Particles in Sikuani

Abstract This work analyzes a specific group of morphemes in the Sikuani language (Guahibo) to show that (1) at the form level, the group displays class properties; (2) at the function level, it has semantic and pragmatic correlates that are typically grammatical; and (3) it clearly can be characterized in terms of prototypicity. In this analysis we pursue explicitness and exhaustivity, conducting a first-pass identification of the morpheme classes, inventorying the morphemes in question and providing corresponding examples, conducting a second and more detailed identification of the morpheme classes, and finally summarizing the results. Together, the findings can contribute to the frequently questioned typological notion of a ‘particle.’