A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE ...

(84) isa (Jones 1917:4-5)
a) O’ow idash madwe-ikidowan: “Niin ninga-zaziikiz.”
this but the other is heard saying I I will be the eldest
b) “Gaawiin,” madwe-ikido bezhig biinish igo ikido aw bezhig:
not he is heard saying one even EMPH he says that one
“Gaawiin gidaa-zaziikizisii.
not you could not be the eldest
c) Niin isa ninga-zaziikiz.
I DM I will be the eldest
a) ‘“This was what one was heard to say: “I wish to be the first brought forth.”
b) “No,” one was heard saying, even did one say, “you cannot be the first-born.
c) I am [isa] the one to be the eldest.”’
Sometimes isa is involved in propositional contrasts in such a manner that the
propositional standing of the proposition containing isa is strengthened in relation to prior
propositions. Like the example above where a speaker may exert their dominance over
another by the use of isa, speakers may also increase the illocutionary force of a
proposition by the use of isa. This can be seen in the following example where two ways
of handling knowledge is being contrasted.
(85) isa (Clark 1998:56, audio)
a) A’aw dash Chi-mookomaan kina gegoo wiin gekendang mazina’iganing
that but white people all thing him/her what he knows in a book
ogii-ozhitoon, mazina’iganing ogii-ozhibii’aan.
s/he makes it in a book s/he writes it
b) Miish igo akina awiiya noongom ge-nisidotanzig aanawi-go
and the EMPH all someone today s/he would not understand it even though
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