WI as a marker of pragmatic salience in the language of the kaqchikel chronicles

Abstract

AbstractThis first analysis of the Kaqchikel (Mayan) element wi as it appears in the Kaqchikel Chronicles argues that wi emphasizes pragmatically salient information communicated by other constituents that precede wi in the clause. Although its position immediately after the predicate is syntactically determined, wi's use is grammatically optional. The evidence indicates that its occurrence is motivated by information structure. By analysing wi as an indicator of pragmatic salience, this model accounts for wi's association with contexts of both topic and focus and for its syntactic relationship with a variety of other constituents. This analysis has important consequences for our understanding of the pragmatics and distribution of the modern cognate wi in contemporary Kaqchikel as governed by other factors besides the influence of Spanish. In addition, it contributes to our understanding of information structure in general by suggesting that, in addition to their association with pre‐predicate syntactic positions, both topic and focus status in K'ichee'an languages share a discourse prominence that could be manifested in the Chronicles through the use of wi.