2024/02/15 by Bruna Franchetto
#Kuikuro #Upper Xingu Carib #direct speech #indirect speech
paper · doi:10.25894/ldd.361
In Kuikuro, a variety of the Upper Xingu Karib Language, there are quotative constructions, for both direct and indirect quoted speech. After a synthesis of the Kuikuro morphosyntax, the second section describes and analyzes the main aspects of the direct quotative speech constructions, which are by far the most frequent in different speech genres. More specifically, the 'quotes framers' of direct quotative are analyzed, distinguishing two possibilities: the presence of a lexical 'framer' (verb ki-, 'to say'); a pure aspectual inflection suggesting the existence of a verb ‘to say’ not phonologically realized. The absence of a 'framer' is also quite frequent. The verb ki- also occurs in constructions of indirect quoted speech. Note that the recipient of the saying, to whom the said statement is directed, is marked by the ‘perspectival’ or ‘about’ postposition heke. Direct and indirect quotatives are complex constructions. The third section of the article is an initial approach to indirect quotatives, with its variety of syntactic strategies and types of construction. The data that exemplify generalizations, as well as descriptive and analytical statements are taken from natural corpora, mainly narratives, and controlled elicitations.