Doctoral Dissertation Research: Kubeo Grammar

该补助金支持蒂亚戈·查孔关于库贝奥（Cubeo）语法的博士论文的实地考察和研究，库贝奥是一种在巴西和哥伦比亚边境沿着的瓦佩斯河及其支流上使用的图卡诺语。尽管有大约4,000名发言人，Kubeo仍处于危急状态。语言活力的程度因地区而异：在较小的村庄，语言传给儿童;在较大的村庄，儿童“拒绝”说Kubeo，转而说葡萄牙语或西班牙语。本论文的研究目标是提供一个深入的描述的语法库贝奥，特别强调在这种语言中发现的不寻常的和独特的语言特征，如鼻音和谐，不寻常的性质的语气，一个复杂的系统的证据，连续动词，和名词分类系统的分析。分析将有助于语言类型学的核心问题，增加对人类语言可能性的理解，以及这些语言特征的局限性。本论文还将扩大历史语言学（语言变化）和语言接触的知识，在这一地区的亚马逊，这一直是特别的科学兴趣。论文研究受益于并有助于Kubeo人记录和保护他们的语言和文化遗产的承诺。

This grant supports the fieldwork and research for Thiago Chacon's doctoral dissertation on the grammar of Kubeo (Cubeo), a Tukanoan language spoken on the Uaupes (Vaupés) River and its tributaries along the border of Brazil and Colombia. Despite having approximately 4,000 speakers, Kubeo is in critical condition. The degree of language vitality varies by location: in smaller villages, the language is transmitted to children; in larger villages, the children "refuse" to speak Kubeo, shifting to either Portuguese or Spanish. The goal of this dissertation research is to provide an in-depth description of the grammar of Kubeo, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the unusual and unique linguistic traits found in this language, such as nasal harmony, unusual properties of tone, a complex system of evidentials, serial verbs, and the noun classifier system. The analysis will contribute to central issues in linguistic typology, increasing understanding of what is possible in human languages and what the limitations with regard to these linguistic features are. The dissertation also will expand knowledge of historical linguistics (language change) and language contact in this region of the Amazon, which has been of particular scientific interest. The dissertation research benefits from and contributes to the commitment of Kubeo people to document and preserve their language and cultural heritage.