GRANMAR OF THE STONA LANGUAGE con JA, SOUTH ANSRICA by Alva Yhecler Doctoral Dissertation Submitted to Department of Lincuistics University of California Berkeley February 1, 1970 bers of the Dissertation Committee Terrence 3, Kaufman 0. Brent Berlin vary R, HaasABSTRACT ‘The grammar of the Siona language, Colowbia, South Anerica 4s oriented to the tagnemie school of linguistics. Special at- tention has been given to the graamatical role of constituents in terus of their particular structural level (sentence, clause, phrase, word, etc.), Relationshive between structural levels are stated on the assuzption that a couplex constituent aani- festing a tagneme of one level 1s further analyzable in terns of tagnenes of the next lover level. The most complex levels of structure in Siona are the clause and the word, Clause structure is displeyed in summary for: by way of a matrix chart (page 24), This chart vresexts eisht basic clause types of the language along one perineter and the structural variants coumon to each one along the other. Word structure has its greatest complexities in the verb, which is analyzed in terns of three lover levels. Verb classes are iden- tified with the basic clause types they manifest. A salient feature of noun structure 1s the occurrence of classifier suf- fixes to fora the bulk of the noun stems, Aniuate noun stexs are distinguished on the basis of classifiers for nesculine, feminine, end plural, Inaninate noun steus occur with any of twenty classifier suffixes indicating shape or function. ‘The section on discourse structure presents the languace from perspectives that point to overall senantic relationships. Although these relationships do not lend themselves to seguen- tation and constituency in granmatical strings, they fora an integral part of the language. It is in this area that further study is being directed.000, 020, 020, 100, no, 120, 130. 140. 150. 200, 210, aul. 2126 213. 2u4e 215. 226, 217. 218. 220, 22i. 221... 221.2. 22103. Contents Introduction General Linguistic model Brief statement of phonology Consonants Vowels Stress syllable Morphophonenies Clause structure Composition clause types Quotative clause Transitive clause Intransitive clause Progressive clause Stative clause Descriptive clause Equative clause Impersonal clause Tagmemes of the composition clause types Predicate tagnemes Quotative predicate Transitive predicate Intransitive predicate Page 13 43 7 19 1g 19 20 au 22 23 25 28 29 30 30 RL 32 33 35 36 36 ae 38221.4. 22165. 221.6. 22167. 221.8. 222. 222.1. 22242. 222.3. 22264, 22245. 222.64 222476 222.8. 223 223.1. 223.2. 223.36 223.4 223456 223.6. 22367. 223.8. 22309 230. 231. 23lele Progressive predicate Stative predicate Descriptive predicate Equative predicate Impersonal predicate Central nonpredication tagnenes Descriptive manner Goal Locative referent Object Predicate nominative Quotation Referent subject Peripheral tagmemes Acconpaniment Benefactor Interjection Instrument Intensifier Locative source Manner Time Vocative Distribution clause types Dependent clause Subordinate clause 38 39 39 40 40 Aa aa he 43 43 4s 46 47 4e 48 49 49 50 50 51 52 33 33 55 5523142. 231.3 23164. 2324 232.16 232.161. 232.1624 232.1436 232.1 2326165. 232.1666 232.2. 232434 2h0, 2h. 2h2, BH2eLe 242.20 242.3. 243, 300. 310, Bll. Bllele B1L.2 312. 313. Adjectival clause Adverbial clause Nominal clause Independent clause types Declarative clause constructions Definite involvement Imperative Subjunetive Detachnent Indefinite involvement Distant Confirmation interrogative clause Information interrogative clause Perfective clause types Subordinate perfective clause Declarative perfective clause Definite Detachment Subjunctive Interrogative perfective clause Phrase structure Nominal Nominal core Apposition Sequence Qualifier 1 Function 56 a 5? 59 59 59 60 61 61 62 62 63 66 66 67 68 68 69 69 a ee 72 72 23 ne ee313.1. BIB 2. 320. 321. 322. 323. 32h. 325. 326+ 327. 330. 33. 332 BHO. Bae 350. 352. 3524 353. 360. 