Yuman 'And'

Although Yuman languages lack formally identifiable conjunctions, there are words that can be translated as 'and, and then, so'. The origins & behavior of some of these words are examined. Data show that these words can be divided into two structural types: the verbal structure (when)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of American linguistics 1985-10, Vol.51 (4), p.491-494
Main Author: Langdon, Margaret
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alaska Natives
Comparative linguistics
Historical linguistics
Language
Loan words
Semantics
Syntax
Verbs
Words
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Although Yuman languages lack formally identifiable conjunctions, there are words that can be translated as 'and, and then, so'. The origins & behavior of some of these words are examined. Data show that these words can be divided into two structural types: the verbal structure (when) + (auxiliary) V + switch reference suffix & the nominal structure demonstrative + demonstrative + case. Parallels with 'and' structures in IE languages are noted, & A. Meillet's theory of conjunction renewal ("Le Renouvellement des conjonctions" [The Renewal of Conjunctions] in Linguistique Historique et Linguistique Generale [Historical Linguistics and General Linguistics], Paris: Librairie Honore Champion, 1965) is presented as a possible explanation for the apparent "conjunction creation" process evidenced in Yuman. 4 References. L. Hunter
ISSN:0020-7071
1545-7001
DOI:10.1086/465945