Thematic Organization of Discourse and Referential Choices in Australian Languages

Abstract

Thematic Organization of Discourse and Referential Choices in Australian Languages. Discourse and Cognition 8.2,. 1-21. The present paper aims to investigate how the speakers use the referential choices available in discourse in Australian Aboriginal languages. Three narrative texts from Mayali and Kala Lagaw Ya are examined by employing three different approaches: ⅰ) linear topic continuity measurements, ⅱ) thematicity of the participants, and ⅲ) discourse structure. The results show that the two languages utilize different sets of referring expressions, and that even the comparable forms do not have the same functions in discourse. In Mayali, pronouns are found to be globally-motivated, referring to the most salient characters at episode boundaries whereas demonstratives are more locally-motivated, referring to minor characters or major props marking contrast or emphasis. On the other hand, in Kala Lagaw Ya, pronouns are used as a regular referentical device marking continuous participants whereas demonstratives are used, among other things, to refer back to important props of the story.