The poetics of recapitulative linkage in Matsigenka and mixed Matsigenka-Spanish myth narrations

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Abstract

In a small community in the Andean-Amazonian transitional zone of Southern Peru, speakers of Matsigenka use recapitulative linkages in myth narrations. These constructions establish a kind of rhythm, distinctive to the myth narration discourse genre, through which the events of the narrative unfold, information is introduced and elaborated, and suspense and surprise are achieved. This chapter describes the structural and discursive properties of these linking devices and their use in myth narrations. Bridging clauses generally recapitulate reference clauses verbatim or with minor modifications, and are usually linked to discourse-new information as simple juxtaposed clauses (though there is much variation in the structure and pragmatic functions of these constructions). Though the constructions contribute to discourse cohesion, their function is primarily poetic in nature. Furthermore, when Matsigenka speakers narrate the same myths in Spanish and in mixed Matsigenka-Spanish speech, they use the same kinds of linking constructions (which are otherwise uncommon in Spanish). Thus, the transfer of this kind of pattern from Matsigenka to Spanish is regimented by discourse genre, and offers an illustration of the cultural (i.e., metapragmatic) mediation of \isi{language contact

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBridging constructions
EditorsValérie Guérin
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherLanguage Science Press
Chapter2
Pages45–77
Number of pages33
ISBN (Print)978-3-96110-141-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes

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