Reference tracking in the Sakurabiat and Wayoro languages: an analysis of matrix and subordinate clauses

A interrelação entre identificação de relações gramaticais, alinhamento morfossintático e rastreamento de referências é um campo de estudo ainda pouco investigado para línguas amazônicas. Os principais sistemas de identificação da relação entre sintagmas nominais argumentos e predicados são a ordem de constituintes, o caso nominal e a concordância verbal. Dentre esses sistemas, as línguas Tupi utilizam, em geral, uma combinação de ordem de constituintes e concordância/indexação verbal. Este estudo envolve línguas do ramo Tupari (Tupi), caracterizado por um sistema de alinhamento híbrido nominativo-absolutivo. Analisaremos dados das línguas Sakurabiat e Wayoro, aplicando a perspectiva tipológico-funcional (HASPELMATH, 2011; SHOPEN, 2007) para avançar na descrição do(s) sistema(s) de alinhamento, com foco especial na análise do rastreamento de referência na estrutura informacional. A análise de relações anafóricas e de controle entre cláusulas principais e subordinadas indica que os argumentos S/A funcionam como pivôs para o controle e identificação de referência.The relationship between the identification of grammatical relations, morphosyntactic alignment and reference tracking is a field of study that is still underinvestigated for Amazonian languages. The main systems for identifying the relationship between noun phrase arguments and predicates are constituent order, nominal case and verbal agreement. Among these systems, Tupian languages generally use a combination of constituent order and verbal agreement/indexation. This study involves languages of the Tupari branch (Tupian family), characterized by a nominative-absolutive alignment system. We will analyze data from the Sakurabiat and Wayoro languages, applying the typological-functional perspective (HASPELMATH, 2011; SHOPEN, 2007) to advance the description of the alignment system, with a special focus on the analysis of reference tracking in the information structure. The analysis of anaphoric and control relations between main and subordinate clauses indicates that the S/A arguments function as pivots for control and reference identification

Predicados Nominais e Adjetivais em Línguas do Ramo Tupari da Família Tupí

O ramo Tupari da família linguística Tupí é constituído pelas línguas: Akuntsú, Makurap, Sakurabiat, Tupari e Wayoro, faladas no estado de Rondônia, por grupos relativamente pequenos. Por esse motivo, são consideradas línguas fortemente ameaçadas de extinção. Os predicados não verbais são formados por construções em que as estruturas formais não possuem elemento verbal ou contêm um elemento verbal que apresenta marcas de propriedades estruturais copulares. Partindo dessa perspectiva, este artigo objetiva comparar os predicados não verbais nas cinco línguas Tupari, mais especificamente os predicados nominais e adjetivais, com base nos pressupostos teóricos apresentados por Stassen (1997), Payne (1997), Dryer (2007) e Overall, Vallejos e Gildea (2018). Empregamos a metodologia descritiva e comparativa, na abordagem da tipologia linguística (CROFT, 2003), para analisar um corpus comparativo retirado de trabalhos de Alves (2004), Aragon (2008, 2014), Braga (2005, 2009), Galucio (2001), Isidoro, R. Tuparí e I. Tuparí (2018), Nogueira (2014, 2019a, 2019b) e Singerman (2018a; 2018b; 2019), além de dados inéditos coletados especialmente para este trabalho, para a língua Sakurabiat, pelas autoras. Nossa análise revelou que, em todas as línguas Tupari, a predicação não verbal é realizada pela simples justaposição dos sintagmas nominais (SN) em predicados nominais e a justaposição de dois sintagmas nominais (SN SN) ou um sintagma nominal e um sintagma adjetival (SN SAdj), em predicados adjetivais. Por outro lado, nas línguas Sakurabiat, Tupari e Wayoro, identificamos uma tendência ao uso de cópulas não verbais e/ou morfemas identificados como verbalizadores, em determinadas construções. A presença ou ausência desses morfemas copulares nessas línguas está relacionada à polaridade e ao tempo verbal da sentença. Este recorte comparativo dos predicados não verbais (nominais e adjetivais), nas línguas do ramo Tupari, contribui para um entendimento mais amplo da tipologia da predicação não verbal nas línguas Tupí e poderá, futuramente, ser estendido para outras línguas amazônicas ou não

