Speaking of oneself in multi-term evidential systems: From the Himalayas to Amazonia
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Eric Mélac
Abstract
Languages with multi-term evidential systems vary in how people speak about themselves and their own actions. The aim of this paper is to understand the differences between evidentials used with the first person (oneself) and with other persons. We focus on two groups of languages with large evidential systems - Tariana and Tukano from the Vaupés River Basin linguistic area in Amazonia, and Common Tibetan and Central Ladakhi, two Tibetic languages of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. We analyse similarities and contrasts in the expression of information source and access to information through grammatical evidentials and egophoric systems in these two groups of languages. Our analysis reveals their intricacies and the special status of speech act participants.
Abstract
Languages with multi-term evidential systems vary in how people speak about themselves and their own actions. The aim of this paper is to understand the differences between evidentials used with the first person (oneself) and with other persons. We focus on two groups of languages with large evidential systems - Tariana and Tukano from the Vaupés River Basin linguistic area in Amazonia, and Common Tibetan and Central Ladakhi, two Tibetic languages of the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas. We analyse similarities and contrasts in the expression of information source and access to information through grammatical evidentials and egophoric systems in these two groups of languages. Our analysis reveals their intricacies and the special status of speech act participants.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Language in strange and familiar places: A short introduction 1
- The eternal and the ephemeral 9
- Language preservation in strangely familiar places: How traditional skills have helped preserve Shaetlan 39
- Hidden landscapes and the images of the “unseen”: from north-west Amazonia to the Middle Sepik region of New Guinea 75
- The intersection of language, religion, identity, and scholarship: Opportunities for the revitalization of Ge’ez 131
- Speaking of oneself in multi-term evidential systems: From the Himalayas to Amazonia 149
- Ideological and communicative perspectives on divination amongst the people of Northern Ghana 193
- Beyond participants–researchers–research outsiders: food talk and the (co-)construction of knowledge in multi-sited participatory ethnography 223
- Making and selling Greek food in London: Migrant hospitality professionals talk about food authenticity over dinner 257
- Feierabendziegel: Roof tiles with celestial bodies on them, and how they are relevant for understanding experiences of contingency 287
- Index of authors 329
- Index of subjects 335
- Index of languages, language families, areas, and peoples 339
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Language in strange and familiar places: A short introduction 1
- The eternal and the ephemeral 9
- Language preservation in strangely familiar places: How traditional skills have helped preserve Shaetlan 39
- Hidden landscapes and the images of the “unseen”: from north-west Amazonia to the Middle Sepik region of New Guinea 75
- The intersection of language, religion, identity, and scholarship: Opportunities for the revitalization of Ge’ez 131
- Speaking of oneself in multi-term evidential systems: From the Himalayas to Amazonia 149
- Ideological and communicative perspectives on divination amongst the people of Northern Ghana 193
- Beyond participants–researchers–research outsiders: food talk and the (co-)construction of knowledge in multi-sited participatory ethnography 223
- Making and selling Greek food in London: Migrant hospitality professionals talk about food authenticity over dinner 257
- Feierabendziegel: Roof tiles with celestial bodies on them, and how they are relevant for understanding experiences of contingency 287
- Index of authors 329
- Index of subjects 335
- Index of languages, language families, areas, and peoples 339
