The role of nominalization in identifying linguistic areas in South America

GOLLUSCIO, LUCIA; HASLER, FELIPE; DE REUSE, WILLEM

Lima

Workshop; Workshop on Nominalization; 2014

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú

This paper is part of an ongoing research aiming to define an areal typology of the Chaco languages. Following Comrie et al. (2010), we assume that linguistic areas are the result of dynamic processes with shifting boundaries. We examine features linked to complementation as a semantic domain in languages of two South American linguistic areas: the Chaco and the Andes. The Chaco languages included are: Pilagá (Guaykuruan), Wichí (Matacoan), Ayoreo (Zamucoan), Vilela (Lule-Vilela; genetic affiliation under discussion), and Tapiete (Tupí-Guaraní). The Andean languages considered are: Quechua (Quechua), Aymara (Aymara), Uchumataqu (Uru-Chipaya), Mapudungun (isolate), and Lule (Lule-Vilela; genetic affiliation under discussion).Our hypothesis is that the use of nominalized constructions in complementation is a relevant parameter to differentiate Andean languages from Chaco languages. In addition, the presence of an invariable desiderative marker in four languages which appear to be peripheral with respect to their own areas -Vilela, Uchumataqu, Mapudungun, and Lule- supports the hypothesis of a transitional area between Chaco and the Andes, already postulated for the domain of adverbial clauses in Golluscio, Hasler, and de Reuse (2014).