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In:A Layered Approach to Habitual Constructions
Edited by Sune Gregersen and Kees Hengeveld
[Typological Studies in Language 136] 2026
► pp. 80–120

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Chapter 3
Habitual constructions in nēhiyawēwin (Plains Cree)

 | First Nations University of Canada
Published online: 6 January 2026
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https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.136.03wol
Abstract
This chapter analyzes three habitual constructions in nēhiyawēwin, the Plains Cree language, each modifying the verb in distinct ways. The first two constructions, the verbal suffix -ski and the reduplicative prefix (C)āh-, are both strategies which are internal to the polysynthetic verb structure. The third and most common construction involves the adverbial particle māna placed outside the polysynthetic verb but associated quite closely with the verb, potentially forming (part of) a verbal phrase. Each of these strategies will be investigated in terms of their scopal relations in order to pinpoint their function at a particular layer or range of layers within the Representational Level of Functional Discourse Grammar.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.nêhiyawêwin (Plains Cree)
  • 3.Strategies
    • 3.1Overview of strategies
    • 3.2-ski
      • 3.2.1Introduction
      • 3.2.2Modifiers
      • 3.2.3Operators
      • 3.2.4Complementation
      • 3.2.5Interpretation
      • 3.2.6Summary of the -ski construction
    • 3.3Cāh-
      • 3.3.1Introduction
      • 3.3.2Modifiers
      • 3.3.3Operators
      • 3.3.4Complementation
      • 3.3.5Interpretation
      • 3.3.6Summary of the reduplicative Cāh- strategy
    • 3.4māna
      • 3.4.1Introduction
      • 3.4.2Modifiers
      • 3.4.3Operators
      • 3.4.4Complementation
      • 3.4.5Interpretation
      • 3.4.6Summary of māna
    • 3.5Cooccurrence of strategies
      • 3.5.1māna with -ski
      • 3.5.2māna with Cāh-
      • 3.5.3Cāh- with -ski
  • 4.Summary
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (32)
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