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Abstract
The chapter investigates clause-linking strategies in Chulym Turkic, relying on natural language data. We show that Chulym Turkic generally adheres to the patterns expected from an areal-typological and genealogical point of view. Coordination is inheritedly realized via mere juxtaposition, although Russian conjunctions are also frequently used nowadays. Subordination is generally realized via nonfinite verb forms, but clause-initial interrogative pronouns or copied Russian conjunctions are also found in combination with finite or nonfinite verb forms. As typical for Turkic languages, Chulym Turkic frequently exhibits clause chaining patterns combining one or more converbs with a finite verb form. These clause chains are structurally similar to postverbial constructions expressing actionality or viewpoint aspects so that it can sometimes be hard to discriminate clause chains against them.
Abstract
Eastern Khanty shows a preferred asyndetic clause combining strategy, either using nonfinite dependent predicates, or juxtaposing finite clauses in associated chains. However, the robust use of polyfunctional converbal and nominalization structures is diversified (in recent data) by increasing the occurrence of finite syndetic coordinated clauses using overt conjunctions, pronominal complementizers and relativizers, either native or Russian loans. Intense contact influence of Russian—a likely motivation, this may also be a system-internal tendency for the initial grammaticalization via nominalization, with the subsequent addition of finite TAM morphology. Overall, this exemplifies the correlation of finiteness to semantic/discourse-pragmatic dependence and thematic continuity in linked states of affairs.
Abstract
The chapter is a comprehensive description of clause linkage in both Enets (< Samoyedic < Uralic) lects—Forest Enets and Tundra Enets. The study is based on unpublished text corpora, which in sum contain texts recorded in 1967–2010 and include more than 230,000 tokens. The main strategies of Enets clause linkage are juxtaposition, used for clausal coordination and for some types of complement clauses, and the nonfinite strategy, used for other types of bi-clausal constructions. Still, constructions with conjunctions are also widespread, including, firstly, conjunction-like uses of native particles, secondly, conjunction-like uses of wh-words and, thirdly, conjunctions borrowed from Russian.
Abstract
The chapter investigates clause-linking strategies in Northern and Southern Evenki varieties, relying on natural language data from the INEL Evenki Corpus. As expected from an areal-typological point of view, clause linkage is chiefly asyndetic in Evenki, making use of non-finite verb forms if necessary. Still, also syndetic constructions occur in more recent data, whereby interrogative pronouns or (borrowed) conjunctions function as linking elements. Besides these general patterns, the chapter points to two special features: First, Evenki (like other Tungusic languages) exhibits internally headed relative clauses (Section 6.3). Second, the Taimyr Evenki variety, heavily influenced by Dolgan (< Turkic), shows patterns of clause chaining, otherwise not typical for Evenki and Tungusic languages.
Abstract
Kamas is an extinct Samoyedic language which used to be spoken in Southern Siberia. Its last speaker, Klavdiya Plotnikova, was recorded in 1963–1970. This chapter is based on the INEL Kamas Corpus, comprising texts collected by Kai Donner in 1912–1914 and all known recordings of Plotnikova. In earlier Kamas, the preferred clause linkage strategies were asyndetic, mostly involving general or specialized nonfinite forms. Due to heavy Russian influence, syndetic strategies using borrowed conjunctions expanded greatly in Plotnikova’s variety. While general converbs, participles and infinitives were multifunctional, each of the broadly conceived functions could also be expressed with various means.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on clause linkage in Ket. As expected from a polysynthetic language, it exhibits a significant use of asyndetic constructions in coordination, relative clauses, and certain types of complement clauses. However, the majority of adverbial and complement clauses in Ket show a wide range of formally distinct subordinating structures that mimic the formation of subordinate constructions found in neighbouring languages. These structures employ relational morphemes while preserving fully finite forms instead of adopting nonfinite morphology. This demonstrates a case of typological accommodation, where Ket adapts to resemble surrounding languages without abandoning its core traits.
Abstract
The Mansi language is spoken in Western Siberia and belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family, which forms a branch of Uralic languages. Clause linkage strategies in Mansi include syndetic and asyndetic constructions and non-finite subordination. Coordination relations are generally expressed by mere juxtaposition, but syndetic coordination can also be found with native and borrowed conjunctions. Subordination relations are usually expressed by using non-finite forms. However, syndetic and asyndetic subordination is also possible, although the former cannot appear in complement clauses. The increase of syndetic subordination with borrowed (i.e. Russian) conjunctions is not typical of Mansi.
Abstract
Based on two spoken language corpora the chapter investigates clause-linking strategies in the four Selkup dialects (Northern, Central, Southern, Ket). As anticipated from an areal point of view, the main strategies for clause combining are asyndetic structures. This includes juxtaposition and different nonfinite verb forms. Coordination is mostly realized with conjunctions, but asyndetic strategies in the form of juxtaposition do occur. Depending on the type of the subordinate clause and the dialect, Selkup subordination shows a mixture of nonfinite verb forms and copied Russian conjunctions. Selkup uses clause chain constructions combining one or more converbs with a finite verb form which is atypical for Samoyedic languages.
Abstract
The Chapter is about two clause-combining relations, i.e. coordination and subordination in Tundra Nenets (Samoyedic, Uralic). Conjunction, disjunction, and adversative coordination involve the combination of finite clauses and are expressed by juxtaposition or by using overt coordinator(-like element)s in the language. While adverbial adjunct and complement clauses are (almost) exclusively expressed with dependent clauses headed by various non-finite verb forms such as participles, converbs, and action nouns. The vast majority of embedded clauses precede the finite matrix verb, but we find examples of a postverbal embedded clause.