Comparative constructions in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki

Fuente: Redalyc
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: José Álvarez
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Universidad del Zulia 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1876433569357758464
author José Álvarez
author_facet José Álvarez
contents Comparative constructions in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki José Álvarez Sociología typology Comparison comparative superlative Arawak languages We describe comparative structures like Müliashi ma´i Luuka nuuliaKamiirü "Lucas is poorer than Camilo" in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki within a typologicalapproach. Dixon (2004) proposes a prototypical comparativescheme using the notions of (in the English translation): COMPAREE Lucas,STANDARD OF COMPARISON Camilo, PROPERTY or PARAMETER (is) handsome,INDEX -er and MARK than. In the basic comparative construction ofGuajiro, the PARAMETER is commonly a stative verb (and less frequently activeverbs and adverbs) with the COMPAREE as subject. Although the INDEXcan be zero, its presence frequently ensures a comparative reading with activeverbs, where it can even have two exponents (in the verbal morphologyand as an adverb). The INDEX is thus a discontinuous property with severalexponents, one of which may even be suffixed to the MARK. The direct objectcan be the COMPAREE, while another object is the STANDARD. The subjectiveconjugation seems to be employed more often than the objectiveconjugation in comparative structures. The comparison of equality requiresa biclausal construction where the PARAMETER is expressed as the verb of aclause with the COMPAREE as subject, and the verb maa heading a secondclause with the STANDARD as subject. The comparison of inequality isformed by simple negation of the predicate. The expression of superlativityuses three strategies: a comparative construction with the STANDARD specifiedas a large/total set, a cleft construction, or the mere absence of the STANDARD but presence of INDEX (for absolute superlatives). When comparingtwo PARAMETERS in one PARTICIPANT, the INDEX is suffixed to the MARK.Finally, we examine correlative comparisons. 2005 artículo científico 1012-1587 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=31004702 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=310 Opción application/pdf Universidad del Zulia Opción (República Bolivariana de Venezuela) Num.47 Vol.21
format Artículo científico
id redalyc_31004702
institution Redalyc
language en
publishDate 2005
publisher Universidad del Zulia
spellingShingle Comparative constructions in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki
José Álvarez
Sociología
typology
Comparison
comparative
superlative
Arawak languages
Comparative constructions in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki José Álvarez Sociología typology Comparison comparative superlative Arawak languages We describe comparative structures like Müliashi ma´i Luuka nuuliaKamiirü "Lucas is poorer than Camilo" in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki within a typologicalapproach. Dixon (2004) proposes a prototypical comparativescheme using the notions of (in the English translation): COMPAREE Lucas,STANDARD OF COMPARISON Camilo, PROPERTY or PARAMETER (is) handsome,INDEX -er and MARK than. In the basic comparative construction ofGuajiro, the PARAMETER is commonly a stative verb (and less frequently activeverbs and adverbs) with the COMPAREE as subject. Although the INDEXcan be zero, its presence frequently ensures a comparative reading with activeverbs, where it can even have two exponents (in the verbal morphologyand as an adverb). The INDEX is thus a discontinuous property with severalexponents, one of which may even be suffixed to the MARK. The direct objectcan be the COMPAREE, while another object is the STANDARD. The subjectiveconjugation seems to be employed more often than the objectiveconjugation in comparative structures. The comparison of equality requiresa biclausal construction where the PARAMETER is expressed as the verb of aclause with the COMPAREE as subject, and the verb maa heading a secondclause with the STANDARD as subject. The comparison of inequality isformed by simple negation of the predicate. The expression of superlativityuses three strategies: a comparative construction with the STANDARD specifiedas a large/total set, a cleft construction, or the mere absence of the STANDARD but presence of INDEX (for absolute superlatives). When comparingtwo PARAMETERS in one PARTICIPANT, the INDEX is suffixed to the MARK.Finally, we examine correlative comparisons. 2005 artículo científico 1012-1587 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=31004702 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=310 Opción application/pdf Universidad del Zulia Opción (República Bolivariana de Venezuela) Num.47 Vol.21
title Comparative constructions in Guajiro/Wayuunaiki
topic Sociología
typology
Comparison
comparative
superlative
Arawak languages
url https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=31004702