The Grammar of Body-Part Expressions: A View from the Americas

This volume explores the grammatical properties of body-part expressions across a range of languages and language families in the Americas, including Arawakan, Eastern Tukano, Mataguayan, Panoan, and Takanan. It investigates categorialization, lexicalization, and semantic processes, and discusses specific grammatical properties such as inalienability, incorporation, possessive constructions, prefixation, topicality, and word-formation strategies. The volume contributes to the linguistics of the Americas, typology of body-part expressions, and typological studies more broadly.

Format: Hardback
Length: 528 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This comprehensive volume delves into the grammatical characteristics of body-part expressions across a diverse array of languages and language families found in the Americas. It encompasses languages such as Arawakan, Eastern Tukano, Mataguayan, Panoan, and Takanan, among others. These expressions, which denote parts of the body, often display distinct grammatical properties that are closely intertwined with their semantic meanings. They frequently occur in specialized constructions, many of which are exclusive to these expressions.

The book begins with an introductory chapter that provides a thorough overview of the foundations of body-part grammar. This chapter sets the stage for the subsequent chapters, which explore various aspects of body-part expressions. The first part of the book focuses on categorialization, lexicalization, and the semantic processes associated with body-part expressions. It examines how body-part expressions are categorized, how they are lexicalized into words, and how they acquire their meanings.

The second part of the book delves into specific grammatical properties of body-part expressions. Contributors examine various aspects of these expressions, including inalienability, incorporation, possessive constructions, prefixation, topicality, and word-formation strategies. They analyze how body-part expressions are modified, how they are incorporated into other constructions, and how they convey possessive or ownership relations.

The volume makes a significant contribution to the fields of linguistics, particularly the study of the Americas and the typology of body-part expressions. It also extends the boundaries of typological studies, encompassing historical, comparative, and anthropological linguistics. By drawing on data from lesser-known languages that are often under-represented in comparative work, the volume provides valuable insights into the linguistic diversity and evolution of body-part expressions across the Americas.

Overall, this comprehensive volume offers a thorough exploration of the grammatical properties of body-part expressions in the Americas, shedding light on the intricate relationships between language, semantics, and cultural practices. It is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and students interested in language, linguistics, and cultural studies.

Weight: 938g
Dimension: 240 x 163 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198852476