Reduplication as a Tool for Morphological and Phonological Analysis in Awetí

Abstract

This chapter describes reduplication in verb forms of Aweti, a Brazilian indigenous language spoken by a small group living in three villages in the region of the headwaters of the Xingu River in Mato Grosso, central Brazil. The study of reduplication can contribute to the understanding of phonological and morphological units and processes. The chapter summarizes the phonological system of Aweti and presents some basic morphological properties and some diagnostic affixes used in the remaining sections. It gives a short general overview of verbal reduplication in Aweti and describes the basic patterns of reduplication found with active (transitive and intransitive) verbs. The chapter uses evidence from reduplication for a closer look at certain (morpho-)phonological alternations at the beginning and end of verbal stems. It treats the reduplication with stative verbs. The chapter discusses the domain of reduplication if derivational affixes occur, and summarizes the most important findings. Keywords: active transitive verbs; Aweti; morpho- phonological alternations; stative verbs; verbal reduplication