A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE ...

Minnesota dialect) appears not to have undergone a complete lexicalization, since
onzaam appears only to be used where extreme degree is involved (Nichols, personal
communication).
The use of onzaam, however, is not the only way to express causality in Ojibwe.
Causality may be expressed by using a variety of linguistic devices, such as asyndetic
arrangement of clauses (pragmatically inferred), or grammatical elements, i.e. the use of
relative root onji- ‘because’. The use of onzaam as a causality marker, then, appears to
be optional, since other linguistic devices may be used to accomplish the same work.
This is shown by the following examples.
(40) Causality without onzaam
a) (Mille Lacs Sessions)
Gidaa-miizh igo geyaabi gibaakaakosijige.
you should give it to me still you are open
‘You should just give it to me since you’re still open.’
b) (Kegg 1991:134-135)
Miish ezhi-mookawaakiiyaan wii-pimishkaayaan.
and then I cried I want to go ride in a boat
‘I started crying because I wanted to go paddling.’
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