obviation in Siouan languages

[willemdereuse at unt.edu]

Hi all:

I have always thought that the chankhe/yunkhan alternation of 
conjunctions in Lakota texts, first discussed by Chafe (I think) and 
then by Dahlstrom had something to do with obviation. It is definitely 
not switch-reference. Does Richard Lungstrum's diss. say anything about 
this?  I am sorry to say I have not yet gotten hold of a copy of 
Richard's diss.

Willem de Reuse Quoting "Rankin, Robert L" <rankin at ku.edu>:

> As Rory points out, Dhegiha languages have something very similar 
> distinguishing primary from non-primary actors.  Ardis's dissertation 
> was at least partly on this distinction in Omaha.
>
> I have toyed with the idea of trying to redefine the 
> "switch-reference" distinction in those Siouan languages that have it 
> as an obviation distinction.  Such redefinition clearly works in 
> Muskogean, where it is the only way to tie "S-R" and argument marking 
> particles together without a hopelessly complex appeal to homophony, 
> but I haven't really gotten down to the business of trying to 
> demonstrate it in Siouan.  Clearly the more inclusive concept of 
> "referent tracking" operates in Siouan grammars, though it differs 
> from language to language.  If I had to guess, I'd say it is 
> historically primary in Algonquian but secondary in Siouan.
>
> What were the papers you're referring to on Algonquian?
>
> Bob
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: owner-siouan at lists.colorado.edu on behalf of Marino
> Sent: Thu 5/31/2007 12:20 AM
> To: siouan at lists.colorado.edu
> Subject: obviation in Siouan languages
>
>
>
> There were two excellent papers on obviation in Cree at the CLA
> meetings.  One of the presenters asked me if there is obviation in any of
> the Siouan languages.  I have a vague memory that this has come up before,
> but I can't find time to troll through the archives.  Any suggestions?
>
> Best
> Mary Marino
>
>
>
>