Situational points of departure topicalization

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1.3 Situational points of departure topicalization

A ‘point of departure’ as used in this write-up, is both a starting point for further communication as well as a way of relating further communication to a context or what has come before. Lumun uses temporal, spatial, reason, and conditional points of departure to indicate a switch from the previous context. The language uses tail-head linkage to indicate renewal of a previous context. The latter will be covered in the next section. In 15, the temporal time point of departure cari c-rek cipin ‘time C-other evening’ makes a break from the preceding setting with background information. It uses the starting point ‘on a particular evening’ to state the first event of the narrative, thus beginning a new paragraph. The indefinite modifier -rek ‘certain, other’ is commonly used in points of departure. 14 A certain boy named Loti had animals at the place named Toijang, which is down towards the country of the Aceron. B3-4 15 Ana cari c-rek cipin a-Lotti p-aat nti ithurit tho kie And time C-other evening F-Loti C-came from shepherding of cows ‘One evening, Loti came from tending the cows.’ B5 A second temporal point of departure occurs in B12 Cari c-en a-kirkkir k-okkwot cik ‘time C-that F-darkness C-was there. Previous to this clause, the time was only described as ‘evening, but now the time is more specifically described as ‘evening after dark. This sets the stage for Loti mis-seeing the goat as a leopard. In 17, the spatial location point of departure ciki i-thorikit tho kathar ‘exactly in- middle of road’ relates to the previous description of the valley going down to Toijang and mentions a road there that the audience is presumed to know about. Thus, this point of departure specifies the location of the following action more fully. 16 At the time of darkness, Loti left the house while it was dark and traveled until he arrived in the valley which goes down to Toijang B12-13 17 ana ciki i-thorikit tho kathar a-kw-immakat paperek and exactly in-middle of road F-3S-saw something 17 i-kathar p-otheret in-road C-spotted ‘In the exact middle of the road he saw something coloured.’ B14 In 19, the reason point of departure akka oLotti p-onat nere ‘because Loti C-had fear’ explains why Loti did not hear the old man named Khartoum. 18 When the old man heard the voice calling for him he grunted a reply, B19 6 19 a naruk akka oLotti p-onat nere a-kw-annoccikat akka but because Loti C-had fear F-3S-did.not.hear when 19 oKarththum pothongkothe. Khartoum answered. ‘but because Loti was afraid, he did not hear when Khartoum answered him.’ B20 Another reason point of departure Nci cinang ‘from that’ introduces the final clause of the narrative B32, which is the closure and a separate paragraph. This point of departure expresses that the combined events of the story are the reason Loti was called ‘friend of goats. In 20 there is a conditional point of departure. The Rabbit will do the assertion kill the Hedgehog on the basis of the adverbial clause of condition run away now not being met. 20 Thomma amma ngkw-akannollo inna, ana mp-akkwoth-ung ...” friend if you-do.not.run now and I-kill-you ‘Friend, if you do not run away now, I will kill you.’ H9

1.4 Renewal points of departure topicalization