[X] Anthropological Linguistics

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Vol. 44, no. 3 (Fall 2002)

Contents

Articles

The Dual Role of Metonymy in Navajo Prayer Margaret Field and Taft Blackhorse, Jr. 217
Yakima Sahaptin Clusters and Epenthetic [i] Sharon Hargus and Virginia Beavert 231
On the Status of DO/SAY Verbs with Emai Ideophones Ronald P. Schaefer and Francis O. Egbokhare 278

Book Reviews
Oneida-English/English-Oneida Dictionary (Karin Michelson and Mercy Doxtator) Clifford Abbott 297
Arabic as a Minority Language (Jonathan Owens, editor) Niloofar Haeri 299
Sepecides-Romani: Grammatik, Texte und Glossar eines türkischen Romani-Dialekts (Petra Cech and Mozes F. Heinschink) Peter Bakker 302
Voices in Bali: Energies and Perceptions in Vocal Music and Dance Theater (Edward Herbst) Jacob Wainwright Love 305
The Linguistic Identity of Europe. Part 1: The 62 Languages of Europe Classified in Functional Zones. Part 2: Macrolinguistics and Demostatistics of Europe (Gyula Décsy) Thomas Stolz 308

Abstracts

The Dual Role of Metonymy in Navajo Prayer

Margaret Field
San Diego State University

Taft Blackhorse, Jr.
Navajo Nation Office of Historic Preservation

Abstract. This article discusses the relationship between the aesthetic and performative functions of Navajo ritual language. We argue that the contiguity- based trope of metonymy is used for two purposes: to objectivize or entextualize the sacred language involved, and to affect reality by creatively indexing specific aspects of the ritual context. Illustrations are taken from two transcriptions of Navajo self-protection prayers recorded in the 1940s.

Yakima Sahaptin Clusters and Epenthetic [i]

Sharon Hargus
University of Washington

Virgina Beavert
Heritage College

Abstract. Aspects of the phonetics and phonology of initial and final clusters in the Yakima dialect of Sahaptin (Sahaptian family) are described. We argue that word-initial consonant sequences are tautosyllabic on the basis of suffixation patterns and consonant place restrictions. In some clusters, [i] is inserted, as verified in an acoustic study. Sahaptin has two types of inserted [i], epenthetic vs. excrescent, as in some neighboring Salish languages. Epenthetic [i] is phonologically relevant, as its presence permits deletion of destressed [i].

On the Status of DO/SAY Verbs with Emai Ideophones

Ronald P. Schaefer
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Francis O. Egbokhare
University of Ibadan

Abstract. This article evaluates the propensity for ideophones to occur in grammaticalized syntactic frames linked to verbs meaning 'say' or 'do'. Data from the Edoid language Emai of southern Nigeria only indirectly confirms this hypothesis. Ideophones appear in copular frames with BE and HEAR. The latter reveals no relation to SAY, although its exclusive reliance on second-person subjects indexes speaker-driven subjectivization as well as frame specialization. The BE frame derives via a two-stage grammaticalization process from an intransitive DO SO verb, not transitive DO. Stage one (DO SO > BE) consists of a change in verb properties from dynamic to stative, constrained by frame intransitivity. Stage two (BE + adjective > BE + ideophone) reflects frame specialization.

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