Syntactic and Pragmatic Functions of Pronominal Arguments in Some Western Polynesian Languages

Abstract

Whereas the phonological and lexicological relatedness of the Polynesian languages is obvious even to nonspecialists, the syntactic diversity that can be observed within this family is nonetheless remarkable. In this paper, we will try to point out the differences in the respective use of free pronouns and clitic pronouns in seven Western Polynesian languages: Tongan, Samoan, East Futunan, East Uvean, Niuafo'ou, Tuvalu, and Tokelau. A brief account of the restrictions or absence of restrictions bearing on the use of preverbal pronouns will be given in relation to the valency of the verb they are preposed to, as well as to their syntactic and semantic functions. The possible difference in the treatment of the third person singular and the other persons, as well as a possible cooccurrence of the two series of pronouns, will also be analyzed. Finally, for those languages that offer a choice between two series of pronouns, we will try to bring out the pragmatic functions of these pronouns.