Difference between revisions of "Phrase structure in Skolt Saami"
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==Noun Phrases== | ==Noun Phrases== | ||
In Skolt Saami, the head of the phrase can be described by its dependents, more specifically pre-dependents in this case, as they always appear before the noun in a hierarchical order. The order is as follows: demonstrative determiner, possessive noun, numeral or adverb of degree (Quantifier), adjective and/or participle and finally the head noun. | In Skolt Saami, the head of the phrase can be described by its dependents, more specifically pre-dependents in this case, as they always appear before the noun in a hierarchical order. The order is as follows: demonstrative determiner, possessive noun, numeral or adverb of degree (Quantifier), adjective and/or participle and finally the head noun. | ||
| − | [tõid kue’htt sue’jj] | + | [tõid kue’htt sue’jj] <ref>Feist 2010: 209.</ref> |
DEM.PL.NOM two birch.SG.GEN | DEM.PL.NOM two birch.SG.GEN | ||
these two birch trees | these two birch trees | ||
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The demonstrative determiner follows the numeral, with the head noun at the end. Focusing on the inflection of the noun, the phenomenon of syncretism in the case of genitive singular and nominative plural in Skolt Saami is easily recognized. It would be possible to gloss “birches” as either one, but as the noun functions syntactically as the subject and the demonstrative article has been glossed it plural, it seems reasonable to gloss the head noun as Nominative plural so that both components are in agreement. | The demonstrative determiner follows the numeral, with the head noun at the end. Focusing on the inflection of the noun, the phenomenon of syncretism in the case of genitive singular and nominative plural in Skolt Saami is easily recognized. It would be possible to gloss “birches” as either one, but as the noun functions syntactically as the subject and the demonstrative article has been glossed it plural, it seems reasonable to gloss the head noun as Nominative plural so that both components are in agreement. | ||
In the case of adjective pre-modifiers, there are no inflections to match the gloss on the head noun. Instead they are glossed in a special attribute form and case and numeral are only marked on the head. | In the case of adjective pre-modifiers, there are no inflections to match the gloss on the head noun. Instead they are glossed in a special attribute form and case and numeral are only marked on the head. | ||
| − | teä võ’ll′ji [vuõssmõs ča’ppes heäppaž] ool | + | teä võ’ll′ji [vuõssmõs ča’ppes heäppaž] ool <ref>Feist 2010: 209.</ref> |
then jump.P ST.3SG [first black horse.SG.GEN] onto | then jump.P ST.3SG [first black horse.SG.GEN] onto | ||
then he jumped onto the first black horse | then he jumped onto the first black horse | ||
[numeral + adjective + head noun] | [numeral + adjective + head noun] | ||
| − | [tõn põõrt nõmm ] leäi Jänkälä | + | [tõn põõrt nõmm ] leäi Jänkälä <ref>Feist 2010: 209.</ref> |
[DIST.SG.GEN house.SG.GEN name.SG.NOM ] be.PST.3SG Jänkälä | [DIST.SG.GEN house.SG.GEN name.SG.NOM ] be.PST.3SG Jänkälä | ||
that’s house’s name was Jänkälä | that’s house’s name was Jänkälä | ||
[[demonstrative + possessor] + head noun] | [[demonstrative + possessor] + head noun] | ||
In this case “name” is the head noun and appears after “that” and “house’s”, which shows that the possessive NP can also be pre-modified, here: with the demonstrative. | In this case “name” is the head noun and appears after “that” and “house’s”, which shows that the possessive NP can also be pre-modified, here: with the demonstrative. | ||
| − | Rottu [tõid saa‘mi puõccid ] | + | Rottu [tõid saa‘mi puõccid ] <ref>Feist 2010: 210.</ref> |
tear.PST.PL [DIST.PL.ACC Saami.PL.GEN reindeer.PL.ACC] | tear.PST.PL [DIST.PL.ACC Saami.PL.GEN reindeer.PL.ACC] | ||
they tore the reindeer of those Saami to pieces | they tore the reindeer of those Saami to pieces | ||
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In Skolt Saami, both demonstratives and possessives can appear in noun phrases, the presence of one need not exclude the other. In the above example “those” and “reindeer” are glossed in accusative but “Saami” is in genitive. The possessive comes after the demonstrative but before the head noun. | In Skolt Saami, both demonstratives and possessives can appear in noun phrases, the presence of one need not exclude the other. In the above example “those” and “reindeer” are glossed in accusative but “Saami” is in genitive. The possessive comes after the demonstrative but before the head noun. | ||
Additionally the head can be modified with a subordinate clause, i.e. a relative clause, as in: | Additionally the head can be modified with a subordinate clause, i.e. a relative clause, as in: | ||
