Home Linguistics & Semiotics 16. Reciprocal constructions in Olutec
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

16. Reciprocal constructions in Olutec

  • Roberto Zavala Maldonado
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
Reciprocals and Semantic Typology
This chapter is in the book Reciprocals and Semantic Typology

Abstract

Olutec exhibits three reciprocal strategies each of which convey different levels of prominence of the second reciprocant. In the conjoined subject strategy/, both reciprocants share the same topical status. In the /subject cum adjunct strategy/ the second reciprocant is treated as background information; while in the /subject and object strategy/, the second reciprocant shares the same degree of prominence with the regular primary object. The existence of these three strategies within a language indicates that the pragmatic status of the reciprocants is a key factor to be considered in the cross-linguistic study of reciprocal constructions.

Abstract

Olutec exhibits three reciprocal strategies each of which convey different levels of prominence of the second reciprocant. In the conjoined subject strategy/, both reciprocants share the same topical status. In the /subject cum adjunct strategy/ the second reciprocant is treated as background information; while in the /subject and object strategy/, the second reciprocant shares the same degree of prominence with the regular primary object. The existence of these three strategies within a language indicates that the pragmatic status of the reciprocants is a key factor to be considered in the cross-linguistic study of reciprocal constructions.

Downloaded on 6.3.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/tsl.98.16zav/html
Scroll to top button