Tail-head Linkage in Papuan Malay

Abstract

This paper describes tail-head linkage (THL) in Papuan Malay, spoken in coastal West Papua. Four aspects are examined, the compositional, relational and functional properties, and the different discourse genres. As regards the compositional properties, Papuan Malay does not make a morphosyntactic distinction between the tail and the head clause; both clause types are of the same rank. The intonation contour is characterized by a falling intonation in the tail clause and a rising intonation in the head clause which indicates continuation. In recapitulating the tail clause event, speakers typically employ recapitulative linkage, and less often mixed or summary linkage. Concerning the relational properties, the content connection between the head and the discourse-new clause is most often a semantic one of sequential temporality, and less often a parenthetical or quote connection. The main functions of THL are to ensure discourse cohesion and to facilitate processing ease. With respect to its cohesive function, two distinct features are that THL tends to signal thematic discontinuity rather than continuity, and that THL marks the discourse-new rather than the head clause to signal discontinuity. The processual functions are achieved through the repetition of information and distribution of arguments over two or more clauses. As for the discourse genres, THL most often occurs in narrative discourses, and less frequently in procedural and conversational discourses.

Keywords

• discourse analysis
• thematic continuity
• processing ease
• tail-head linkage