[An-lang] Focus in Oceanic languages

[John Brownie]

I'm investigating a preposed particle isaa in Mussau-Emira that appears 
to have some sort of focus and emphasis as its main functions, but I'm 
finding it hard to get much in the literature to help me (not having 
access to a library is part of the problem). Aya Inoue, From Exclusive 
Particle to Adversative Conjunction: A Study on the Particle tasol in 
Tok Pisin, refers to Sankoff 1999:

"Sankoff (1999:11) notes many Oceanic languages apparently emphasize or 
focus through the use of postposed affixes or particles."

The reference is Sankoff, Gillian. 1999. The evolution of focus 
particles and related morphemes in Tok  Pisin,  Solomons  Island Pidgin  
and  Bislama.  Workshop  on  Culture  and  Communicative Practice 
Special session: Continuity and Innovation in Pidgin and Creole 
Languages. Northwestern University. I have been unable to find the 
article, and scanning Lynch, Crowley & Ross 2002 has not provided a 
great deal of data.

What I found was a suffix -re in Tobati, an enclitic =ya in Sudest 
(which precedes the focused item), a postposed particle si in Roviana, a 
proclitic si- in Kokota, and three postposed particles in Longgu 
(na('a), ga('a) and 'ua).

Is there a broader treatment of focus and/or emphasis particles in 
Oceanic languages? I would like to know where Sankoff got the 
information behind the quoted statement.

Thanks for any pointers.

John
-- 
John Brownie
Mussau-Emira language, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea
Turku, Finland
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