A dicionarização como ferramenta de revitalização de línguas ameaçadas: dois relatos de experiência

Many Brazilian indigenous languages ​​have been forced into a path that causes the loss of spaces of use and, ultimately, lead to their disappearance, mainly due to lack of intergenerational transmission and the consequent reduction in the number of speakers. In this context, initiatives aimed at documenting and revitalizing these languages ​​have increased in the country. Multimedia dictionaries that present images and audio and/or videos with the pronunciation of words and examples of use, are among the different strategies, products and activities that can be used to help processes of linguistic strengthening and revitalization. Dictionizing a language is a complex task, but one that can be an ally in documentation and revitalization processes. Dictionaries are a means of easy access to language information and data. This work aims to present the report of a research developed within the scope of two undergraduate projects which had as their goals to organize bilingual multimedia dictionaries for two extremely endangered languages. Based on this experience, we reflect on how description and documentation methodologies can be associated with the dictionary making methodology to help in the process of revitalizing endangered languages. The results indicate that dictionaries of endangered languages are important tools in the process of revitalizing and documenting a language. The dictionary is useful and important from a scientific point of view and also from the point of view of practical application. If incorporated for use by the speech community it can serve as a tool for the language revitalization process. Dictionaries are also relevant as a source of linguistic data for historical-comparative and typological studies. Participating in research projects as students has positive impacts for new researchers.Muitas línguas indígenas brasileiras têm sido forçadas em um caminho que leva à perda de espaços de uso e, em última instância, ao seu desaparecimento devido, principalmente, à quebra de transmissão da língua entre as gerações do povo e consequente redução do número de falantes. Nesse contexto, iniciativas voltadas à documentação e revitalização dessas línguas têm aumentado no país. Dicionários multimídia que apresentam imagens e áudio e/ou vídeos com a pronúncia das palavras e de exemplos de uso, estão entre as diversas estratégias, produtos e atividades que podem ser utilizadas para auxiliar processos de fortalecimento e revitalização linguística. A dicionarização de uma língua é uma tarefa complexa, mas que pode ser aliada nos processos de documentação e revitalização. Os dicionários constituem um meio de fácil acesso a informações e dados da língua. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o relato de pesquisa desenvolvida no âmbito de dois projetos de Iniciação Científica voltados à organização de dicionários multimídia bilíngues para duas línguas extremamente ameaçadas. A partir dessa experiência, no âmbito da formação de jovens pesquisadores, refletimos sobre como as metodologias de descrição e documentação podem ser associadas à metodologia de dicionarização para auxiliar no processo de revitalização de línguas ameaçadas. Os resultados indicam que a dicionarização de línguas ameaçadas constitui uma ferramenta importante nos processos de revitalização e documentação de uma língua. O dicionário é útil e importante do ponto de vista científico e também do ponto de vista da aplicação prática, se incorporado pela comunidade de fala, para uso, podendo servir de ferramenta para o processo de revitalização da língua. Os dicionários também possuem relevância como fonte de dados linguísticos para estudos histórico-comparativos e tipológicos. A participação em projetos de pesquisa em programas de da Iniciação Científica contribui positivamente para a formação de jovens pesquisadores

On this and other worlds: Voices from Amazonia

This edited volume offers a collection of twelve interlinear texts reflecting the vast linguistic diversity of Amazonia as well as the rich verbal arts and oral literature traditions of Amazonian peoples. Contributions to the volume come from a variety of geographic regions and represent the Carib, Jê, Tupi, East Tukano, Nadahup, and Pano language families, as well as three linguistic isolates. The selected texts exemplify a variety of narrative styles recounting the origins of constellations, crops, and sacred cemeteries, and of travel to worlds beyond death. We hear tales of tricksters and of encounters between humans and other beings, learn of battles between enemies, and gain insight into history and the indigenous perspective of creation, cordiality and confrontation. The contributions to this volume are the result of research efforts conducted since 2000, and as such, exemplify rapidly expanding investment and interest in documenting native Amazonian voices. They moreover demonstrate the collaborative efforts of linguists, anthropologists, and indigenous leaders, storytellers, and researchers to study and preserve Amazonian languages and cultures. Each chapter offers complete interlinear analysis as well as ample commentary on both linguistic and cultural aspects, appealing to a wide audience, including linguists, historians, anthropologists, and other social scientists. This collection is the first of its type, constituting a significant contribution to focused study of Amazonian linguistic diversity and a relevant addition to our broader knowledge of Amerindian languages and cosmologies

