A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE ...

3.2.2.1.4 isa as a marker of resultant action
Sometimes, isa marks RESULTANT ACTION, or a RESULTANT CONDITION. In such
cases, there are two essential elements surrounding the use of isa in these types of
constructions: the event (or events), and a resultant event (accented by isa) emanating
from that event (or events). In other words, an event (or a series of events) occurs, and as
a result of that event (or events), some action or condition, or a logical next step, occurs
as a natural consequence of that action. What this means is the existence of the resultant
action is dependent upon the prior event. This does not mean, however, that there is
necessarily a cause and effect relationship (though one may exist) between the event and
its resultant event. It only means that the resultant action or condition somehow
emanates from the initial event, either because it is a logical consequence of that action,
or that it is a next possible logical step following that event. In short, the first event (or
events) acts as a set up for what eventually happens. This is shown in the following
example where a mallard duck is killed.
(80) isa (Kegg 1991:58-59)
a) Zhiishiib imaa gii-paa-ayaa, ininishib; mamaad iniw asiniin,
duck there was around there mallard takes him/her that rock
gaa-izhi-bakite’waad.
and so she hit him/her
b) Mii sa gaa-izhi-niiwana’waad.
DP DM and so she killed him/her
a) ‘There was a duck there, a mallard, and she picked up a stone and hit it.
b) She [sa] killed it.’
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