Abstract

MAGALHAES, Marina; PRACA, Walkíria  and  DA CRUZ, Aline. DEGREES OF OMNIPREDICATIVITY IN THE TUPI-GUARANI LANGUAGE FAMILY. Forma funcion, Santaf, de Bogot, D.C. [online]. 2019, vol.32, n.2, pp.151-189. ISSN 0120-338X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/fyf.v32n2.80818.

An omnipredicative language is characterized by the fact that most lexical entries can function on their own as predicates. The article examines the characteristics of four languages belonging to the Tupi-Guarani family (Tupinambá, Guajá, Apyãwa and Nheengatú) which, besides the lack of distinction between nouns and verbs that function as predicates, also feature other omnipredicative traits. The differentiated manifestation of these features in the four languages makes it possible to conclude that there is a tendency toward the gradual loss of omnipredicativity, when comparing more conservative and less conservative languages. It also proves that, synchronically speaking, the languages are situated in different phases of change, from more prototypically omnipredicative patterns to less prototypically omnipredicative patterns.

Keywords : omnipredicativity; Tupi-Guarani family; typological phenomena; conservative features; gradation.

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