Knowledge base · Part XVII — Clause Linkage and Adverbial Subordination · this topic as a network
133. The hine/akusu Contrast and Switch-Reference-Like Linkage
How do sequential connectives encode temporal order and subject continuity across clauses?
hine: neutral temporal enumeration
How does the particle hine enumerate events in temporal order without causal or manner relations?
In Shizunai Ainu, hine tends to occur more frequently in folktales than in everyday colloquial speech. (Refsing 1986: 242) In Hokkaido Ainu prose tales, hine is frequently used at the beginning of the narrative to describe the narrator's personal circumstances. (Nakagawa 2024: 338) The conjunctive particle hine is used simply to arrange events in chronological order. (Nakagawa 2024: 338) The conjunctive particle hine functions to connect clauses with the meaning 'and then / having done...'. (Satō 2008: 368) The conjunction hine is equivalent in meaning to wa. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)
Etymology, phonology, and dialect distribution
What is the etymology and dialect distribution of the particle hine?
In Eastern Hokkaido varieties, hine is substantially less frequent than wa or tek in Shiranuka, Kushiro has ine, and Honbetsu Tokachi lacks hine or ine. (reported in Nakagawa 2024: 338) In Tokachi Ainu, hinne corresponds to hine and functions identically, while hine is also used in varieties outside Honbetsu. (Nakagawa 2024: 338)
akusu and awa: sequential discovery
How do akusu and awa present a second event as coincidental discovery after a completed first event?
The conjunctive particle akusu connects an event that occurred in connection with the result of a prior occurrence, without requiring any causal relationship. (Nakagawa 2024: 345) In Shizunai Ainu, akus marks a background clause into which a new and unexpected event is introduced, or an action followed by a surprising development. (Refsing 1986: 248) While there is usually no interdependence between the events linked by akus, in a few cases the conjunctionalized clause may function as the cause or condition for the occurrence of the following clause. (Refsing 1986: 248) akusu functions as a conjunctive particle meaning 'when' or 'but'. (Satō 2008: 366)
The akusu/awa register and dialect split
What register and dialect conditions distinguish the use of akusu from awa?
The conjunctive particle awa expresses a similar sequential meaning to akusu, but its frequency varies across dialects and genres. (Nakagawa 2024: 345) In Saru Ainu, awa is predominantly used in verse, whereas akusu is used for the same sequential function in prose tales. (Nakagawa 2024: 345) In Horobetsu Ainu, the conjunctive particle awa is overwhelmingly more frequent than akusu. (Nakagawa 2024: 345) In Shizunai and Tokachi Ainu, akusu is used more frequently than awa. (Nakagawa 2024: 345) The conjunctions ike, hike, aike, ahike, singular akusu, and plural rokkusu are equivalent in meaning to awa. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) In the Ishikari dialect, akusu is limited in use and awa is more frequent. (Nakagawa 2024: 345)