400, 410, waa, 41 4A1.1,1. Subordinate v Function enclitic complex Function word Noun phrase Modifier Demonstrative Qualifier 2 Qualifier 3 Noun head Specifier phrases Noun specifier phrase Nominal specifier phrase ‘Temporal Temporal core ‘Temporal phrase Temporal demonstrative Temporal qualifier Temporal head Verb phrase Word structure Verb Verb composition Subordinate verb consicuction b inflection type one 411,1,2, Subordinate verb inflection type two ™ 76 76 76 72 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 83 85 85 86 86 86 87 87 90 90 92 91 cis 98HL. 2. W113. a1, WAL 5. 421.502, WAL 5.24 421.563. HAL. See MALS. 5. 411, 5.65 #11.6. 41167. jae. waz... 412.2, 412.3, 43. HAZ.Le WAB.2. 413.2616 4B. 2020 413.2636 HABL 24, 413.2. 5s 413.2464 Adjectival verb construction Adverbial verb construction Nominal verb construction Declarative verb constructions Definite involvenent Inperative subjunctive Indefinite involvement Detachment Distant past Confirmation interrogative verb construc- ‘tion Information interrogative verb construc- tion Verb theme composition Definite verb theme Indefinite verb theme Distant verb theme Verb stem composition Simple verb stens Complex verb stems Verb stem construction type one Verb stem construction type two Verb stem construction type three Verb stem construction type four Verb stem construction type five Verb stem construction type six 100 101 101 102 103 ol 105 106 107 107 108 109 109 0 an nz pe 4 16 17 117 ne 19 120 120413.2076 420, 42d. H2lele 421... W212. W211. 36 H21 Lede Repetitives without counterparts Noun Animate noun class Ingroup human Stem subclass la Stem subclass 1b Stem subclass le Stem subclass 1d 421.1.4,1, Subclass lax H21.1sle2, Subclass lay 421,1.44.3, Subclass ldz W212. W2L. 201 421,2.2. H21.36 HL 31. 421,342. hel heey 422.1, 422.2, 422.201. W22.262. 4236 423.1. N23420 423634 Noun stem subclass 2 Stem subclass 2a Stem subclass 2b Noun sten subclass 3 Sten subclass 3a Stem subclass 3b Proper nouns and kinship nouns Inaninate noun class Sten subclass 1 Stem subclass 2 Subclass 2a Subclass 2b Spatial noun class Sten subclass 1 Stem subclass 2 Stem subclass 3 221 122 122 123 123 125 125 125 126 126 126 127 127 128 128 128 129 129 130 130 136 137 137 137 137 137 138H2304, 423.5. 42k, 424.1. Hau 2e 425. 430. AGL. 432, 433. 43h, 4355 ALO, aul, ane, 443, Aun, ALS. 450, 45h. 452. 460. 470, 480, Sten subclass 4 Stem subclass 5 Temporal noun class Ston subclass 1 Sten subclass 2 Specifier noun Pronoun Animate Inaninate Spatial Temporal Interrogative Modifiers Adjective Numeral qualifier Modifier Adverd Demonstrative Nominal denonstrative Temporal demonstrative Function word Interjection Intensifier 138 139 139 139 140 140 140 ua ke he 142 3 yy Lad 145, 146, 16 ake 147 we 148 148 149 1s490. Hole 492, 4936 4g, 500, 510. 51l. 511.1. 511.2. 511.3. 512. 51261. 512020 S13. SQLs 51362 520, 600. 610, 61. 612. Miscellaneous forms Conjunction Exclanatory word Onomatopoetic word Special responses Sentence structure Complete sentences Sentence types Declarative Confirmation interrogative Information interrogative Subordinate base Loose knit connectivity Close knit connectivity Special patterns of intonation Stimulation to excitement Expression of disapproval Fragmentary sentences Discourse structure Sentence connectivity The Linking element Elaboration 250 150 150 152 251 153 153 ash 15h 156 15? 159 159 160 162 162 162 163 165 166 167 168 10623. 620, 621, 622, 630, ae Cee The distribution of sentence types within discourse Particlvant Identification end role desiauation Patterns of participant identification Foous Speaker of narrator viewpoint The narrator's relationship to the circumstances ‘The narrator's relationship to the Liste References Bibliography 169 169 170 173 175 278 163 aVIII Chart Index Siona Cleuse Yatrix Punetion Gnelitie Orr Definite Verb Imperative Verb Indefinite Verb Distant Past Verb Perfective Predication Nominalization Verb Sten Cle: Ceding Anizate Noun Specification and Pluralization Enelitic tiarking for Focu sp ue 92 124 17h 12ae 000, Introduction 010, Generel Siona is a menber of the Western branch of the Tucancen family and is spoken by about 150 people, who live at three points along the Putumayo River (Colonbia~Eouador border) between the mouths of