Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

If an NP is in an adverbial clause, a determiner within it cannot be extracted.
Sentences (66) and (67) show this, where the fionting of néwo 'four' in (66), and of mihz
'those' in (67) results in ungrammaticai sentences.
(66) a. càn sipwêhtêw ispî ê-mâci-nikanonit nêwo awâsisa.
John Ieave- AI-3 when cj-begin-sing. AI-3' four child-3'
'John lefi when four children began to sing.'
b. * nêwo cin sipwêhtêw ispî 6-mâci-nikamonit awâsisa.
four John leave. AI-3 when cj-begin-sing.Al-3' child-3'
(67) a. cîmiy pâhpiw ê-pihtokwênit anihi iskwêwa.
Jimmy-3 laugh. Al-3 cj-enter. Ai -3' those woman-3'
'Jimmy laughed when those women entered. '
@SI
b. * anibicîmiy pâhpiw ê-pîhtokwênit iskwêwa.
those Jimmy -3 1augh.N-3 cj-enter.Al-3' woman-3'
This exemplifies another difference between adverbial and argument-doubling
clauses in Cree. While extraction is not possible in al1 argument-doubling clauses, its
behaviour with respect to A-doubling versus adverbial is consistent with the analysis
proposed here, that these clauses represent two types of subordinate clause which can be
compared to the two types of NPs found in Cree. Non-A-doubling constituents do not
permit extraction, while A-doubling expressions (NP or clause) may, providing there are
no other syntactic constraints, like Wh-islands, barring the construction.
3.3.4. Conclusion
In section 3 -3, then, we have examined Cree pronominal arguments, NPs and subordinate
clauses. I have argued that argument status is always assigned inside the verbal complex