The Pragmatics of kandi: A Relevance-theoretic Account
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Argumentum
Abstract
The paper presents an exploratory analysis of the pragmatic functions of kandi within Relevance Theory (cf. Sperber & Wilson 1986, Wilson & Sperber 2004), a clausal coordination connective in Rutooro (a Bantu language spoken in Uganda). Kandi can roughly correspond to English and (cf. Ndoleriire et al. 2009). The discussion specifically explores the inferential relations between the conjuncts of an utterance linked by kandi. The paper shows that despite the semantic closeness of kandi to English and, kandi does not express temporality or causality/consequentiality, as opposed to and (cf. Carston 2002). In Rutooro, temporality and causality/ consequentiality are expressed by the so-called Virtual Present tense. Kandi is mainly used to encode explanation and to constrain inferential processes involving mental representations in which a speaker’s attitude description is foregrounded.
Description
Keywords
Kandi, Coordination connective, Temporality, Causality/consequentiality, Higher level explicature
Citation
Isingoma, B. (2017). The Pragmatics of kandi: A Relevance-theoretic Account. Argumentum, 13, 174-184.