Topic Prominence in the Hawaiian Language

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study explores whether Hawaiian, a canonically VSO language, has the properties of topic-prominent (TopP) languages. Based on tests using the diagnostics for TopP and subjectprominent (SP) languages, this study concludes that Hawaiian is closer to TopP languages than SP languages. First, Hawaiian has a topic marker like other TopP languages. When Hawaiian 'o is followed by an NP in the sentence initial position, the NP becomes the center of attention in the sentence and is definite. In addition, the 'o-marked fronted NP can control co-referential constituent deletion. Second, there are sentences that can be viewed as double-subject constructions, which appear in TopP languages but not in SP languages. Third, Hawaiian has no constraint on what may be the topic, which again suggests that Hawaiian has the properties of TopP languages. Finally, lack of subject-verb agreement and dummy subject supports that Hawaiian is distant from SP languages.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Properties of topic-prominent languages in Hawaiian
• 2.1 Surface coding for the topic: Hawaiian 'o
• 2.2 Double-subject constructions
• 2.3 Lack of constraints on what can be the topic
• 3. Properties of subject-prominent languages in Hawaiian
• 4. Concluding remarks
• References