On the Behavior of Definite Articles in Chamicuro

Abstract

This report describes the unique behavior of two clitic particles in a moribund Amazonian language. In Chamicuro na and ka are basically definite articles, yet they contrast for tense (ka indicates a past action while na is used in present and future contexts). The prosodic encliticization of na and ka is completely predictable from general phonological constraints alone and thus does not depend on any syntactic factors. Consequently, the stranding of an article in a different clause from its head noun follows automatically from the posited constraint system without any need to stipulate additional formal devices.*