Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199593569
- eISBN:
- 9780191739385
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593569.003.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Language Families
We define the limits of Amazonia, and focus on a potted history of peopling of Amazonia and the issue of how many original inhabitants there were before the disastrous effects of the European ...
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We define the limits of Amazonia, and focus on a potted history of peopling of Amazonia and the issue of how many original inhabitants there were before the disastrous effects of the European Invasion. Environment and subsistence and social structures are briefly discussed. We then turn to the classification of Amazonian languages, names of languages and names of families and the issue of new lingue franche which have emerged since the Invasion. We then turn to profiles and brief histories of major language families—Arawak, Tupí, Carib, Panoan, Tucanoan and Macro‐Jê, smaller families and isolates. We include information on peoples' migrations. Many of Amazonian languages are endangered. The chapter concludes with a brief appreciation of the future of Amazonian languages and Amazonian studies. Appendix to this chapter (Amazonian words) contains a list of most commonly used borrowings from Amazonian languages (from the Arawak, Tupí‐Guaraní and Carib languages) in English (such as canoe, tobacco, hurricane and tapioca). A separate box insert lists the most important events in the history of Amazonian languages. There is a list of further sources on Amazonian languages.Less
We define the limits of Amazonia, and focus on a potted history of peopling of Amazonia and the issue of how many original inhabitants there were before the disastrous effects of the European Invasion. Environment and subsistence and social structures are briefly discussed. We then turn to the classification of Amazonian languages, names of languages and names of families and the issue of new lingue franche which have emerged since the Invasion. We then turn to profiles and brief histories of major language families—Arawak, Tupí, Carib, Panoan, Tucanoan and Macro‐Jê, smaller families and isolates. We include information on peoples' migrations. Many of Amazonian languages are endangered. The chapter concludes with a brief appreciation of the future of Amazonian languages and Amazonian studies. Appendix to this chapter (Amazonian words) contains a list of most commonly used borrowings from Amazonian languages (from the Arawak, Tupí‐Guaraní and Carib languages) in English (such as canoe, tobacco, hurricane and tapioca). A separate box insert lists the most important events in the history of Amazonian languages. There is a list of further sources on Amazonian languages.
Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199593569
- eISBN:
- 9780191739385
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199593569.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Language Families
Languages of the Amazon basin are among the most fascinating in the world. This is where one finds unusual sounds, unexpected ways of classifying nouns, elaborate positional verbs, to name just a few ...
More
Languages of the Amazon basin are among the most fascinating in the world. This is where one finds unusual sounds, unexpected ways of classifying nouns, elaborate positional verbs, to name just a few features. Most Amazonian languages have been in contact with each other for many generations. Many people are multilingual, and the unusual patterns of multilingualism have given rise to intriguing patterns of language contact, extensive linguistic areas, and numerous features shared due to contact between people There are over 300 languages grouped into over fifteen language families, plus a fair number of isolates. The six major linguistic families of the Amazon basin are Arawak, Tupí, Carib, Panoan, Tucanoan and Macro‐Jê; smaller families include Makú, Guahibo, Yanomami, Witotoan, Zaparoan, Tacana, Harakmbet, Arawá and Chapacuran. Discussion in the book also includes, albeit in more cursory fashion, language families spoken in the areas adjacent to Lowland Amazonia: Chibchan, Barbacoan, Choco, and Guaicuruan. The book starts with a potted history of Amazonian peoples and their languages, and the disastrous effects of the European invasion. After a brief discussion of cultural aspects and people's lifestyle, the profile of each major and minor family are outlined. There is then discussion of the unusual patterns of language contact and multilingual interaction. Further chapters discuss the sounds of Amazonian languages; the ways in which they express possession, gender, and time and tense. In many Amazonian languages one needs to always state how one knows things, known as the category of ‘evidentiality’. Amazonian languages are relatively poor in number words, but rich in elaborate speech styles and means of expression. The book offers extensive examples, many from author's own fieldwork in Amazonia.Less
Languages of the Amazon basin are among the most fascinating in the world. This is where one finds unusual sounds, unexpected ways of classifying nouns, elaborate positional verbs, to name just a few features. Most Amazonian languages have been in contact with each other for many generations. Many people are multilingual, and the unusual patterns of multilingualism have given rise to intriguing patterns of language contact, extensive linguistic areas, and numerous features shared due to contact between people There are over 300 languages grouped into over fifteen language families, plus a fair number of isolates. The six major linguistic families of the Amazon basin are Arawak, Tupí, Carib, Panoan, Tucanoan and Macro‐Jê; smaller families include Makú, Guahibo, Yanomami, Witotoan, Zaparoan, Tacana, Harakmbet, Arawá and Chapacuran. Discussion in the book also includes, albeit in more cursory fashion, language families spoken in the areas adjacent to Lowland Amazonia: Chibchan, Barbacoan, Choco, and Guaicuruan. The book starts with a potted history of Amazonian peoples and their languages, and the disastrous effects of the European invasion. After a brief discussion of cultural aspects and people's lifestyle, the profile of each major and minor family are outlined. There is then discussion of the unusual patterns of language contact and multilingual interaction. Further chapters discuss the sounds of Amazonian languages; the ways in which they express possession, gender, and time and tense. In many Amazonian languages one needs to always state how one knows things, known as the category of ‘evidentiality’. Amazonian languages are relatively poor in number words, but rich in elaborate speech styles and means of expression. The book offers extensive examples, many from author's own fieldwork in Amazonia.