the Cuhewbi and the PiffuBa Blanca, The language has minor dialect variations associated with geo- graphical spread and age differences. It 1s mutuslly intel- ligible with Hacaguaje, spoken by about 50 people in scat- tered dwellings along the Putumayo at Tablero and 31 Hacha (below the mouth of the San “iguel), and along the Necaya and Senseys, tributaries to the Cequets, Earlier recordings of the Siona language under the names of Ceona, Zeona, Sioni, and Quenguejoyo have been made by Frenciscan missionary priests, whose first contact 1s re- rs ported to have been 1638 or earlier.2 ission establish ments along the Napo, San Miguel and Putumayo rivers met With native resistance and failed on numerous occasions until 1752. From then until the 1870's the Franciscan misstonaries maintained active Work at several stations. Many of then nade special efforts to learn the native lenguage and left recorded Word lists and catechisms.? Phe Siona were considered the prestige people of the upper Putureyo during the period of the Franciscan influence, and attempts Were made to establish the language as the lingua franca of that region. Population estinates ranged up to. a4 8,000. Contacts with civilization since the beginning of the twentieth century have resulted in a rapid trend toward ex- tinction, “White man's disease in the form of small por, measles and whooping cough, along with the Slona's inability to cope With these, has been the major cause of depopulation. Today only three or four older men retain tribal dress and other practices. No one has been initiated into the office of shaman since before the death of Arcenio Yaiguaje, the "Taita Grande’ of the Putumayo, in 1961. Arcenio hed disqual- Afied all the Siona men because of their use of commercial liquor in addition to their manioc beer, thus bringing "4mpu- rity" upon themselves. At this writing Slona is still spoken in the family unit, although many people under twenty-five deny they under- stand more than a few words of the language, Intermarriage With whites and with Indians of other tribes (Cofan, Quichua) is coumon. Social, political and economic aspects of the culture are approaching almost complete integration with those of the white community. Chief Ricardo (younger brother to Arcenio) maintains very little influence on the tribe, but gains his reputation by vosing for photographers in his or- nate festive dress. The name Siona seems to have been given by the Witotos (inhabitants of the lower Putumayo). In their language the term means "perfume people," which fits the practice of the Stona men in applying native perfumes to the decorative paln fibers they attach to their upper arzs, Another possibility,wo Which seems less plausible, is that Siona is the name given by priests and white settlers, who have observed that these people's ansier to 2 common greeting "dhere ere you going?" is ziéna "to the field." The Siona call themselves aatdye baf "people of the “ild Cane River," which is the Putunayo. Contemporary investigation hitherto has consisted of sporadic gathering of word lists for purposes of classifi- "sn addition to a concentrated effort by tanuel cation, José Casas y Wanrique, whose field notes date fron 19239 un- ti the present.? As I gathered language data during various sojourns in the tribel area between 1960 and 1968, the following infora ants vere especially helpful: Ricardo Yaigueje, Zstanisleo Yaiguaje, Francisco Plaguaje, Luciano Plaguaje, Sofonias Yaniguaje , Aurelio “aniguaje, Gladys Cabrera (all of Buena Vista, the center of the tribal area along the Putwsayo); and Cornelio Payoguaje, who lives near the mouth of the Piflua Kegra and represents the lacaguaje dialect. Tt 1s difficult to evaluate the special help and en- couragenent my collegues of the Summer Institute of Linguis- tics have given ne throughout the period of investigation. To begin with Dr. Kenneth Pike provided me with insignts into the analysis of the language during workshops at Linoncocha, Bouador 1m 1960 end 1961, His theoretical work Js the prima- ry Influence on the developuent of this presentation. Dr. Catherine Peeke made many