| − | mon vääldam tu’st tän pää’rn | + | mon vääldam tu’st tän pää’rn <ref>Feist 2010: 349.</ref> |
1SG.NOM take.PST.1SG 2SG.LOC PROX.SG.ACC boy.SG.ACC | 1SG.NOM take.PST.1SG 2SG.LOC PROX.SG.ACC boy.SG.ACC | ||
[kåå’tt lij šõddâm ] | [kåå’tt lij šõddâm ] | ||
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Adpositional phrases in Skolt Saami consist mostly of postpositions. There are also some prepositions, which can only stand before the noun that they modify. Finally there is a third group of adpositions which come either before or after the noun. Whether these have a specific function or take on a different meaning depending on the position is unclear. | Adpositional phrases in Skolt Saami consist mostly of postpositions. There are also some prepositions, which can only stand before the noun that they modify. Finally there is a third group of adpositions which come either before or after the noun. Whether these have a specific function or take on a different meaning depending on the position is unclear. | ||
Adpositions require genitive cases in all their constituents. The adpositions themselves however need not be the head of the adpositional phrase; instead they can serve as an adverb. The term “adposition” is term used predominantly in Scandinavian studies, as they have not only pre- & postpositions, but also circumpositions. | Adpositions require genitive cases in all their constituents. The adpositions themselves however need not be the head of the adpositional phrase; instead they can serve as an adverb. The term “adposition” is term used predominantly in Scandinavian studies, as they have not only pre- & postpositions, but also circumpositions. | ||
| − | vue’lj [muu mie’ldd] | + | vue’lj [muu mie’ldd] <ref>Feist 2010: 307.</ref> |
leave.IMP.2SG 1SG.GEN with | leave.IMP.2SG 1SG.GEN with | ||
leave with me! | leave with me! | ||
| − | Btuk te’be puä’tte [mie’ldd] | + | |
| + | Btuk te’be puä’tte [mie’ldd] <ref>Feist 2010: 307.</ref> | ||
DIST.NOM.PL EMP come.PRS.3PL with | DIST.NOM.PL EMP come.PRS.3PL with | ||
They just come along | They just come along | ||
In some cases, as mentioned previously, the adpositions acts as an adverb instead of serving as the head of a phrase. The first example above shows how “with” is the head of the phrase as it is in Genitive. However, in the second example, “with” is at the end of the sentence without governing the other elements in the phrase and can therefore not be considered the head in this instance. | In some cases, as mentioned previously, the adpositions acts as an adverb instead of serving as the head of a phrase. The first example above shows how “with” is the head of the phrase as it is in Genitive. However, in the second example, “with” is at the end of the sentence without governing the other elements in the phrase and can therefore not be considered the head in this instance. | ||
| − | Semman išttõõđi [kâskka miõut] | + | Semman išttõõđi [kâskka miõut] <ref>Feist 2010: 314.</ref> |
Simo sit.REFL.PST.3SG middle tussock.SG.GEN | Simo sit.REFL.PST.3SG middle tussock.SG.GEN | ||
Simo sat himself down in the middle of a tussock | Simo sat himself down in the middle of a tussock | ||
| − | In a prepositional phrase the prepositions come before the noun in genitive case. | + | |
| − | a) Ǩiurrâl [põõrt pirr] leʹjje telttaa | + | In a prepositional phrase the prepositions come before the noun in the genitive case. |
| + | |||
| + | Mij leeiʹm täʹst [Ciuttajooǥǥ ââlda] <ref>Feist 2010: 307.</ref> | ||
| + | 1PL.NOM sein.PRÄT.1PL PROX.SG.LOC Siutta+Fluss.SG.GEN nahe | ||
| + | 'Wir waren hier, nahe am Fluss Siutta' | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the postpositional phrase the postposition comes after the noun in the genitive case. | ||
| + | |||
| + | a) Ǩiurrâl [põõrt pirr] leʹjje telttaa <ref>Feist 2010: 316.</ref> | ||
Kiureli.GEN house.SG.GEN around be.PST.3PL tent | Kiureli.GEN house.SG.GEN around be.PST.3PL tent | ||
there were tents around Kiureli's house | there were tents around Kiureli's house | ||
| − | b) Laaʹrkaž pâi [pirr tool] âʹte vaaʹʒʒi | + | b) Laaʹrkaž pâi [pirr tool] âʹte vaaʹʒʒi <ref>Feist 2010: 316.</ref> |
Laaʹrkaž just around fire.SG.GEN then walk.PST.3SG | Laaʹrkaž just around fire.SG.GEN then walk.PST.3SG | ||
so Laaʹrkaž just walked around the fire | so Laaʹrkaž just walked around the fire | ||
Revision as of 13:47, 7 February 2013
This page deals with the internal phrase structure in Skolt Saami.
Noun Phrases
In Skolt Saami, the head of the phrase can be described by its dependents, more specifically pre-dependents in this case, as they always appear before the noun in a hierarchical order. The order is as follows: demonstrative determiner, possessive noun, numeral or adverb of degree (Quantifier), adjective and/or participle and finally the head noun.
