ABSTRACT
Mangghuer finite verbs (with the exception of imperatives) must be marked for one of two pragmatically-governed categories, labeled here subjective and objective. The subjective/objective distinction at first glance resembles a system of person agreement, but in actuality it basically functions to indicate the degree to which the speaker wishes to identify him-or herself as being personally involved in the claim being made. Subjective marking indicates a high degree of speaker involvement, while objective marking indicates a lesser degree of involvement, as though the speaker were standing back and presenting the event as a detached observer, rather than one who is personally involved.