On this and other worlds: Voices from Amazonia

This edited volume offers a collection of twelve interlinear texts reflecting the vast linguistic diversity of Amazonia as well as the rich verbal arts and oral literature traditions of Amazonian peoples. Contributions to the volume come from a variety of geographic regions and represent the Carib, Jê, Tupi, East Tukano, Nadahup, and Pano language families, as well as three linguistic isolates. The selected texts exemplify a variety of narrative styles recounting the origins of constellations, crops, and sacred cemeteries, and of travel to worlds beyond death. We hear tales of tricksters and of encounters between humans and other beings, learn of battles between enemies, and gain insight into history and the indigenous perspective of creation, cordiality and confrontation. The contributions to this volume are the result of research efforts conducted since 2000, and as such, exemplify rapidly expanding investment and interest in documenting native Amazonian voices. They moreover demonstrate the collaborative efforts of linguists, anthropologists, and indigenous leaders, storytellers, and researchers to study and preserve Amazonian languages and cultures. Each chapter offers complete interlinear analysis as well as ample commentary on both linguistic and cultural aspects, appealing to a wide audience, including linguists, historians, anthropologists, and other social scientists. This collection is the first of its type, constituting a significant contribution to focused study of Amazonian linguistic diversity and a relevant addition to our broader knowledge of Amerindian languages and cosmologies

On this and other worlds: Voices from Amazonia

This edited volume offers a collection of twelve interlinear texts reflecting the vast linguistic diversity of Amazonia as well as the rich verbal arts and oral literature traditions of Amazonian peoples. Contributions to the volume come from a variety of geographic regions and represent the Carib, Jê, Tupi, East Tukano, Nadahup, and Pano language families, as well as three linguistic isolates. The selected texts exemplify a variety of narrative styles recounting the origins of constellations, crops, and sacred cemeteries, and of travel to worlds beyond death. We hear tales of tricksters and of encounters between humans and other beings, learn of battles between enemies, and gain insight into history and the indigenous perspective of creation, cordiality and confrontation. The contributions to this volume are the result of research efforts conducted since 2000, and as such, exemplify rapidly expanding investment and interest in documenting native Amazonian voices. They moreover demonstrate the collaborative efforts of linguists, anthropologists, and indigenous leaders, storytellers, and researchers to study and preserve Amazonian languages and cultures. Each chapter offers complete interlinear analysis as well as ample commentary on both linguistic and cultural aspects, appealing to a wide audience, including linguists, historians, anthropologists, and other social scientists. This collection is the first of its type, constituting a significant contribution to focused study of Amazonian linguistic diversity and a relevant addition to our broader knowledge of Amerindian languages and cosmologies

On this and other worlds: Voices from Amazonia

This edited volume offers a collection of twelve interlinear texts reflecting the vast linguistic diversity of Amazonia as well as the rich verbal arts and oral literature traditions of Amazonian peoples. Contributions to the volume come from a variety of geographic regions and represent the Carib, Jê, Tupi, East Tukano, Nadahup, and Pano language families, as well as three linguistic isolates. The selected texts exemplify a variety of narrative styles recounting the origins of constellations, crops, and sacred cemeteries, and of travel to worlds beyond death. We hear tales of tricksters and of encounters between humans and other beings, learn of battles between enemies, and gain insight into history and the indigenous perspective of creation, cordiality and confrontation. The contributions to this volume are the result of research efforts conducted since 2000, and as such, exemplify rapidly expanding investment and interest in documenting native Amazonian voices. They moreover demonstrate the collaborative efforts of linguists, anthropologists, and indigenous leaders, storytellers, and researchers to study and preserve Amazonian languages and cultures. Each chapter offers complete interlinear analysis as well as ample commentary on both linguistic and cultural aspects, appealing to a wide audience, including linguists, historians, anthropologists, and other social scientists. This collection is the first of its type, constituting a significant contribution to focused study of Amazonian linguistic diversity and a relevant addition to our broader knowledge of Amerindian languages and cosmologies