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Article In:
Linguistics in the Netherlands 2024
Edited by Marco Bril and Kristel Doreleijers
[Nota Bene 1:2] 2024
► pp. 195–210

The discourse function of verbal aspect in Ecuadorian Siona

| Leiden University Centre for Linguistics
In addition to indicating whether or not events have come to an end at a reference time (temporal function), the opposition between imperfective aspect and perfective aspect in Ecuadorian Siona can also fulfil a discourse function. Imperfective forms of the verb caye ‘to say’ can signal that a speech act will be followed by a reaction or an addition, whereas perfective forms can signal that this is not the case. This discourse function related to the temporal function through metaphor. This particular discourse function is an addition to the typology of non-temporal functions of verbal aspect.
Keywords: Ecuadorian Siona, Tukanoan, verbal aspect, grammatical metaphor, discourse function
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Ecuadorian Siona
  • 3.The temporal function of Siona aspect
  • 4.The function of aspect in the verb caye ‘to say’
    • 4.1Imperfective forms
    • 4.2Perfective forms
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • Author queries
  • References
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References (24)
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