Table of contents
Figures and Tablesxi
List of Abbreviationsxiii
Acknowledgmentsxv
1. Introduction1
1.1. Aims and Assumptions1
1.2. About the Language5
Part One: The Alienable/Inalienable Distinction in the Grammar of Possession19
Introduction to Part One21
2. The Alienability/Inalienability Opposition in Language23
2.1. General Overview23
2.2. Inalienability viewed as a Formal Phenomenon26
2.3. Inalienability as a Semantic Phenomenon31
2.4. Motivational Pressures in the Expression of Inalienability40
3. The Alienability/Inalienability Contrast in Guaraní Possessive Constructions45
3.1. A Schematic Characterization of Possession46
3.2. Possession at the Nominal Level49
3.3. Non-Verbal Predicative Construction66
3.4. Verbal Predicative Construction75
3.5. The Equational Possessive Construction83
3.6. Summary and Conclusions85
Part Two: The Expression of Maximal Inalienability: Incorporation and Possessor Ascension93
Introduction to Part Two95
4. Noun Incorporation in Guaraní: Formal and Semantic Aspects99
4.1. The Phenomenon of NI: General Background100
4.2. Constraints on Incorporability104
4.3. Non-body-part Incorporation in Guaraní106
4.4. Incorporation as a Lexicalization Process120
4.5. Remarks on Object Placement and Incorporation123
4.6. Concluding Remarks127
5. Incorporation of Body-part Terms129
5.1. The Phenomenon of Pa: General Overview129
5.2. The NI+PA Construction: General Structural Considerations132
5.3. Grammatical Function of the Incorporated Body-Part Term144
5.4. Motivation for Overt Mention of Body-Part Terms147
5.5. Semantic boundaries of the NI+PA Construction149
5.6. Concluding Remarks163
6. The Discourse Function of the NI+PA Construction165
6.1. NI+Pa as a Discourse Coherence and Topic Maintenance Device166
6.2. NI+PA as an Evaluative Device172
6.3. Body-Parts as Individuated Entities in Discourse189
6.4. Concluding Remarks196
7. Conclusions199
7.1. Summary of Results199
7.2. Further Research Issues204
7.3. Contribution to the Field of Linguistics206
Appendix A: Semantic Classification of Guaraní Lexical Roots209
Appendix B: Inventory of Conventionalized Incorporated Structures227
Appendix C: Text of Guaraní Folk Tale Analyzed in Section 6.2241
Notes247
References257
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