Cover not available
Part of
Similative and Equative Constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Yvonne Treis and Martine Vanhove
[Typological Studies in Language 117] 2017
► pp. 321–338

Chapter 12
Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker =kán in Pesh

This paper focuses on the multifunctionality and polysemy of the marker =kán in Pesh, a Chibchan language spoken in Honduras. This multifunctional marker appears in two types of context. First, it appears in noun phrases. In this context, =kán functions as a case marker and is encliticised to a noun or a pronoun. It is polysemous, expressing both similarity and comparison of equality. In constituent interrogative clauses, it is used in conjunction with a pronoun or a noun. These combinations have the meaning of a wh-question word; the interrogative component is not inherent in these combinations but marked on the verb. Second, the marker =kán may be encliticised to a verb in dependent clauses, functioning as a subordinator. In this context, =kán is also polysemous and may encode different types of epistemic modality. The dependent clauses in which =kán occurs may express similarity and simulation, epistemic possibility, hypothetical meaning, irrealis condition, and temporal relation. The use in noun phrases suggests that for the case marker =kán, the manner meaning ‘like’ came first, expressing the notion of similarity, that is, the source function in the grammaticalisation chain. A recent use has developed exhibiting the use of =kán for expressing comparison of equality.

Keywords: Pesh, Chibchan, similative marker, comparison of equality, simulation, grammaticalisation, multifunctionality, epistemic modality
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Pesh: Basic typological features
  • 3.=kán as a case marker in noun phrases
    • 3.1The similative marker
    • 3.2Comparison of equality
    • 3.3The use of =kán in interrogative clauses
  • 4.=kán as a subordinator
    • 4.1Simulative and similative expressions
    • 4.2Expressions of epistemic possibility
    • 4.3Expressions of hypothetical meaning
    • 4.4Irrealis conditionals and temporal clauses
  • 5.Conclusion: Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker =kán in Pesh
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 31 May 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.13cha
References
Constenla Umaña, Adolfo
1998 Gramática de la lengua guatusa. Heredia: Editorial de la Universidad Nacional.Google Scholar
2012 The Chibchan languages. In The Indigenous Languages of South America: A Comprehensive Guide, Vol. 2, Lyle Campbell & Veronica Grondona (eds), 391–437. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Conzemius, Eduard
1928 Los Indios Paya de Honduras. Estudio geográfico, histórico, etnográfico, y lingüístico. Journal de la Société des Américanistes 20: 253–360. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dryer, Matthew S.
2007 Word order. In Language Typology and Syntactic Description, Clause Structure, Vol. 1: Timothy Shopen (ed.), 61–131. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Givón, T.
2001 Syntax. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar
Haspelmath, Martin & Buchholz, Oda
1998 Equative and similative constructions in the languages of Europe. In Adverbial Constructions in the Languages of Europe, Johan van der Auwera (ed.), 277–334. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Heine, Bernd
1994 Areal influence on grammaticalization. In Language Contact and Language Conflict, Martin Pütz (ed.), 55–68. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1997 Cognitive Foundations of Grammar. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar
Holt, Dennis
1986 The Development of the Paya Sound System. PhD dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
1999 Pech (Paya). Munich: Lincom.Google Scholar
Malchukov, Andrej, Haspelmath, Martin & Comrie, Bernard
2010 Ditransitive constructions: A typological overview. In Studies in Ditransitive Constructions: A Comparative Handbook, Andrej Malchukov, Martin Haspelmath & Bernard Comrie (eds), 1–64. Berlin: De Gruyter.Google Scholar
Quesada, Juan Diego
2007 The Chibchan Languages. Costa Rica: Editorial Tecnológica de Costa Rica.Google Scholar
Stassen, Leon
1985 Comparison and Universal Grammar. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar
Thompson, Sandra A., Longacre, Robert E. & Hwang, Shin Ja J.
2007 Adverbial clauses. In Language Typology and Syntactic Description, Vol. 2: Complex Constructions, Timothy Shopen (ed.), 237–300. Cambridge: CUP. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 4 other publications

Chamoreau, Claudine
2019. Equative and similative constructions in Chibchan languages. Faits de Langues 50:1 ► pp. 157 ff. DOI logo
Chamoreau, Claudine & Yvonne Treis
2019. Comparaisons d’égalité et de similitude : comme du pareil au même. Faits de Langues 50:1 ► pp. 9 ff. DOI logo
Martinez, Jesus Olguin
2022. Contact-Induced Language Change: the Case of Mixtec Adverbial Clauses. Journal of Language Contact 15:1 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Oleniak, Mariana
2022. On an idiosyncratic type of an Old English simile. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 4 march 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.