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Chapter 14. Reconstructing the copulas and nonverbal predicate constructions in Cariban

  • Spike Gildea
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Abstract

This paper represents a first effort to characterize the different kinds of nonverbal predicate constructions in the Cariban family, to identify the functions served by copulas, and then to reconstruct the various attested copular forms to a limited number of source forms in Proto-Cariban. Given limitations of space, it is not possible to illustrate all of the cognate nonverbal predicate constructions attested in all of the languages, so the comparative look at the constructions is more programmatic, offering illustrations of the alternatives attested so far in the literature as a way to orient future field studies of nonverbal predication in Cariban languages. In contrast, the reconstruction of the copulas is as detailed as possible given the forms available in the current descriptive literature.

Abstract

This paper represents a first effort to characterize the different kinds of nonverbal predicate constructions in the Cariban family, to identify the functions served by copulas, and then to reconstruct the various attested copular forms to a limited number of source forms in Proto-Cariban. Given limitations of space, it is not possible to illustrate all of the cognate nonverbal predicate constructions attested in all of the languages, so the comparative look at the constructions is more programmatic, offering illustrations of the alternatives attested so far in the literature as a way to orient future field studies of nonverbal predication in Cariban languages. In contrast, the reconstruction of the copulas is as detailed as possible given the forms available in the current descriptive literature.

Heruntergeladen am 19.9.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/tsl.122.14gil/html
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