valuable suggestions at about the16 same tine, I benefited greatly from the date gathering a: tribal experience of Orville Johnson in Secoya, 2 language closely related to Siona, 1 thanks, also, go to Dr. Viole Waterhouse for her help on varlous aspects of the grennar analysis in 1965; to Dr, Esther Matteson, w! 0 Tead this dis- sertation and made many valuable suggestions; and to ‘iss Carolyn uller, Wiss Beverly Brendrup, Siss Sheryl Takazi, and Urs. Doris Svedbere, who typed the manuscript. Of the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Linguistics, University of California, Zerkeley, who have influenced the foraation of zy theoretical views, I an espe- cially grateful to Drs. Mary 2, Heas, WB. Zneneeau, Madison Willies S. Beeler, Wellece L. Chafe, nipley, Terrence 3. Kaufman, and 0, Erent Berlin, elous of the help given by ay Wife I am deeply com Margaret, who, With our four childrer., accompanied me to the tribal area, learned to speak the lenguaze, established many friends among the Slona, and contributed greatly toward win- ning the confidence of these people. Sponsorship for this investigation has been under the auspices of the Swnmer Institute of Linguistics, Santa Ana, California. 020, Linguistic mode? This description of the Siona graunar® is taguexically oriented.” The tern taguene refers to 2 granzatioal unit or er with its conditioned variations) which constituent (togeth:eee bears a specific function (also called slot) within a larger structural unit and is realized by one or more given classes of constructions (fillers of a slot). This analysis ap- proaches the clause level as a convenient starting point {Section 200), After the internal structure of each clause type (in terns of the function-class rdlationshivs of each constituent unit) and their external distribution (in teras of larger construction classes which manifest sentence level tagnenes) are stated, the analysis proceeds to the next low- er level and deals with the constituent tagaenes composing the phrase (Section 300), Sutsequently the word, and then the theme, stem and root are analyzed in like zanner (Section 400) until the lowest common denominator, the norpheme (or hyper-morphene), 1s cited according to its distribution class by which 1t 1s labeled in the lexicon. should & Ideally, o1 in the succession of analytical steps at the top level in the hierarchy, discourse, and pro- ceed fron there to sentence and then clause, so that’ taznenes are analyzed ty level of complexity as follows: Discourse Sentence Clause Phrese Word Thene StewHovey. ysis because it the sranmatical course (Section tion as asvects shivs on a less 16 . Clause 1s used as a starting point in the anal~ enconpasses a fairly controllable "chunk" of structure, Sentence (Section 300) and dis— 609) are dealt with at the end of the descrip- 2 together relation- of the grammar which 6: segnentable basis and explain features of syn- tax which cut across various levels of the grammatical hier archy,19 100. Brief statement of phonology® 110, Consonants Consonants consist of two series of stops?; fortis (as- pirated) p, t, k, k” and lenis (glottelized) b, a, 5, a”: sibilants s (fortis), z (lenis-glottalized), & (fortis af- fricate); semivowels w and y; nasals m and n; and larynseals h and hY (fortis), and-? (lenis). Lenis d is retroflexed and has allophone [P] oceurring intervocalically. Semivoifel y has allophone [fl] occurring contiguous to a nasalized vowel. Glottal stop /?/ is very faint and is accompanied by a glottal effect on the contig- uous volels in certain environments.1° 120. Vowels Vowels are of six tongue positions: Front Central Baek High 4 4 u Low e a ° Back vowels are rounded. ontrast betveen oral and nasal ized counterparts occurs for all vowels except in the envi- ronnent adjacent to @ nasal consonant, in which case only the nasalized counterparts occur. Low front vowel e has the value of [€] and has allophone [J] when nasalized, All els have voiced offglide (phonetically long vowel and de. scending pitch) when they occur as stressed single vowel nu- cleus of word initial sylleble and are followed by an un