Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The language

1.2. Why study Ojibwe discourse markers?

1.3. Methodology

1.4. Orthography

2. What is a discourse marker?

2.1. Schiffrin's definition of discourse markers

2.2. Relevance theorists' view of discourse markers

2.3. Cross-linguistic data

2.3.1. Position

2.3.2. Clitics and affixes

2.3.3. tam (tense-aspect-mode) systems

2.3.4. Simultaneous textual and interpersonal functions of discourse markers

2.4. Defining discourse markers

3. Ojibwe discourse markers

3.1. Discourse connectives

3.1.1. Initial position

3.1.1.1. inashke

3.1.1.2. miinawaa

3.1.1.3. onzaam

3.1.1.4. dibishkoo

3.1.1.5. mii dash

3.1.2. Second position

3.1.2.1. idash as a contrastive marker

3.1.2.1.1. Digressions

3.1.2.1.2. Backgrounding and foregrounding

3.1.2.1.3. idash in adjacency pairs

3.1.3. Preverbs

3.1.3.1. Relative preverb izhi

3.2. Mystery particles

3.2.1. Initial position

3.2.1.1. mii as a veridical marker

3.2.1.2. mii as a command softener

3.2.1.3. awenh, inenh

3.2.1.4. aaniish

3.2.2. Second-position mystery particles

3.2.2.1. isa

3.2.2.1.1. isa as a marker of closings

3.2.2.1.2. isa as a marker of relinquishment

3.2.2.1.3. isa as a marker of conclusory gists

3.2.2.1.4. isa as a marker of resultant action

3.2.2.1.5. isa as a position strengthener

3.2.2.1.6. isa as a placeholder

3.2.2.1.7. sa go

3.2.2.2. gosha

3.2.2.3. sha

3.2.2.4. da

3.2.2.5. bina

3.2.2.6. goda

3.2.2.7. naa

3.2.2.7.1. Second-position discourse clusters with naa

4. Conjunct order as a discourse-marking device

4.1. Sentence-level use of conjuncts

4.1.1. Dependent clauses

4.1.2. Temporal immediacy and the connective feature of the conjunct

4.1.3. Situational immediacy

4.2. Discourse use of conjuncts

5. Conclusion

Notes

Glossary

References

Index

About the Author

Brendan Fairbanks is an assistant professor of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota. He is the coeditor of Chi-Mewinzha and is on the editorial staff of the digital Ojibwe People's Dictionary.

Reviews

“Discourse markers, a major aspect of Ojibwe, as Brendan Fairbanks notes, are among the elements that make teaching and learning Ojibwe as a second language particularly challenging. The author’s insightful analysis of the nuances they bring to expression will greatly aid instructors and adult learners in particular.”-M. Naokwegijig-Corbiere, assistant professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, University of Sudbury

“In Ojibwe Discourse Markers the author has tackled a challenging and poorly understood area of Ojibwe grammar. Grounding his study in authentic Ojibwe data from multiple sources, Brendan Fairbanks has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of this important Algonquian language.”-John O’Meara, dean and faculty of education at Lakehead University in Ontario and author of Delaware-English/English-Delaware Dictionary