Sistemas de alineamiento en la lengua günün a yajüch

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the alignment systems present in the Patagonian language günün a iajüch. This language exhibits a differential marking that is registered morphologically in the verbal prefixes of the subject person and the verbal suffixes that denote the object arguments, and is linked to the lexical aspect of the verbal base as well as to the semantic roles, degrees of animacy and of control of the situation by the participants. Along with the nominative/accusative (A-S/P) alignment for active transitive and intransitive verbs, there are regularities that would indicate an active-stative split or Split–P that is manifested by alternating verb prefixes, mainly kücha- /kü- documented for the first person. On the other hand, in transitive clauses objects with Patient, Subject or Dative roles are presented by personals in the first and second person and with other morphemes in the third, while in ditransitive clauses the object with Dative role is always indexed by alienable possession affixes. Finally, the “superimposed” alignment systems are related to those of languages in contact in order to examine whether they respond to phenomena inscribed in diachrony or in areal contact.