The concept of intentional action in the grammar of Kathmandu Newari

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

1991-08

Authors

Hargreaves, David J., 1955-

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

This study describes the relationship between the concept of intentional action and the grammatical organization of the clause in Kathmandu Newari, a Tibeto-Burman language spoken primarily in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. In particular, the study focuses on the conceptual structure of "intentional action" along with the lexical, morphological, and syntactic reflexes of this notion in situated speech. The construal of intentional action consists of two distinct notions : one involving the concept of self-initiated force and the other involving mental representation or awareness. The distribution of finite inflectional forms for verbs results from the interaction of these two notions with a set of evidential/discourse principles which constrain the attribution of intentional action to certain discourse roles in situated interaction .

Description

xi, 222 p.
A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: KNIGHT PL3801.N5 H37 1991

Keywords

Newari language -- Grammar, Newar linguistics, Intentionality, Tibeto-Burman languages, Evidentiality, Semantics, Cognitive linguistics, Functional linguistics

Citation