Clausal complementation in Mising

Abstract This paper investigates clausal complementation in Mising, an Eastern Tani (TB) language spoken in Assam, India. It examines finite and non-finite complement clauses, analyzing their grammatical structures and underlying conceptualizations. Mising employs at least four complementizers (one finite, three non-finite), while some complement clauses appear without overt complementizers. Each of these constructions exhibits distinct semantic properties. While primarily descriptive in nature, this study incorporates insights from Cognitive Linguistics. Our analysis suggests that finite complementation aligns with an objective perspective, where the speaker views the complement event as external and distinct. Conversely, non-finite complementation aligns with a subjective perspective, reflecting a closer involvement of the speaker in the complement event. These two perspectives are associated with different conceptual viewing arrangements. The data for this paper comes from the Pagro dialect of Mising, primarily spoken in the Jonai sub-division of Assam’s Dhemaji district.