Differential Object Marking and Information Structure in Ayacucho Quechua

Abstract

This paper presents a description and analysis of differential object marking (DOM) observed in Ayacucho Quechua nominalized subordinate clauses formed with -sqa and -na. This Quechua dialect allows for two patterns of object marking within nominalized subordinate clauses: -ta and -ø. Based on the results of interview surveys, this paper argues that marking with -ta is motivated by two concepts of information structure: contrastive focus and unexpectedness. The fact that Ayacucho Quechua exhibits DOM in this form has three implications for DOM with respect to typology and the theory of information structure. First, in addition to animacy, definiteness, specificity, and topicality, factors which have been reported in many languages up until now, DOM can also be triggered by the factors of contrastive focus and unexpectedness. Second, although up until now it has been said that marking of information structure is not seen in subordinate clauses, it is possible for information structure-based concepts to be marked in subordinate clauses. Third, the presence or absence of contrastiveness as an information structure property can be clearly reflected in linguistic forms.