Schedule StuTS 65

The distinction between two separate adjective forms – the predicative and the attributive form – is a feature of the Saami languages that distinguishes them from other Uralic languages. However, there is variation in the adjective attributive forms and their usage between as well as within the Saami languages. The aim of this research is to give an insight into the variation in adjective attributes in Inari Saami, a minority language spoken by about 350 speakers in the northernmost part of Finland (Pasanen 2015: 78).
Inari Saami adjectives can either occur in the same form in both, predicate and attribute position, or have a morphologically marked attributive form. In some cases, however, the predicative form occurs as a modifier instead of the expected distinct attributive form. The form of the adjective also varies in elliptic constructions or so-called headless noun phrases where the nominal head of the phrase is omitted, but clearly implied by the context.
Furthermore, there’s also variation in agreement between the adjective attributes and their head noun. While in general, Saami adjective attributes don’t show agreement with their head nouns, amongst others adjectives with contracted stems form exceptions from this rule.
This paper will give a brief overview of the above mentioned variations based on language examples collected from Erkki Itkonen’s anthology ‘Aanaarkiela čájttuzeh’ (1992) which consists of language samples recorded in 1952.

References:
Itkonen, Erkki 1992. Aanaarkiela čájttuzeh. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura.
Pasanen, Annika 2015. Kuávsui já peeivičuovâ ’Sarastus ja päivänvalo’, Inarinsaamen kielen revitalisaatio. Uralia Helsingiensia 9. Helsinki: Unigrafia Oy.

The distinction between two separate adjective forms – the predicative and the attributive form – is a feature of the Saami languages that distinguishes them from other Uralic languages. However, there is variation in the adjective attributive forms and their usage between as well as within the Saami languages. The aim of this research is to give an insight into the variation in adjective attributes in Inari Saami, a minority language spoken by about 350 speakers in the northernmost part of Finland (Pasanen 2015: 78).
Inari Saami adjectives can either occur in the same form in both, predicate and attribute position, or have a morphologically marked attributive form. In some cases, however, the predicative form occurs as a modifier instead of the expected distinct attributive form. Previous researches have thought this to be a trait of the Eastern dialect of Inari Saami (cf. Itkonen 1986: 396, Morottaja 2007: 23).
The form of the adjective also varies in elliptic constructions or so-called headless noun phrases where the nominal head of the phrases is omitted, but clearly implied by the context. In these type of constructions, the attributive as well as the predicative form of the adjective might occur.
Furthermore, there’s also variation in agreement between the adjective attributes and their head noun. While in general, Saami adjective attributes don’t show agreement with their head nouns, amongst others adjectives with contracted stems form exceptions from this rule. Their agreement is however optional. The attribute may also agree only partially with its head noun, meaning that the attribute is in the genitive case while the nominal head is in another case.
This paper will give a brief overview of the above mentioned variations based on language examples collected from Erkki Itkonen’s anthology ‘Aanaarkiela čájttuzeh’ (1992) which consists of language samples recorded in 1952. The collected data shows that in the Inari Saami spoken in the 1950s, the adjective and its agreement in noun phrases as well as in elliptic constructions was subject to great variation. The results of this study could function as the base for further research on the variation in the present-day language, taking into consideration that the recent revitalization of Inari Saami has caused a significant growth in the number of L2 speakers whose native language is Finnish and whose language usage might have an impact on the variation.

References:
Itkonen, Erkki 1986. Inarilappisches Wörterbuch. 1, A-K. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura.
Itkonen, Erkki 1992. Aanaarkiela čájttuzeh. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura.
Morottaja, Matti 2007. Anarâškielâ ravvuuh. Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus.
Pasanen, Annika 2015. Kuávsui já peeivičuovâ ’Sarastus ja päivänvalo’, Inarinsaamen kielen revitalisaatio. Uralia Helsingiensia 9. Helsinki: Unigrafia Oy.

Info

Day: 2019-05-23
Start time: 15:30
Duration: 00:30
Room: 103 / S81
Track: Typology and Variational Linguistics
Language: en

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• Variation of adjective attributes in Inari Saami

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