Linguistics ETDs

Author

Michele Kiser

Publication Date

7-1-2014

Abstract

Extensive research has been conducted on the Navajo verb complex (prefix morphology) and specific constructions (i.e. relative clause structure, subject-object-inversion), but to date the proposed establishment of a method to analyze actual discourse from a functional or usage based approach has not occurred. The goal of this study is twofold. The first is to establish a method to analyze spoken Navajo using the Intonation Units (IU) as a measure as it occurs in natural, uninterrupted speech, according to the parameters outlined by Chafe (1994), and show the influence of the morphological complexity of Navajo on the size of the IU. Secondly, analyzing the function of the IU within discourse from the intonation-as-information-flow' approach (Couper-Kuhlen 2005) including deliberate manipulation by speakers in a sequential manner and the framing in which story threads are woven together expressing various points of view within a single text. IUs (Chafe 1994, DuBois et al. 1993) are portions of speech occurring under a single prosodic contour that reveal how speakers naturally segment their speech. Prosodic structure, including the suprasegmental phonetic cues of intonation, pitch, rhythm, duration and pauses, has been studied in many languages, but to date, there has not been an analysis of Navajo that has attempted to define an IU and its function in discourse. The hope is the research presented will leave the reader with a better understanding of communicative process, how syntactic structural features are interrelated to cognitive constraints and interlocutor motivation which ultimately may influence and impact actual performance which are revealed via various voices (Dinwoodie 1999) represented within a text. By proposing a unit larger than the morphologically complex verb for analysis, a specific type of clause (i.e., relative or subordinate), or even a culturally relevant structure (i.e., subject-object inversion), the desire is the results presented will both foster and aid subsequent Navajo discourse analysis studies and ultimately positively impact Navajo language education efforts.

Language

English

Keywords

Navajo, Discourse, Intonation

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Linguistics

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Linguistics

First Committee Member (Chair)

Morford, Jill

Second Committee Member

White, Peter

Third Committee Member

Williams, Jay

Comments

Submitted by Michele Kiser (mkiser1@unm.edu) on 2014-05-19T19:13:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MKiser Disstertation Final 5-16-2014.pdf: 1603828 bytes, checksum: 98bc7c6e6da072f71851313a61bbed28 (MD5), Approved for entry into archive by Doug Weintraub (dwein@unm.edu) on 2014-09-12T18:07:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 MKiser Disstertation Final 5-16-2014.pdf: 1603828 bytes, checksum: 98bc7c6e6da072f71851313a61bbed28 (MD5), Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-12T18:07:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MKiser Disstertation Final 5-16-2014.pdf: 1603828 bytes, checksum: 98bc7c6e6da072f71851313a61bbed28 (MD5)

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