The Interaction of Reduplication with Word Classes and Transitivity in Cavineña

Abstract

This chapter discusses the reduplication processes that are at work in Cavinena, a Tacanan language from Amazonian Bolivi. It provides the phonological and morphosyntactic backgrounds necessary to understand the effects of reduplication in Cavinena, with information on word classes, transitivity, predicate structure, and grammatical functions. The chapter then presents an overview of each of the 13 reduplication patterns, listing the main parameters that are used to distinguish one from the other. The reduplication patterns are based on the distinction between full and partial reduplication, and between simple and automatic reduplication. The chapter also provides a detailed presentation of the most interesting patterns, namely the four applying to verbs. It discusses anti-passive simple full reduplication, auxiliary-triggering simple full reduplication, automatic full reduplication, and automatic final-CV reduplication. The chapter ends with a table that summarize the main characteristics of reduplication in Cavinena. Keywords: Cavinena; grammatical functions; phonological background; reduplication patterns; transitivity; word classes