The Lakhota Definite Articles and Topic Marking

Abstract

This paper presents evidence that the definite articles k?u and ki in Lakhota are more adequately described as topic discontinuity and default markers, respectively. Using Givon's referential distance measure (1983), I show that ki is the default article, used when topic/participant continuity must be preserved. In the narrative studied here, the average referential distance for ki marked nouns was much shorter than that for k?u marked nouns, showing that k?u marks a shift to a previously established topic/participant. I show that we must take all aspects of discourse continuity into account when assessing the topicality of any character: the overall theme, the main action in the discourse at that point, and the agency of the participants.