Adjective Classes - A Cross-Linguistic Typology

4 The Adjective Class in Tariana 99

isg
2Sg
3sgnf
3sgf
Impersonal

nu-

pi-

di-

du-

pa-

nuha

piha

diha

duha

paha

TABLE i. Person, gender, and number prefixes and corresponding free pronouns
in Tariana

A/Sa Possessor Free pronoun A/Sa; Possessor Free pronoun

ipl wa- waha

2pl i- ihya

3pl na- naha

Indefinite — i- —

'my hand', nu-we-ri (isg-younger.sibling-MASC.sg) 'myyounger brother'. This prop-
erty is shared with the majority of Arawak languages (see Aikhenvald i999d).
Cross-referencing prefixes used with verbs and with nouns in Tariana are given
in Table i. All the forms are the same, except for indefinite person. This marker
occurs with inalienably possessed nouns in possessive constructions with an overt
possessor, e.g. Ifiari i-kapi (man iNDEF-hand) 'man's hand'. With verbs, this marker
occurs only in archaic fixed expressions.
The structure of a verbal word is given in Fig. i; this diagram also contains a list
of grammatical meanings which maybe expressed in a verb.
Simple predicates have one prefix position and up to nine suffix positions. A
minimal verbal word consists of positions i, 2, and 3. Position i has to be filled for
transitive and intransitive active verbs (see (i)-(2)). Stative verbs do not take pre-
fixes; neither do they occur with aktionsart enclitics (slot 17). Other positions have
to be filled only if the corresponding meaning needs to be expressed.^2

2.2. GRAMMATICAL RELATIONS AND VERB TYPES

Grammatical relations in Tariana are marked with personal prefixes, on an active -
stative basis—see (i)-(3). Unlike in most other Arawak languages, there is also a
case system, of a nominative-accusative type. A focused subject is marked with the
enclitic -nel-nhe; and a topical non-subject with the enclitic -nuku. This is shown
in (4)-(6).

(4) di-a-pidana di-pita hamu-ne
3sgnf-go-REM.p.REP 3sgnf-wash evil.spirit-FOC.A/s
"The evil spirit (not anyone else) went to bathe'

(5) kawhi-nuku nu-ira-de nuha
manioc.flour-TOP.NON.A/s isg-drink-FUT.CERT I
T will drink the manioc flour (we were talking about)'

(^2) Not all enclitics can co-occur; for instance, imperative does not co-occur with evidentiality and
tense (full details are found in Aikhenvald igggb, looia, and 2003). Variable ordering is allowed for
position 19; this has a pragmatic effect.