Classifiers in Multiple Environments: Baniwa of Içana/Kurripako—A North Arawak Perspective

Abstract

Baniwa of Içana/Kurripako, a North Arawak language, has two genders and numerous classifiers employed in various morphosyntactic environments: with numbers, as derivational suffixes on nouns, in possessive constructions, and on adjectives. Some classifiers have the same form in all contexts, while others have different forms. The Baniwa of Içana/Kurripako system is contrasted with the system in Tariana, a closely related North Arawak language which underwent massive restructuring under the influence of the neighboring East Tucanoan languages. Comparison with other Arawak languages of the region provides additional evidence in favor of the system of Baniwa of Içana/ Kurripako classifiers being more archaic than that of Tariana.