Irrealis in Yurakaré and other languages
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Rik van Gijn
Abstract
The linguistic category of irrealis does not show stable semantics across languages. This makes it difficult to formulate general statements about this category, and it has led some researchers to reject irrealis as a cross-linguistically valid category. In this paper we look at the semantics of the irrealis category of Yurakaré, an unclassified language spoken in central Bolivia, and compare it to irrealis semantics of a number of other languages. Languages differ with respect to the subcategories they subsume under the heading of irrealis. The variable subcategories are future tense, imperatives, negatives, and habitual aspect. We argue that the cross-linguistic variation is not random, and can be stated in terms of an implicational scale.
Abstract
The linguistic category of irrealis does not show stable semantics across languages. This makes it difficult to formulate general statements about this category, and it has led some researchers to reject irrealis as a cross-linguistically valid category. In this paper we look at the semantics of the irrealis category of Yurakaré, an unclassified language spoken in central Bolivia, and compare it to irrealis semantics of a number of other languages. Languages differ with respect to the subcategories they subsume under the heading of irrealis. The variable subcategories are future tense, imperatives, negatives, and habitual aspect. We argue that the cross-linguistic variation is not random, and can be stated in terms of an implicational scale.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The semantics of tense, aspect and modality in the languages of the world 1
- Incompatible categories 13
- The perfective/imperfective distinction 33
- Lexical and compositional factors in the aspectual system of Adyghe 55
- Event structure of non-culminating accomplishments 83
- The grammaticalised use of the Burmese verbs la ‘come’ and thwà ‘go’ 131
- Irrealis in Yurakaré and other languages 155
- On the selection of mood in complement clauses 179
- ‘Out of control’ marking as circumstantial modality in St’át’imcets 205
- Modal geometry 245
- Acquisitive modals 271
- Conflicting constraints on the interpretation of modal auxiliaries 303
- Modality and context dependence 317
- Verbal semantic shifts under negation, intensionality, and imperfectivity 341
- The Estonian partitive evidential 365
- Index 403
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- The semantics of tense, aspect and modality in the languages of the world 1
- Incompatible categories 13
- The perfective/imperfective distinction 33
- Lexical and compositional factors in the aspectual system of Adyghe 55
- Event structure of non-culminating accomplishments 83
- The grammaticalised use of the Burmese verbs la ‘come’ and thwà ‘go’ 131
- Irrealis in Yurakaré and other languages 155
- On the selection of mood in complement clauses 179
- ‘Out of control’ marking as circumstantial modality in St’át’imcets 205
- Modal geometry 245
- Acquisitive modals 271
- Conflicting constraints on the interpretation of modal auxiliaries 303
- Modality and context dependence 317
- Verbal semantic shifts under negation, intensionality, and imperfectivity 341
- The Estonian partitive evidential 365
- Index 403
