Abstract
This brief paper expands on the discussion of the evidence for including the sparsely attested Parirí and (Tocantins) Apiaká doculects as part of the Pekodian branch of the Cariban language family, within a sub-branch that includes the Arára-Ikpeng dialect cluster but excludes Bakairí. The present discussion goes beyond mere formal/semantic similarities in the comparanda and shows that both Parirí and Apiaká share a number of sporadic developments with Ikpeng and Arára, and these suggest an intermediate, shared ancestor exclusive to these languages. I also advance some original claims on the diachrony of these languages, such as the adoption of loans from non-Cariban languages, and an interesting semantic development in their innovative forms for ‘fire’. Based on this particular innovation, I conclude, tentatively, in favor of the inclusion of yet another doculect - Yarumá - in the same sub-branch.
Highlights
This brief paper expands on the discussion of the evidence for including the sparsely attested Parirí and (Tocantins) Apiaká doculects as part of the Pekodian branch of the Cariban language family, within a sub-branch that includes the Arára-Ikpeng dialect cluster but excludes Bakairí
In the map above the Apiaká appear identified as the rightmost group identified as ‘Arára’, close to the left bank of the Tocantins river
Silently yet unproblematically understood as glottonyms, happen to be associated with language material, it seem fitting to examine these sources in an attempt to inform our understanding of both the internal history of the Apiaká and Parirí languages and, possibly, as an additional source on the external history of the Cariban language family
Summary
The labels Apiaká and Parirí appear in the ethnohistorical and anthropological literature on the indigenous peoples of South America associated with two Cariban-speaking groups inhabiting the region between the lower and middle courses of the Xingu and Tocantins rivers, to the south of the Amazon river, in northern Brazil. Figure 1 below shows an inset of Nimuendajú’s ethnolinguistic map of Brazil and adjacent regions, where the location of the relevant groups appear under the names ‘Arára’ and ‘Parirí’, both associated to the dates of the published reports identifying each of them:. In the map above the Apiaká appear identified as the rightmost group identified as ‘Arára’, close to the left bank of the Tocantins river (the reasons for this will soon become clear to the reader) Since both ethnonyms, silently yet unproblematically understood as glottonyms, happen to be associated with language material (being doculects, sensu CYSOUW; GOOD, 2013), it seem fitting to examine these sources in an attempt to inform our understanding of both the internal history of the Apiaká and Parirí languages and, possibly, as an additional source on the external history of the Cariban language family.. Since these are shared innovations exclusively characteristic of Arára-Ikpeng, this evidence establishes, once and for all, the Pekodian affiliation of both Apiaká and Parirí.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
