Predicate

Definition

A predicate encodes the element of meaning which determines what kind of property, event, or relationship is being described. (Kroeger, 2019, p. 67) It consists of the minimum information that creates a sentence and may be a single word, though will more commonly consist of a predicate head followed by one or more second position predicate particles. (Suttles, 2004, pp. 39-40)

In Secwepmctsín, the predicate is marked by pronominal clitics and affixes, and no overt arguments are required. (Lai, 1998, p. 7) As in most Salish languages, almost any independent lexical item can function as a predicate. (Lai, 1998, p. 9) In Salish, predicates do not take determiners. (Lai, 1998, p. 28)

Examples

Examples in the Halkomelem Context of Single Word Predicates (Suttles, 2004, p. 39)
Example in the Halkomelem Context of a Predicate with Second-Position Predicate Particles (Suttles, 2004, p. 40)

Examples in the Secwepmctsín Context of an Adjectival Predicate (7a), Verbal Predicate (7b), and Nominal Predicate (7c) (Lai, 1998, p. 9)
Examples in the Skwxwu7mesh Context of the Negation of [Predicate Nominals] (Jacobs, 2013, p. 18)

References

Jacobs, P. W. (2013). Subordinate clauses in Skwxwu7mesh: Their form and function. Northwest Journal of Linguistics, 7(2), 1-54.

Lai, I. S. (1998). The grammar and acquisition of Secwepemctsín independent pronouns. [Master’s thesis, The University of British Columbia].

Suttles, W. (2004). Musqueum reference grammar. UBC Press. SFU Student Access.