Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major Professor

Chauncey J. Mellor

Committee Members

John Osborne, David Lee, Beverly Moser

Abstract

This research demonstrates how the use of connectives in Hans Staden's Warhaffig Historia and Warhaffiiger Kurtzer Bericht reflects the spoken language of Staden's time. Staden's text was examined for three types of clause connection: coordination with and without a connective and subordination with a connective. In instances of coordination without a connective, cohesive ties in clause initial position were also examined. The results of the study show that coordination comprises 63 percent of all clause connection in Staden’s text. The most frequent connective is und, a coordinator. Some of the connectives and cohesive ties are also identical in form. Lastly, the position of the finite verb in subordinated clauses appears to be flexible and appears anywhere from the third to the final position in the subordinated clause. It was concluded that Staden's text reads like an oral narration because it shows aspects of fragmentation which are identified with spoken language. The high frequency of the und coordinator, the large amount of coordination both with and without a connective, and the occurrence of afterthoughts support the idea that Staden's text reflects the spoken language of Staden's time.

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