Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

elationship between the arguments of the matrlv and subordinate clause. Each occurs
independently of the other in tenns of reference. There is no CO-indexation betwem the
clauses. The arguments in each verb, main and subordinate, are tiee of one another. This
means that a speaker can re-assign proximate status to a new referent between the
adverbial and matrix clauses.
4.3.3 Between a Matrix Clause and an Argument-Doubling Clause
We tum now to A-doubiing clauses. I have proposed that these clauses appear with
transitive verbs and are rerniniscent of what we would cal1 a complement clause in English.
Technically, of course, these clauses cannot be true complement clauses, as they are not
arguments of the verb. As 1 have discussed at length already, Cree is a pronominal
argument laquage, and as such, its arguments are found within the verbal cornplex.
There are no argument positions for a clause to occupy.
Argument-doubling clauses occur with both TI and TA matrix verbs. Because A-
doubiing clauses are 'doubling' an argument of the matrix verb, there is a dependent
relationship between the two clauses. The A-doubling clause and the pronominal
argument form a chah, and thus have identical features.j9 It is not surprising, then, that
proximate shifts are
found between a matrix clause and an A-doubiiq clause. The
obviation status of a referent has to be the same in each clause.
39
The notion of c hah wiIl be discussed in detail in chapter five.