[tõid kue’htt sue’jj] [1] DEM.PL.NOM two birch.SG.GEN these two birch trees [demonstrative + numeral + head noun]
The demonstrative determiner follows the numeral, with the head noun at the end. Focusing on the inflection of the noun, the phenomenon of syncretism in the case of genitive singular and nominative plural in Skolt Saami is easily recognized. It would be possible to gloss “birches” as either one, but as the noun functions syntactically as the subject and the demonstrative article has been glossed it plural, it seems reasonable to gloss the head noun as Nominative plural so that both components are in agreement. In the case of adjective pre-modifiers, there are no inflections to match the gloss on the head noun. Instead they are glossed in a special attribute form and case and numeral are only marked on the head.
teä võ’ll′ji [vuõssmõs ča’ppes heäppaž] ool [2] then jump.P ST.3SG [first black horse.SG.GEN] onto then he jumped onto the first black horse [numeral + adjective + head noun]
[tõn põõrt nõmm ] leäi Jänkälä [3] [DIST.SG.GEN house.SG.GEN name.SG.NOM ] be.PST.3SG Jänkälä that’s house’s name was Jänkälä [[demonstrative + possessor] + head noun]
In this case “name” is the head noun and appears after “that” and “house’s”, which shows that the possessive NP can also be pre-modified, here: with the demonstrative.
Rottu [tõid saa‘mi puõccid ] [4] tear.PST.PL [DIST.PL.ACC Saami.PL.GEN reindeer.PL.ACC] they tore the reindeer of those Saami to pieces [demonstrative + possessor + head noun]
In Skolt Saami, both demonstratives and possessives can appear in noun phrases, the presence of one need not exclude the other. In the above example “those” and “reindeer” are glossed in accusative but “Saami” is in genitive. The possessive comes after the demonstrative but before the head noun. Additionally the head can be modified with a subordinate clause, i.e. a relative clause, as in:
mon vääldam tu’st tän pää’rn [5] 1SG.NOM take.PST.1SG 2SG.LOC PROX.SG.ACC boy.SG.ACC [kåå’tt lij šõddâm ] [REL.SG.NOM be.PST.3SG be.born.PST.PTCP] I'll take from you this boy, who has been born
Adpositional Phrases
Adpositional phrases in Skolt Saami consist mostly of postpositions. There are also some prepositions, which can only stand before the noun that they modify. Finally there is a third group of adpositions which come either before or after the noun. Whether these have a specific function or take on a different meaning depending on the position is unclear. Adpositions require genitive cases in all their constituents. The adpositions themselves however need not be the head of the adpositional phrase; instead they can serve as an adverb. The term “adposition” is term used predominantly in Scandinavian studies, as they have not only pre- & postpositions, but also circumpositions.
vue’lj [muu mie’ldd] [6] leave.IMP.2SG 1SG.GEN with leave with me!
Btuk te’be puä’tte [mie’ldd] [7] DIST.NOM.PL EMP come.PRS.3PL with They just come along
In some cases, as mentioned previously, the adpositions acts as an adverb instead of serving as the head of a phrase. The first example above shows how “with” is the head of the phrase as it is in Genitive. However, in the second example, “with” is at the end of the sentence without governing the other elements in the phrase and can therefore not be considered the head in this instance.
Semman išttõõđi [kâskka miõut] [8] Simo sit.REFL.PST.3SG middle tussock.SG.GEN Simo sat himself down in the middle of a tussock
In a prepositional phrase the prepositions come before the noun in the genitive case.
Mij leeiʹm täʹst [Ciuttajooǥǥ ââlda] [9] 1PL.NOM sein.PRÄT.1PL PROX.SG.LOC Siutta+Fluss.SG.GEN nahe 'Wir waren hier, nahe am Fluss Siutta'
In the postpositional phrase the postposition comes after the noun in the genitive case.
a) Ǩiurrâl [põõrt pirr] leʹjje telttaa [10] Kiureli.GEN house.SG.GEN around be.PST.3PL tent there were tents around Kiureli's house
b) Laaʹrkaž pâi [pirr tool] âʹte vaaʹʒʒi [11] Laaʹrkaž just around fire.SG.GEN then walk.PST.3SG so Laaʹrkaž just walked around the fire
In the above examples we see an instance of the adposition being both pre- & and postposition (The semantic or syntactic purpose this serves is currently unknown.) In a) not only is the subject in genitive, but the whole phrase. “Kiureli” is glossed as genitive since he is the possessor of the house, which isn’t due to the postposition. In example b) the same adposition is used as a preposition before the noun it governs, in genitive.
Works cited
- Tim Feist. 2010. A Grammar of Skolt Saami. Ph.D. thesis, University of Manchester. https://www.escholar.manchester.ac.uk/uk-ac-man-scw:123128
