A Reconstruction of the Proto-Puyuma Aspectual and Modal System

This paper compares the aspectual and modal systems in two dialects of Puyuma—Nanwang and Katripul—and as a basis for the reconstruction of the protosystem. In modern Puyuma dialects, there is an asymmetry between Actor Voice (av) and Undergoer Voice (uv) in terms of the aspectual/modal value that they may be used to denote. In both dialects, av clauses show a realis vs. irrealis distinction. In Nanwang, uv clauses display the same dichotomy (realis vs. irrealis), but in Katripul the distinction is between perfective vs. imperfective. Based on these facts, I argue that Proto-Puyuma was an aspect-prominent language; that is, the major distinction in its aspectual/modal system was between perfective/imperfective.