Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

two NPs) can be expressed with ody one of the overt NPs, (6a) and (6b). or neither (6c),
without affecting its grarnmati~ality.~ This illustrates that the theta-cntenon is met even
without overt NPs present, and that the central arguments must be expressed as pros
within the verb.
(6) a. iskwêw wâpamêw.
woman-3 see-TA-(3 -3')
'The wornan sees him.'
b. wâpamèw nâpêwa.
see-TA-(3 -3') man-3'
'She sees the man.'
c. wâpamêw.
see-TA-(3 -3')
' S he sees him. '
As mentioned above, noun phrases that appear in the sentence are assumed to be in
non-argumental positions. If the NP designates the same referent as one of the
pronominal arguments, it is indexed to that pro located inside the verbal cornplex. This
type of indexing is called referential linking, or r-linking. R-linking has the function of
linking an pronominal argument with an argument-doubling expression. Example (7)
illustrates an NP linked to the appropriate pronominal argument within the verbal
~ornplex.~ The NP atin 'dog' has the same features as the object pro inside the verb: third
Of course. discourse fiinctions play a role in each sentence's acceptability. The point however is that the
oven NPs are not required to fulfil the Theta Criterion. It has been fi~lfilled by the pronominal arguments.
Details about nominal and verbal inflection and methodc of indicaiing r-linking. wiil k providecl in the
following chapters.