Paunaka strategies of loan verb integration

Lena Terhart (1)

1 Leipzig University / Universität Leipzig

This paper explores the integration of Spanish verbs into Paunaka, a highly endangered Southern Arawakan language of Bolivia. As input forms, Paunaka predominantly uses Spanish past participles, but a difference in borrowability dependent on verb class can be observed. The borrowed participles are either verbalized or, more frequently, used as non-verbal predicates, which has extended the semantic scope of non-verbal predication. Borrowing of participles is not found with Paunaka's closest relatives, but possibly with a non-related neighbouring language. Integrating Spanish verbs as non-verbal predicates is also encountered in Bésɨro, which has been the dominant indigenous language in the region for the last 300 years.

Mots clés: Paunaka; Arawakan; verbal borrowing; non-verbal predicate; participle

Domaines: Education

Lena Terhart. Paunaka strategies of loan verb integration. 18e Rencontres Jeunes Chercheurs en Sciences du Langage, ED 268 Paris 3, Jun 2015, Paris, France. ⟨hal-01495083⟩