The Inverse in Japhug Rgyalrong

Abstract

Japhug, like other Rgyalrong languages, has an inverse marking system. Although it presents many similarities with the better-described direct/inverse systems of Algonquian languages, it also shows striking differences with them, such as the presence of an ergative case marking system instead of a proximate/obviative distinction. In this paper, we propose a detailed study of the forms and functions of the inverse prefix in Japhug. First, we give a general description of inverse marking in Japhug, including its place in the verbal person marking system and its structural differences with inverse systems in several other languages. Second, we apply Givón’s (1983) methodology of text counts to study the pragmatic, semantic and syntactic parameters that determine the use of the inverse marker in narratives and compare it to the result of Dryer’s (1994) study on obviation in Kutenai.