POSSE NA LÍNGUA ASURINÍ DO XINGU

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The relation of possession in the Asuriní­ language of Xingu is analyzed in terms of semantic, morphological and syntactic criteria. Nouns are divided in three sub-classes according to semantic criteria: inalienable, alienable and non-possessed. Morphologically, inalienable nouns always appear accompanied by the relational prefix r-, alienable nouns may or may not be accompanied by this prefix, and non-possessed nouns do not accept the prefix. Syntactically, inalienable nouns always occur as dependent nuclei, alienable nouns may occur as either dependent or independent nuclei, and non-possessed nouns occur only as independent nuclei.