SIL International Publications

Participant Reference, Deixis, and Anaphora in Bunong Narrative Discourse

Series: 
Relation Text: 
Bequette, Rebecca Lee Elaine, Participant Reference, Deixis, and Anaphora inBunong Narrative Discourse, M.A. with major in Applied Linguistics, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, June 2008
SIL e-Books 57
Statement of Responsibility: 
Bequette, Rebecca Lee Elaine
Authors: 
Issue Date: 
2013
Abstract: 

This thesis analyzes the resources used in the referring expressions for participants in different syntactic environments, as well as the types of referring expressions available in Bunong narrative texts. Bunong is a South Bahnaric, Mon-Khmer language of Cambodia with SVO word order.

Dooley and Levinsohn’s (2001) Sequential Default and Longacre’s Discourse Profile and Discourse Operations methodologies are applied to two third person narrative texts to determine default codings and explanations for non-default codings. Zero anaphora accounts for over 60% of both subject and non-subject references, illustrating that semantic and pragmatic features are significant factors for determining participant reference. Referring expressions that are coded more fully indicate episode or smaller boundaries, conflict, rank of participants, and highly thematic material. New information is usually introduced postverbally before becoming a topic, unless indicated by some marked construction. The use of kinship and relational terminology is prevalent and conveys information on various levels, such as blood relations, respect, and identification.

In the interest of making this work available without further delay, we are posting it as it was accepted by the institution that granted the degree without further peer review.

Extent: 
xiv, 196 pages
Subject: 
Discourse Description
Zero Reference
Referring Expressions
Participant Reference
Country: 
Cambodia
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Content Language: 
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