The form and function of bridging constructions in Eibela discourse

Discourse in Eibela utilizes extensive repetition and summarization of events asa means of bridging discourse episodes. These bridging constructions consist of a main reference clause at the end of a unit of discourse, which is immediately referenced by a non-main bridging clause at the commencement of the following unit of discourse. Bridging clauses may be formed by medial clauses initiating a clause chain, and topic clauses that are embedded within another medial or final clause. Differing units of discourse are often accompanied by differing forms of bridging construction, with clause chain boundaries featuring verbatim repetition of clauses, and larger paragraphs being bound by bridging clauses utilizing anaphoric predicates. Bridging constructions have been previously shown to serve various functions in Papuan languages, including thematic continuity, reference tracking, and event sequencing, which will also be illustrated in the current discussion of bridging constructions in Eibela

Bridging constructions in typological perspective

In this chapter, we undertake a cross-linguistic examination of bridging constructions, which we define as the sequence of two clauses: the first clause (called the reference clause) ends a discourse unit, the second clause (called the bridging clause)typically repeats the first clause at the beginning of a new discourse unit. Based on published language data and data from the volume, we identify three different types of constructions subsumed under the label bridging construction (§2 and §3): recapitulative linkage, summary linkage, and mixed linkage. They differ in the form that the bridging clause takes on: broadly speaking, verbatim lexical recapitulation of the reference clause; a light verb summarizing the reference clause; or a mix of these two strategies. Because bridging constructions lie at the interface of discourse and syntax, we dedicate §4 to explaining their discourse functions. Amid the cross-linguistic variation, we found two recurrent discourse functions: emphasizing sequentiality and cohesively structuring discourse. Finally, we establish a list of questions to guide the documentation of these linguistic patterns

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics

Bridging constructions

Many descriptive grammars report the use of a linguistic pattern at the interface between discourse and syntax which is known generally as tail-head linkage. This volume takes an unprecedented look at this type of linkage across languages and shows that there exist three distinct variants, all subsumed under the hypernym bridging constructions. The chapters highlight the defining features of these constructions in the grammar and their functional properties in discourse. The volume reveals that: Bridging constructions consist of two clauses: a reference clause and a bridging clause. Across languages, bridging clauses can be subordinated clauses, reduced main clauses, or main clauses with continuation prosody. Bridging constructions have three variants: recapitulative linkage, summary linkage and mixed linkage. They differ in the formal makeup of the bridging clause. In discourse, the functions that bridging constructions fulfil depend on the text genres in which they appear and their position in the text. If a language uses more than one type of bridging construction, then each type has a distinct discourse function. Bridging constructions can be optional and purely stylistic or mandatory and serve a grammatical purpose. Although the difference between bridging constructions and clause repetition can be subtle, they maintain their own distinctive characteristics