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Article published In:
Diachronica
Vol. 36:4 (2019) ► pp.546–583

The role of negation in the grammaticalization of ability verbs

The case of Iquito

| University of Chicago
| Grinnell College
This paper investigates the role of negation in grammaticalization in Iquito, an endangered Zaparoan language of the Peruvian Amazon. Iquito has a verb, pajɨɨni, which has undergone two paths of grammaticalization only in negated clauses. First, pajɨɨni has grammaticalized from “learn” to “be able to.” Subsequently, it is undergoing grammaticalization from an ability verb to a future auxiliary. Given that ability verbs are an uncommon source for future auxiliaries (Bybee et al. 1994), this study provides a detailed case study of this rare path. Our analysis of Iquito demonstrates that grammaticalization paths are not limited to affirmative contexts and may behave differently depending on the polarity of the utterance.
Keywords: grammaticalization, negation, future auxiliary, ability verbs, Iquito, Zaparoan, Amazonia
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background on Iquito
    • 2.1Data and methodology
    • 2.2Typological profile
  • 3.Description of ability verbs pariini and pajɨɨni
    • 3.1Semantics
    • 3.2Frequency
    • 3.3Distribution with respect to tense and aspect marking
    • 3.4Comparative data
  • 4.Grammaticalization from learn to ability
  • 5.Grammaticalization from ability to future auxiliary
    • 5.1Ability to root possibility
    • 5.2Root possibility to future auxiliary
    • 5.3Future auxiliary pajɨɨni as a compensatory strategy
  • 6.Weak obligation
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations in glosses
  • References
Published online: 18 December 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.00016.wil
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