Vilela (Chaco, South America). A typological overview with special emphasis on deictics

GOLLUSCIO, LUCÍA

Leipzig

Conferencia; Seminario Regular del Department of Linguistics, MPI-EVA; 2007

Department of Linguistics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology(MPI-EVA)

Vilela, the last member of the Lule-Vilela family (see Section 4.1.), is a severely endangered language in the Argentine Chaco. This fact has compelled us to focus our research on the documentation of this language in its ethnographic context since 2002, within the framework of the Dobes Chaco Languages Project (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Department of Linguistics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology). 2. Aims of the talk  To provide a typological overview of the Vilela language.To provide a typological overview of the Vilela language.  To examine some language maintenance and change processes in a set of Vilela deictic markers.To examine some language maintenance and change processes in a set of Vilela deictic markers.  To value the heritage language knowledge of our contemporary consultants, andTo value the heritage language knowledge of our contemporary consultants, and  To contribute to enlightening the scarcely known history of this language and their speakers.To contribute to enlightening the scarcely known history of this language and their speakers. 3. Typological profile (a) The Vilela phonological system comprises 29 phonemes (24 consonants and 5 vowels). The phonemic status of the aspirated stops is under study. Some general characteristics are the following: Some general characteristics are the following: The Vilela phonological system comprises 29 phonemes (24 consonants and 5 vowels). The phonemic status of the aspirated stops is under study. Some general characteristics are the following:  Stops produced at five points of articulation (six including the palatal affricate)Stops produced at five points of articulation (six including the palatal affricate)  Velar-uvular-glottal distinction (also present in the Guaycuruan phonology)Velar-uvular-glottal distinction (also present in the Guaycuruan phonology)  Contrast between plain, aspirated, and glottalized stops (present in Quechua and in Wichi)Contrast between plain, aspirated, and glottalized stops (present in Quechua and in Wichi)  Contrast between the voiced and voiceless laterals (also present in the Mataco-Mataguayan languages)Contrast between the voiced and voiceless laterals (also present in the Mataco-Mataguayan languages)  Vowel duration and nasality are not relevant in VilelaVowel duration and nasality are not relevant in Vilela  Word stress generally falls on the last syllableWord stress generally falls on the last syllable  Some attrition phonological processes have been recorded: (a) Reduction of the voiceless velar-uvular contrast, (b) fluctuation of voiceless lateral, (c) (apparent)hyper-performance of marked Vilela sounds, and (d) restricted maintenance of the glottal stop (Golluscio & González in press). (b) Head-marking language (b) Head-marking language Some attrition phonological processes have been recorded: (a) Reduction of the voiceless velar-uvular contrast, (b) fluctuation of voiceless lateral, (c) (apparent)hyper-performance of marked Vilela sounds, and (d) restricted maintenance of the glottal stop (Golluscio & González in press). (b) Head-marking languageHead-marking language (c) Low degree of agglutination (stem + 2 or 3 suffixes)Low degree of agglutination (stem + 2 or 3 suffixes) (d ) Suffixing . (e) Basic (S) OV language in declarative sentences (e) Basic (S) OV language in declarative sentences Suffixing . (e) Basic (S) OV language in declarative sentencesBasic (S) OV language in declarative sentences (f) Word order in the noun phrase: noun-modifierWord order in the noun phrase: noun-modifier (g) Pronominal argument languagePronominal argument language - Core arguments are indexed on the verb. - The marker for the O argument precedes the verb and it is the cliticized/affixed form of the independent personal pronouns - S is marked with a suffix. (h) Parts of speech. Major categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectivesParts of speech. Major categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectives Nouns and verbs share some morphological marking: - Person markers coincide with possessive markers - Nouns and verbs share plurality marking (-l(em)l(em) (i) The Vilela verb has six inflectional categories: - person (inclusive vs. exclusive first person plural distinction is lost in ML); - number (singular vs. plural); - tense (future vs. non-future; immediate future vs. remote future); - aspect (completive, habitual, durative in the past and in the present, and incompletive (“almost”) action); - mood (indicative, imperative, prohibitive, and interrogative), and - negation. (j) Noun inflection includes number and possession, but not gender - person (inclusive vs. exclusive first person plural distinction is lost in ML); - number (singular vs. plural); - tense (future vs. non-future; immediate future vs. remote future); - aspect (completive, habitual, durative in the past and in the present, and incompletive (“almost”) action); - mood (indicative, imperative, prohibitive, and interrogative), and - negation. (j) Noun inflection includes number and possession, but not gender The Vilela verb has six inflectional categories: - person (inclusive vs. exclusive first person plural distinction is lost in ML); - number (singular vs. plural); - tense (future vs. non-future; immediate future vs. remote future); - aspect (completive, habitual, durative in the past and in the present, and incompletive (“almost”) action); - mood (indicative, imperative, prohibitive, and interrogative), and - negation. (j) Noun inflection includes number and possession, but not genderNoun inflection includes number and possession, but not gender - Possessive suffixes are identical to those that occur for person-marking on the verb - Plurality is indicated by means of the suffix – l(em)l(em) (k) Frequent word formation strategies: compounding and reduplication; also (probable) incorporationFrequent word formation strategies: compounding and reduplication; also (probable) incorporation