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at the same time makes a connection between the given name and the other previous referring expressions used for Jii-Mlii 101.
101 + +
+ after that Jii-Mlii DEM3 pick.up basket pick.up gourd water from here
‘After that, Jii-Mlii picked up a backbasket and water gourd from here.’ [Fish 186]
From the data in this study, I posit that the addition of the distal demonstrative brings a previously introduced participant back into focus. In this sense, the distal
demonstrative works anaphorically, just as it did for props. This lexical item for a participant is added either because of possible interference from other participants or
because the participant is about to participate in an antagonist action. The distal demonstrative signals for the listener to pay closer attention. The antagonistic actions are
what keep the story interesting since they are not what one would necessarily expect.
5.5.3 Thematic salience marker TSM
In the three narratives chosen for this study, the combination of determiner + distal demonstrative + seems to mark referents that are involved in highly salient
actions. Hereafter I refer to this combination as a thematic salience marker TSM. This appears to be a frozen lexicalized phrase which is now used to mark an NP or a VP as
thematically salient. This TSM occurs in the third person narratives as well as the first person narrative.
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While this thematic salience marker also occurs in a hortatory text, it may serve a different function in this and other genres of texts. This is outside the scope of this study.
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The Cow story has one instance of the TSM and it occurs in the final episode of the story. The TSM marks the bull owner who asks a question of Rabbit. The response to
this question begins Rabbit’s story that proves the bull owner is wrong to claim ownership of the calf.
102 +
3S TSM ask more what NMLZ 2S.M.POSS
‘He the bull owner asked further, “What is your problem?” ’ [Cow 118-9] The Fish story contains 21 instances of the thematic salience marker outside of
quoted speech. During one climatic event, the older sister cooks the smelt-fish for food. This is the same fish that Jii-Mlii has been feeding and falls in love with. The sentence
describing this fish being cooked contains two occurrences of the TSM 103. 103 +
+ +
+ +
+ after that DET sis.old PN
CTR TSM former cook fish 3S.POSS TSM ‘After that, Jii-Mlii’s older sister, had cooked her fish’ [Fish 304]
Another climactic event from the Fish story occurs when Jii-Mlii is at her aunt’s house pounding fermentation in a mortar 104. This repetitive action surprisingly reveals
that she is wearing brass bracelets and a beaded necklace, signs that she is promised to be married to someone. In this example, the TSM marks a verbal phrase.
104 +
++ +
arrive middle pounding TSM roll bracelet roll necklace ONOM simply ‘In the middle of the pounding, her brass bracelets and beaded necklace simply
rolled around—jiggle, jiggle.’ [Fish 246]
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5.6 Summary
From the data in this study, determiners and demonstratives may be attached to the basic referring expression. The determiners function similarly to a definite marker to
mark a uniquely identifiable referent in the text-external world. Demonstratives mark something anaphorically, either from previous mention or by inference from the
established frame given in the text. Additionally, a demonstrative may mark a participant involved in a confrontational situation. Finally, the grammaticalized thematic salience
marker highlights a participant involved in a highly salient event or the event itself.
