Abstract
Holzinger (1993) has recently defined subject clitics in Sinti as markers of high reference continuity. Structural aspects of subject clitic distribution in Sinti lead me to a new interpretation of the functions of this referential device, especially as regards its role in the typology of the dialect. I argue that clitics are employed primarily in constructions in which verb-subject order is obligatory. There are two main patterns for such constructions in the language. The first, in te-constructions, is inherited. The second, verb-subject inversion, is largely an outcome of syntactic convergence with German. The specialization of clitics for certain constructions is taken as an indication of their beginning retreat in the dialect.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boretzky, N. 1994. Romani. Grammatik des Kelderaš-Dialekts mit Texten und Glossar. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.
Boretzky, N. 1995. Die Entwicklung der Kopula im Romani. In: Grazer Linguistische Studien 43: 1–50.
Boretzky, N. 1996. The “new” infinitive in Romani. In: Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, Series 5, 6: 1–51.
Friedman, V. 1986. Evidentiality in the Balkans: Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Albanian. In: Chafe, W.-Nichols, J. (eds): Evidentiality. The linguistic coding of epistemology, 168–87. Ablex, Norwood.
Givón, T. 1995. Functionalism and grammar. John Benjamins, Amsterdam.
Hengeveld, K. 1992. Non-verbal predication. Theory, typology, diachrony. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin.
Holzinger, D. 1993. Das Rómanes. Grammatik und Diskursanalyse der Sprache der Sinte. Institut für Sprachwissenschaft, Innsbruck.
Kovalcsik, K.-Tálos, E. 1991. The little maple tree: A Transylvanian Gypsy folk tale with songs. In: Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society, Series 5, 1: 103–25.
Lass, R. 1990. How to do things with junk: exaptation in language evolution. In: Journal of Linguistics 26: 79–102.
Matras, Y. 1991. Zur Rekonstruktion des jüdischdeutschen Wortschatzes ehemaliger ‘Judendörfer’ in Südwestdeutschland. In: Zeitschrift für Dialektologie und Linguistik 58: 267–93.
Matras, Y. 1994. Untersuchungen zu Grammatik und Diskurs des Romanes. Dialekt der Kelderaša/Lovara. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.
Matras, Y. 1995a. Verb evidentials and their discourse function in Vlach Romani narratives. In: Matras, Y. (ed.): Romani in contact. The history, structure and sociology of a language, 95–123. John Benjamins, Amsterdam.
Matras, Y. 1995b. Connective (VS) word order in Romani. In: Matras, Y.-Sasse, H.J. (eds) Verb-subject order and theticity in European languages, 189–203. (Sprachtypologie und Universalienforschung 48). Akademie, Berlin.
Reershemius, G. 1997. Biographisches Erzählen auf Jiddisch. Grammatische und diskursanalytische Untersuchungen. Niemeyer, Tübingen.
Rehbein, J. 1992. Zur Wortstellung im komplexen deutschen Satz. In: Hoffman, L. (ed.): Deutsche Syntax, 523–74. De Gruyter, Berlin.
Sampson, J. 1926. The dialect of the Gypsies of Wales. Clarendon, Oxford.
Smart, B. C.-Crofton, H.T. 1875. The dialect of the English Gypsies. Asher, London.
Valet, J. 1991. Grammatical sketch of Manouche. In: Bakker, P.-Cortiade, M. (eds): In the margin of Romani. Gypsy languages in contact, 106–31. Institute for General Linguistics, Amsterdam.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matras, Y. Subject Clitics in Sinti. Acta Linguistica Hungarica 46, 147–168 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009645705555
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009645705555