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

  • Spike Gildea
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Nonverbal Predication in Amazonian Languages
This chapter is in the book Nonverbal Predication in Amazonian Languages

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.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Nonverbal predication in Amazonia 1
  4. Part I. Overviews of nonverbal predication in individual languages
  5. Chapter 2. Nonverbal predication and the nonverbal clause type of Mojeño Trinitario 53
  6. Chapter 3. Nonverbal predication in Paresi-Haliti 85
  7. Chapter 4. Nonverbal predication in Kari’nja (Cariban, Suriname) 103
  8. Chapter 5. Nonverbal predicates and copula constructions in Aguaruna (Chicham) 135
  9. Chapter 6. To hi or not to hi ? 163
  10. Chapter 7. Between verb and noun 193
  11. Chapter 8. Nonverbal predication in Movima 217
  12. Chapter 9. Nonverbal predication in Ninam (northern Brazil) 245
  13. Part II. Exploring specific subtypes of nonverbal predicates
  14. Chapter 10. Locative, existential and possessive predication in the Chaco 263
  15. Chapter 11. Possessive semantic relations and construction types in Kukama-Kukamiria 295
  16. Part III. Diachronic pathways to and from nonverbal predication
  17. Chapter 12. Constructions with has(a) in Wampis 317
  18. Chapter 13. Evidence for the development of action nominals in Awetí towards ergatively-marked predicates 339
  19. Chapter 14. Reconstructing the copulas and nonverbal predicate constructions in Cariban 365
  20. Index 403
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.122.14gil

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Nonverbal predication in Amazonia 1
  4. Part I. Overviews of nonverbal predication in individual languages
  5. Chapter 2. Nonverbal predication and the nonverbal clause type of Mojeño Trinitario 53
  6. Chapter 3. Nonverbal predication in Paresi-Haliti 85
  7. Chapter 4. Nonverbal predication in Kari’nja (Cariban, Suriname) 103
  8. Chapter 5. Nonverbal predicates and copula constructions in Aguaruna (Chicham) 135
  9. Chapter 6. To hi or not to hi ? 163
  10. Chapter 7. Between verb and noun 193
  11. Chapter 8. Nonverbal predication in Movima 217
  12. Chapter 9. Nonverbal predication in Ninam (northern Brazil) 245
  13. Part II. Exploring specific subtypes of nonverbal predicates
  14. Chapter 10. Locative, existential and possessive predication in the Chaco 263
  15. Chapter 11. Possessive semantic relations and construction types in Kukama-Kukamiria 295
  16. Part III. Diachronic pathways to and from nonverbal predication
  17. Chapter 12. Constructions with has(a) in Wampis 317
  18. Chapter 13. Evidence for the development of action nominals in Awetí towards ergatively-marked predicates 339
  19. Chapter 14. Reconstructing the copulas and nonverbal predicate constructions in Cariban 365
  20. Index 403
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