The Languages of the AmazonOxford University Press, 18.05.2012 This is the first guide and introduction to the extraordinary range of languages in Amazonia, which include some of the most the most fascinating in the world and many of which are now teetering on the edge of extinction. Alexandra Aikhenvald, one of the world's leading experts on the region, provides an account of the more than 300 languages. She sets out their main characteristics, compares their common and unique features, and describes the histories and cultures of the people who speak them. The languages abound in rare features. Most have been in contact with each other for many generations, giving rise to complex patterns of linguistic influence. The author draws on her own extensive field research to tease out and analyse the patterns of their genetic and structural diversity. She shows how these patterns reveal the interrelatedness of language and culture; different kinship systems, for example, have different linguistic correlates. Professor Aikhenvald explains the many unusual features of Amazonian languages, which include evidentials, tones, classifiers, and elaborate positional verbs. She ends the book with a glossary of terms, and a full guide for those readers interested in following up a particular language or linguistic phenomenon. The book is free of esoteric terminology, written in its author's characteristically clear style, and brought vividly to life with numerous accounts of her experience in the region. It may be used as a resource in courses in Latin American studies, Amazonian studies, linguistic typology, and general linguistics, and as reference for linguistic and anthropological research. |
Inhalt
a birdseye view | 1 |
2 Language contact in Amazonia | 68 |
3 The sounds of Amazonia | 99 |
4 Building words | 128 |
5 The multifaceted noun | 156 |
6 The versatile verb | 179 |
grammatical relations | 200 |
8 Changing valency | 226 |
12 Putting a sentence together | 326 |
13 The art of speech | 350 |
the treasures of Amazonian languages | 382 |
Glossary of terms | 392 |
Notes | 408 |
443 | |
491 | |
497 | |
evidentials in Amazonia | 248 |
genders noun classes and classifiers | 279 |
multiverb constructions | 304 |
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Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
action Aikhenvald Amazon Amazonian languages animals appears applicative Arawak languages argument aspect Baniwa Basin becomes Brazil called Carib Carib languages causative Chapter classifiers clause complex constructions covers cultural dependent derivation described developed direct distinct distinguish Dixon East Tucanoan ergative evidential example expressed four function further gender grammatical groups highly incorporated indicates intransitive involves isolate known linguistic major Maku marked marker meaning morphemes nasal nominal North noun object occur origin Panoan past patterns person Peru plural Portuguese possessed possessed nouns possessor prefixes pronouns refer region reported result Rio Negro River root serial verb construction shared similar someone South Spanish speaker speaking speech spoken stops stress structure suffix syllable Table Tariana tense tones transitive Tucanoan languages Tupı Tupı-Guaranı turn typically varieties Vaupe´s verbal vowel Xingu