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11 Contact-induced diffusion of applicatives in northwestern Amazonia?

  • Rik van Gijn
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Applicative Constructions in the World’s Languages
This chapter is in the book Applicative Constructions in the World’s Languages

Abstract

This paper surveys applicative constructions in the northwest Amazon and adjacent Andean slopes. Previous research suggests that this area may feature contactinduced diffusion of valency markers, specifically applicatives, across family boundaries. On closer scrutiny, however, there seems to be no firm basis for this conclusion. First of all, applicatives do not seem to be overly common in the area: many languages do not have applicatives, and those that do often have no more than one (with a few notable exceptions). Second, although some commonalities can be observed between the applicative constructions across the area, they involve common features of applicative constructions anywhere, like suffixed applicative markers, and a preponderance of benefactive or sometimes malefactive semantics. To a lesser extent, comitative-related semantics are found. There is some overlap in form, but these seem to be largely coincidental. A possible exception is a connection between Arabela (Zaparoan) and Yagua (Peba-Yaguan), which do show signs of non-accidental similarities. In addition, there are some intriguing but inconclusive functional similarities between Shiwilu (Kawapanan) and some of the Arawakan languages of central Peru, outside the northwest Amazon.

Abstract

This paper surveys applicative constructions in the northwest Amazon and adjacent Andean slopes. Previous research suggests that this area may feature contactinduced diffusion of valency markers, specifically applicatives, across family boundaries. On closer scrutiny, however, there seems to be no firm basis for this conclusion. First of all, applicatives do not seem to be overly common in the area: many languages do not have applicatives, and those that do often have no more than one (with a few notable exceptions). Second, although some commonalities can be observed between the applicative constructions across the area, they involve common features of applicative constructions anywhere, like suffixed applicative markers, and a preponderance of benefactive or sometimes malefactive semantics. To a lesser extent, comitative-related semantics are found. There is some overlap in form, but these seem to be largely coincidental. A possible exception is a connection between Arabela (Zaparoan) and Yagua (Peba-Yaguan), which do show signs of non-accidental similarities. In addition, there are some intriguing but inconclusive functional similarities between Shiwilu (Kawapanan) and some of the Arawakan languages of central Peru, outside the northwest Amazon.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Purpose and Aim of the Series V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Part I: General chapters
  5. 1 Applicative constructions: An introductory overview 1
  6. 2 Questionnaire on applicative constructions 57
  7. 3 Languages examined or referred to in the present book 61
  8. Part II: Case studies
  9. Individual languages
  10. 4 Hul’q’umi’num’ Salish applicative constructions 79
  11. 5 Applicatives in Upper Necaxa Totonac 115
  12. 6 Applicatives in Toba/Qom (Guaykuruan) 143
  13. 7 The applicative constructions of Mapudungun 179
  14. 8 Applicative constructions and non-applicative uses of applicative morphology in Tswana (Bantu) 211
  15. 9 Applicativization in Amharic 243
  16. 10 Applicative constructions in Standard Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) 279
  17. Areal overviews
  18. 11 Contact-induced diffusion of applicatives in northwestern Amazonia? 307
  19. 12 Applicatives in Papuan languages 347
  20. 13 Applicative constructions in Australian Aboriginal languages 391
  21. 14 Applicativizing preverbs in selected European languages 419
  22. Genealogical overviews
  23. 15 Applicatives in Northern Uto-Aztecan languages 475
  24. 16 Applicative constructions in Uto-Aztecan languages from Northwestern Mexico 509
  25. 17 Applicative constructions in the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan (Eskimo-Aleut) languages 557
  26. 18 Applicatives across Algonquian 601
  27. 19 Applicative constructions in Mayan languages: An overview with special focus on Chontal 645
  28. 20 Applicative constructions in two Otomanguean families: Otomi and Zapotec 679
  29. 21 The polyfunctional applicative *-ɪd in Bantu languages 719
  30. 22 B-applicatives and I-applicatives in Atlantic languages (Niger-Congo) 749
  31. 23 Nilotic applicatives 783
  32. 24 Applicative constructions in Cushitic 835
  33. 25 Applicative constructions in the Northwest Caucasian languages 869
  34. 26 Applicative constructions in Kartvelian 913
  35. 27 Applicative derivations in Kiranti 943
  36. 28 Applicative constructions in languages of western Indonesia 971
  37. Part III: Theoretical/Comparative outlook
  38. 29 Understanding applicatives 1007
  39. 30 Applicatives cross-linguistically: Features and distribution 1033
  40. 31 Applicative and related constructions: Results and perspectives 1045
  41. Language index 1077
  42. Subject index 1083
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110730951-011

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Purpose and Aim of the Series V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Part I: General chapters
  5. 1 Applicative constructions: An introductory overview 1
  6. 2 Questionnaire on applicative constructions 57
  7. 3 Languages examined or referred to in the present book 61
  8. Part II: Case studies
  9. Individual languages
  10. 4 Hul’q’umi’num’ Salish applicative constructions 79
  11. 5 Applicatives in Upper Necaxa Totonac 115
  12. 6 Applicatives in Toba/Qom (Guaykuruan) 143
  13. 7 The applicative constructions of Mapudungun 179
  14. 8 Applicative constructions and non-applicative uses of applicative morphology in Tswana (Bantu) 211
  15. 9 Applicativization in Amharic 243
  16. 10 Applicative constructions in Standard Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) 279
  17. Areal overviews
  18. 11 Contact-induced diffusion of applicatives in northwestern Amazonia? 307
  19. 12 Applicatives in Papuan languages 347
  20. 13 Applicative constructions in Australian Aboriginal languages 391
  21. 14 Applicativizing preverbs in selected European languages 419
  22. Genealogical overviews
  23. 15 Applicatives in Northern Uto-Aztecan languages 475
  24. 16 Applicative constructions in Uto-Aztecan languages from Northwestern Mexico 509
  25. 17 Applicative constructions in the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan (Eskimo-Aleut) languages 557
  26. 18 Applicatives across Algonquian 601
  27. 19 Applicative constructions in Mayan languages: An overview with special focus on Chontal 645
  28. 20 Applicative constructions in two Otomanguean families: Otomi and Zapotec 679
  29. 21 The polyfunctional applicative *-ɪd in Bantu languages 719
  30. 22 B-applicatives and I-applicatives in Atlantic languages (Niger-Congo) 749
  31. 23 Nilotic applicatives 783
  32. 24 Applicative constructions in Cushitic 835
  33. 25 Applicative constructions in the Northwest Caucasian languages 869
  34. 26 Applicative constructions in Kartvelian 913
  35. 27 Applicative derivations in Kiranti 943
  36. 28 Applicative constructions in languages of western Indonesia 971
  37. Part III: Theoretical/Comparative outlook
  38. 29 Understanding applicatives 1007
  39. 30 Applicatives cross-linguistically: Features and distribution 1033
  40. 31 Applicative and related constructions: Results and perspectives 1045
  41. Language index 1077
  42. Subject index 1083
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