enclitic
- noun
- /ɪnˈklɪtɪk/
- Specialized
- In many languages, an enclitic attaches to the end of the preceding word, creating fluent speech.
- narrative enclitic
Examples
-
They both used a narrative enclitic -na'a 'they say' regularly.
Academic text (1999) -
In fact, in many of Kenoi's Coyote narratives, every sentence outside of quoted speech ends with a narrative enclitic.
Academic text (1999) -
Note the repeated use of the narrative enclitic as well as the repeated use of the initial particle 'akoo.'
Academic text (1999) -
Mendez organized his narrative by using initial particles and did not use the narrative enclitic.
Academic text (1999) -
The exact frequency of the narrative enclitic in these narratives is unimportant to my point.
Academic text (1999) -
However, the narrative enclitic is completely absent from Lisandro Mendez's narrative.
Academic text (1999) -
My point is that this narrative enclitic occurs in these two men's Mescalero Coyote narratives.
Academic text (1999) -
Lawrence Mithlo, another Chiricahua storyteller, also told a Coyote narrative using the narrative enclitic regularly.
Academic text (1999) -
My point is that other narrators of the Southwest, who came from three different narrative traditions, are known to have used the narrative enclitic, while Lisandro Mendez did not.
Academic text (1999) -
According to Hymes, John Rush Buffalo uses an interplay between initial particles and the quotative suffix (narrative enclitic) throughout his narrative.
Academic text (1999)
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
An enclitic comes from the Greek en- 'on' and klínein 'to lean'. Think of a small word that 'leans' on the end of the previous word, so it is spoken with little 'emphasis' and attaches to that earlier word.
