Adverbial and Argument-Doubling Clauses in Cree - MSpace

(81) a. ch kiskênihtam mêrîwa 6-âhkosinit
John-3 know.TI-(linan) Mary-3' cj-be. sick.A[-3'
'John(prox) knows that Mary(obv) is sick.'
b. ?* cân kiskênihtam II mêriy 6-âhkosit.
JO hn-3 know.TL(3-inan) Mary-3 cj-be. sick. AI-3
'John(prox) knows that Mary(prox) is sick.'
As discussed in section 3.3.3.1.3, A-doubling clauses can also occur as indirect
Wh-questions. Such clauses are identical to the declarative (non-Wh-) A-doubling clauses
we have already seen, with respect to proxirnate re-assignment. There cm be no
proximate shift between the matrix clause and the subordinate clause. Examples (82) and
(83) contain A-doubling Wh-clauses. In both of these examples, the argument in the A-
doubling Wh-clause is obviative. This is expected, since proximate status has been
assigned to the referent cân 'John(prox)' in the matrix clause of each sentence. Because
cân 'John' is proximate, no other referent in the matrix or A-doubling clause can be
assigned proximate status. Al1 other referents mu4 be obviative. This is borne out, in
these sentences, where in (82) m2riwn 'Mary(obv)', and in (83) awéj~hva 'who(obv)', are
assigned obviative aatus.
sometirnes judged io be marginally acceptable in isolation. This is especially true Hith obviation, perhaps
because obviation is primarily a discourse hinction. Ho~vever, the important point is that sentence (81a) is
consistently judged to be better and more grammatical than sentence (8 lb). This is especially borne out in
temal sources. In Bloomfield's pubiished texts of Plains Cree narratives, I have found oniy one exception
to the analysis presented in this paper.
namoya kiskêyimêwak dntê éh-ohtohtêt aw âyahciyiniw.
not know.TA-(3p-3') II where cj+ome.from.there.AI-3 thk Blackfoot-3
They did not know h m where that Blackfoot had corne.' (P: 8242)
Udortunately, 1 have no explanation for this exception. One possiJility is that the subordinate clause is
direct discourse, nther than indirect discoune. Argumentdoubling clauses typicdly maintain the
obviation des found in the matri.. clause.