Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

Little research has been done on subordinate clauses in Algonquian languages.
Even less research attempts to do so in the light of the Pronominal Argument Hypothesis.
Mile much of the recent research has focussed on the relationships between NPs and
pronominal arguments, it has not been extended into subordinate clauses. Of the few
forma1 treatments of the relationship between the subordinate clause and the matrix verb
(cf Baker (1 9%).
Main ( 1997)). complement-like behaviour is explained by situating
these clauses in argument positions.
The research presented here offers a new approach to the difering relationships
between matrix verbs and subordinate clauses. This is important to the general theories
about pronominal argument languages, since al1 other accounts of distinctions between
subordinate clauses have appealed to a difference in structural position. Even work
undertaken wit hin the guidelines of t he Pronominal Argument Hypot hesis has assumed
that complement-like clauses are generated in argument position. My analysis, however,
maintains a non-argument position for al1 constituents except pronominal arguments.
I argue that the distinction between adjunct-Iike clauses and complement-like
clauses is the presence or absence of referential Iinking. Referential linking (r-linking) is a
process of CO-indexation between constituents. Complement-like clauses are in fact
arg1ime1114011bIi11g chses. These clauses are r-linked to a pronominal argument in the
matrix verb, and fùnction to 'double' the pronominal argument, i.e., provide more
information about it. Adjunct-like clauses, which 1 will term adverbials, are not r-linked
to a pronominal argument in the matrk verb. This distinction mirrors one already
established for NPs in pronominal argument languages.