A Typological Perspective on Classical Mongolian Indirect Speech

Hill, Nathan W.

Abstract

Classical Mongolian has two types of speech, direct speech and hybrid indirect speech. However, due to subsequent simplifications, we can re-label ' hybrid indirect
speech' as 'indirect speech'_ Japhug Rgyalrong, Lhasa Tibetan, and Classical Mongolian have in common that the person implications of verb forms are not adjusted
in indirect discourse in the way that pronouns are adjusted. Both Russian and Lhasa indirect speech share a structural system retaining the verb tense. Japhug
Rgyalrong, however, differs from Russian because verb agreement is retained in Japhug Rgyalrong but adjusted in Russian. Whether Classical Mongolian is classified like Lhasa Tibetan or like Japhug Rgyalrong depends on whether one sees the Classical Mongolian verb forms with person implications as primarily encoding epistemic moods or person agreement.

Citation

Hill, N. W. (2014). A Typological Perspective on Classical Mongolian Indirect Speech. Central Asiatic journal, 56, 11-18. https://doi.org/10.13173/centasiaj.56.2013.0011

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2014
• Journal: Central Asiatic Journal
• Print ISSN: 0008-9192
• Electronic ISSN: 2747-4305
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Pages: 11-18
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13173/centasiaj.56.2013.0011
• Keywords: Mongolian, indirect speech, indirect discourse,
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