THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Aspect and the Chipewyan Verb by Leah Bortolin A THESIS SUBMI?TED TO THE FACULTÿ OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS CALGARY, ALBERTA February, 1998 O Leah Bortolin 1998 National Libmiy Bibiiothéque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disaibute or sell reproduire, prêter, distn'buer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fonne de microfiche/nim, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thése. thesis nor substantiai extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels rnay be p~tedor otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. In the existing Athabaskan literature, the rnorphological and semantic properties of the imperfective and perfective prefbces, as weil as their distribution across the verb corpus, are not considered in any detail. The goal of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of the morphosemantic distribution of the five pairs of imperfective and perfective aspect prefxes in Chipewyan. Ta this end, Smith's five universal situation types are applied to the rcstricted distribution of the aspect prefix pairs which, in tum, creates a classification of the morphosemantic propenies of Chipewyan verbs. Although previous Athabaskan analyses contribute to the present research, they do not consider the properties of the Athabaskan languages from a crosslinguistic perspective. In contrash the present analysis sheds light on the importance of a universal perspective of Chipewyan and provides a better understanding ot the significance of the imperfective and perfective aspect prefixes in the Chipewyan verb. My first thanks go to my supervisor, E.-D.Cook. He introduced me to Chipewyan and the rnany problems surroundhg its analysis. Ms knowledge of the language is astounding and proved invaluable for me while writing this thesis, Also, his advise and support have been greatiy appreciated. 1would like to thank the University of Calgary, partïculvly the Department of Linguistics, for financial support, computer facilities, and a positive atmosphere in which to work. 1 would also iïke to thank the Government for Aiberta for the funding they provided. My fieldwork was funded by a University Research Grants Cornmittee Thesis Research Grant, as well as by the Department of Indian and Northem Affairs. I want to thank my fellow graduate students - Val, Naorni, Lam, Susan, Christine, Leslie, AUison, Bob, and Gnce - for di of their support and fnendship. 1 would also like to thank Brian Potter for his advise and encouragement Thanks are also extended to my new friends in La Loche, Saskatchewan, especiaily to Martha and Ricky who welcomed me into their home. Without the students and staff at Dene High School 1would have been lost, and 1thank them for their hospiiality. 1would also like to thank the following people for sharing their language with me: Vicky Cardinal, Cry sta1 Fontaine, Gary Fontaine, Glenda Fontaine, Rohey Janvier, Whston Janvier, Dave Laprise, Arlene Lemaigre, Lee Montgrand, Ritchie Montgrand, Julius Park, and Shen Piche. Thanks to Pierre and Marie Lemaigre who taught me a great deai about their language and culture at a swivai camp; a memory I will always ueasure, In particular, 1 would like to thank Waiter Park and CeIina Janvier for sharuig their language and culture. To my parents, Celesrine and Raymond Bortolin, 1 want to thank them for all of their constant love and support To my siblîngs, Ryan, Kim, and Jeff, who can always make me de. I am very lucky to have such a supportive family. Finally, 1want to thank my husband, Andrew Bradford. His friendship and love have been a great source of strength for me. No words can express my deep appreciation for aU of his suppor~ DEDICATION To the peopk of La Loche, Smkatchewmt History of La Loche Peter Pond crossed Methy Portage Fmcis Mongrand bdtthe fîrst house in La Loche Fichurh buüt Hudson's Bay store built in West La Loche Fist pries&Father Berrard, comes to La Loche Cat miin - used to haul fieight Batise Fontaine bought first outboard motor - Evinnide Fiist plane landed in La Loche - pilot, Mencil Post office established - Hudson's bay built in La Loche White school built by Aimie Janvierand Little John Mongrand Fust tacher - Alex Sapowski FKst Grey Nun imived - hospiral built in October DNR came to La Loche Brother Vouchan arrived - School board documents recordecl Members - Norbert Maurice, William Janvier, Rapheal Janvier, John Bhcktiall, and Father Duchme Sawmill built Father Mathieu arrived - C and M airways founded FKst pool hall built by Robbie Fontaine Coop opened - Fît power plant built Trainer Jet CF 104 crashes into Lac La Loche in January Student pilot named "Moose" was küled Laurent Lemaigre and Arsene Fontaine purchased est skidoos RCMP depot opens - Bill Hanison and Big John first officers The Bull Whip Restaurant opens operated by Ray and Bruce Ruelling - Burned domin 1974 Hydro elecaic power comes to La Loche Television comes ta La Loche September 2,1976 - Fiist program viewed - Get Smart Sp~gof 1978 arena opens - Robbie Fontiane Memorial Centre Construction of La Loche High School complewl HISTORY - Researched by Ji Perry's CIass A Students Dene High School Year Book. 1979-80. Io~tui's/ Nationai School Services Lth WÙinipeg, Uanitob0. Canada TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval Page.........~..................................................................... ri... Abstract ....................................................................................... IU Acknowledgmen ts .......................................................................... iv Decfication. .................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ............................................................................ vii List of Tables ................................................................................. x List of Figures ............................................................................... xi List of Abbreviations ........................................................................ xii INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: ASPECTS OF CHIPEWAN GRAMMAR ........,...... ............. 7 1.1 PHONOLOGY ............................................................... 7 1.1.1 The Phonemic Inventory and Onhography ....................... 7 1.1.2 Tone ................................................................... 9 1.1.3 Syllable Structure .................................................... 9 1.2 MORPHOSYNTACTIC CATEGORIES............. ....................... 11 1.2.1 Nouns .................................................................... 11 1.2.2 Postpositions .......................................................... 13 1.2.3 Verbs ................................................................... 14 1.3 CONCLUSION............................................................. 15 CHAFER 2: THE PHONOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL ................ 16 STRUCI"URE OF THE VERB MORPHOPHONOLOGY ..................................................... 16 2.1.1 Conjunct and Disjunct Prefixes...................................... 17 2.1.2 Epenthesis ........................................................ .... 18 2.1.3 Metathesis, Tensing, and Nasalization.............................. 19 2.1.4 Vowel Deletion......................................................... 21 VERBAL PREFIXES.. .......................................................... 23 2.2.1 The Classifier......................................................... 24 2.2.2 Pronominal Prefixes. .................................................. 28 2.2.3 Prirnary Aspect and Mode Prefixes.................................. 30 2.2.4 Secondary Aspect Prefixes........................................... 31 2.2.5 Direct Object Prefïxes ................................................. 34 2.2.6 Adverbial and Incorporated Elements............................... 35 THE VERB AND LEVELS OF REPRESENTATION~----*-.*.---LLL----38 CONCLUSION................................................................. 42 CHAPTER 3: CHLPEWYAN ASPECT PREFUCES ................................... 43 3.1 ASPECT MODE....................................................... 44 3.1.1 Aspect. .................................................................. 44 3.12 Mode................................................................... 45 3.1.3 Aspect and Mode Compared......................................... 46 3.2 ASPECT IN CRIPEWAN............................................... 47 3.3 THE ASPECï PREFIXES IN CHIPEWAN............................. 48 3.3.1 Imperfective Aspect .................................................. 49 3.3.1.1 @- imperfective ............................................ 49 3.3.1.2 ne- imperfective...........................................