Revisiting parts of the verb in Southern Nambikwara: Towards a definition of subjectivity as a grammatical category

Abstract: This study investigates verb-final morphemes in Southern Nambikwara — a polysynthetic language spoken in the Mato Grosso region of southwestern Brazil. The verb-final morphemes -wa2 and -ɾa2/-la2 have previously been described as denoting an aspect distinction between imperfectivity and perfectivity (da Silva 2021; B. Kroeker 1982; M. Kroeker 2001; Lowe 1999). However, upon closer examination, this description appears flawed. By revisiting the data found in the previous literature as well as analyzing new first-hand data and the responses to a questionnaire, this study aims to describe the function and meaning of -wa2 and -ɾa2/-la2 with a focus on patterns of co-distribution with other verbal categories. The results suggest that -wa2 and -ɾa2/-la2 are markers of subjectivity and non-subjectivity, respectively. The present definition of subjectivity is based on Du Bois (2007) and Nuyts (2001), who emphasize that the distinctive factor between these categories is whether knowledge or evidence, and by extension the conclusion drawn from them, is exclusive to the speaker (or the speech act participants) or shared by a larger group. In addition, the shared or exclusive responsibility for an utterance as well as its sequential context are also of importance to the marking of subjectivity. Conclusively, the distribution of -wa2 and -ɾa2/-la2 varies with many grammatical categories, such as tense, person, mood/aspect, engagement, and polarity. The subjectivity marker -wa2 encodes exclusive knowledge and epistemic responsibility, while the non-subjectivity marker -ɾa2/-la2 denotes its counterpart, shared knowledge and shared epistemic responsibility.