Final consonants in Maxakalí and their comparative status

Eduardo Rivail Ribeiro

doi:10.20396/liames.v0i12.1489

Abstract

Although final-consonant correspondences between Proto-Jê and Maxakalí tend to be straightforward, in some cases the comparative data seem to suggest that Maxakalí has actually undergone a major innovation, through the accretion of final consonants to originally vowel-final roots. This hypothesis is further corroborated by the study of loanwords from both Portuguese and Old Tupí.

Highlights

Final-consonant correspondences between Proto-Jê and Maxakalí tend to be straightforward, in some cases the comparative data seem to suggest that Maxakalí has undergone a major innovation, through the accretion of final consonants to originally vowel-final roots
Among other findings, ongoing comparative studies reveal that, when compared to Proto-Jê, final consonants in Maxakalí fit into three different categories: (1) Consonants which correspond clearly with final consonants in Proto-Jê and actual Jê languages: (1a) Proto-Jê *pra)m
LIAMES 12 (2) Consonants corresponding with final consonants which, absent in most Jê languages, were present in Proto-Jê

Summary

Final consonants in Maxakalí and their comparative status

Final-consonant correspondences between Proto-Jê and Maxakalí tend to be straightforward, in some cases the comparative data seem to suggest that Maxakalí has undergone a major innovation, through the accretion of final consonants to originally vowel-final roots This hypothesis is further corroborated by the study of loanwords from both Portuguese and Old Tupí. While most Jê languages have codaless reflexes of Proto-Jê *njo(p) ‘to hang’ (cf Apinajé (Northern Jê) ≠dZo; Oliveira 2005: 41), Kaingáng has three different reflexes: sa, sàv, and sam (Wiesemann 2002); sàv can arguably be seen as the underlying form, whereas sam is likely the result of the suffixation of the causativizer -n to sàv (cf Cavalcante 1987: 46) Combined with such internal evidence, the occurrence of a final consonant in the Maxakalí cognate helps corroborate the reconstruction of a final *p for the Proto-Jê form:

Maxakalí xup

___________ REFERENCES