From interrogation to topicalization: Proto-Tibeto-Burman *la in Kathmandu Newar
This paper outlines the synchronic variation found in the discourse functions of the particle la in Kathmandu Newar and argues that from this synchronic variation we can reconstruct a pathway of reanalysis from an original clause-final interrogative function to a clause-initial topicalization functi...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178170 |
| Summary: | This paper outlines the synchronic variation found in the discourse functions of the particle la in Kathmandu Newar and argues that from this synchronic variation we can reconstruct a pathway of reanalysis from an original clause-final interrogative function to a clause-initial topicalization function. In adjacency pairs such as those found in examples (1) and (2) below, the Kathmandu Newar clause-final speech act particle la marks a yes/no interrogative speech act. In the second pair part, the affirmative response repeats the verb phrase; the negative response repeats the negated verb phrase. As described by Kansakar (1977), interrogative utterances with the final particle la are marked with a fall in pitch. |
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