On the Discourse Functions of nɪ in Abou Dida: Expanding the Research Horizons of Cognitive Linguistics

Abstract

The aims of this study are to investigate several discourse functions of nɪ-marked expressions used in narrative discourse in Abou Dida (Eastern Kru, Côte d’Ivoire) and to explore the possibility of expanding the research horizons of cognitive linguistic views of discourse phenomena building on the observations of how nɪ-marked expressions behave in the unfolding of discourse. While the discourse functions of nɪ-marked expressions can fall under the classification of left-dislocation, they are not exactly the same as what has been discussed in the preceding studies; left-dislocation has not been a central issue in cognitive linguistics. What makes nɪ-marked expressions unique is that nɪ can both left-dislocate and topicalize lexical NPs, forming a continuous spectrum of discourse functions. What cognitive linguistics contributes to left-dislocation studies is that it can generalize functions and patterns beyond individual examples. The survey results tell us about the significance of an empirical discourse analysis in a generalizable theoretical setting.