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Naduhup Languages and the Typology of Nominal Classification

Epps, Patience and Obert, Karolin LU (2022) In Cadernos de Etnolingüística 10(1). p.1-25
Abstract
Nominal classification is a robust feature in many Amazonian languages, and aspects of these systems offer significant challenges to our broader conception of the phenomenon. Yet a clear characterization of Amazonian classification systems must be firmly grounded in detailed descriptive analysis on one hand, and in a principled definition of classification as a typological category on the other – and a failure to do so may lead to spurious claims of typological rara. This paper offers a case in point through an exploration of nominal classification phenomena in the small Naduhup family (aka Makú; Brazil/Colombia): while several aspects of these systems have been highlighted in the typological literature as rare or otherwise remarkable, a... (More)
Nominal classification is a robust feature in many Amazonian languages, and aspects of these systems offer significant challenges to our broader conception of the phenomenon. Yet a clear characterization of Amazonian classification systems must be firmly grounded in detailed descriptive analysis on one hand, and in a principled definition of classification as a typological category on the other – and a failure to do so may lead to spurious claims of typological rara. This paper offers a case in point through an exploration of nominal classification phenomena in the small Naduhup family (aka Makú; Brazil/Colombia): while several aspects of these systems have been highlighted in the typological literature as rare or otherwise remarkable, a reconsideration of these phenomena in the light of more data and analysis suggests significant revisions. We consider nominal classification phenomena across the four languages (Hup, Yuhup, Dâw, Nadëb) from synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and reassess their relevance for a broader typology of classification. (Less)
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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Nominal classification, Naduhup, Typology (Linguistics)
in
Cadernos de Etnolingüística
volume
10
issue
1
article number
e100104
pages
25 pages
ISSN
1946-7095
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
b28b1a68-fd98-4e2f-8882-4bcef86faff0
alternative location
http://www.etnolinguistica.org/article:vol10n1-4
date added to LUP
2022-11-16 14:47:25
date last changed
2022-11-22 10:55:54
@article{b28b1a68-fd98-4e2f-8882-4bcef86faff0,
  abstract     = {{Nominal classification is a robust feature in many Amazonian languages, and aspects of these systems offer significant challenges to our broader conception of the phenomenon. Yet a clear characterization of Amazonian classification systems must be firmly grounded in detailed descriptive analysis on one hand, and in a principled definition of classification as a typological category on the other – and a failure to do so may lead to spurious claims of typological rara. This paper offers a case in point through an exploration of nominal classification phenomena in the small Naduhup family (aka Makú; Brazil/Colombia): while several aspects of these systems have been highlighted in the typological literature as rare or otherwise remarkable, a reconsideration of these phenomena in the light of more data and analysis suggests significant revisions. We consider nominal classification phenomena across the four languages (Hup, Yuhup, Dâw, Nadëb) from synchronic and diachronic perspectives, and reassess their relevance for a broader typology of classification.}},
  author       = {{Epps, Patience and Obert, Karolin}},
  issn         = {{1946-7095}},
  keywords     = {{Nominal classification; Naduhup; Typology (Linguistics)}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--25}},
  series       = {{Cadernos de Etnolingüística}},
  title        = {{Naduhup Languages and the Typology of Nominal Classification}},
  url          = {{http://www.etnolinguistica.org/article:vol10n1-4}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}