Aikhenvald, Alexandra (2016) Language contact and word structure: a case study from north-west Amazonia. In: Berez-Kroeker, Andrea L., Hintz, Diane M., and Jany, Carmen, (eds.) Language Contact and Change in the Americas: Studies in honor of Marianne Mithun. Studies in Language Companion Series, 173 . John Bejamins, Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. 297-314.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Intensive language contact between genetically unrelated languages may result in their structural adjustment to each other. The languages will then converge and become similar in their grammar. The effects of language contact are expected to be particularly strong if a dominant language is in the process of ousting the endangered one spoken by a minority group. Tariana, a highly endangered Arawak language, is under pressure from Tucano, an East Tucanoan language. Tucano is the majority indigenous language within the context of the Brazilian part of the Vaupes River Basin Linguistic area. The recent Tucanoan impact on Tariana, a highly synthetic language, involves typologically unusual changes in the order of morphemes within the verbal word, and are indicative of extreme convergence between the two languages.

Item ID:	42864
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-90-272-5938-7
ISSN:	0165-7763
Keywords:	Amazonian language; Arawak languages; multilingualism; language; obsolescence/order of morphemes
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2017 00:23
FoR Codes:	47 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 4704 Linguistics > 470409 Linguistic structures (incl. phonology, morphology and syntax) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture @ 100%
Downloads:	Total: 8
	More Statistics