(indicative)
TA conjunct subjunctive and iterative
TA imperative
AI
TI
II
Incompletely attested paradigms:
Preterit (TA, AI, TI, II)
Dubitative (TA, AI, TI)
Marginal and suppletive paradigms:
Relational (AI, TI)
Diminutive (TA, AI, TI)
TA inanimate actor
TA indefinite actor
AI, TI indefinite actor
AI inanimate actor
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 9
Table 10
Table 11
Table 12
Table 13
Table 14
5.813
5.82
5.83
5.84
5.85
5.86