Resumen de First-person n and second-person m in Native America: a fresh look
The presence of a pronominal set with 'n' in the first person and 'm' in the second person in numerous Native American languages has been known for more than one century. The number (also approximate) of language families involved and the precise geographical distribution of the 'n'-and 'm'-forms, however, are still unclear. In addition, since the 'n': 'm' mini-paradigm seems to refer to a historical relatedness which lies beyond the reach of the scientific methods of historical-comparative linguistics, some Americanist linguists currently believe that it is impossible, if not useless, to try to provide a precise explanation of its wide geographical diffusion in the New World. The goals of this article are (i) to examine the presence/absence in all proven linguistic families of the Americas of n- and m- pronominal forms for first person or first person singular and second person or second person singular that do not result, as far as it is known, from secondary phonological developments occurred in individual branches; (ii) to reconstruct, as far as it is possible, the geographical distribution of the two forms in pre-European conquest times; and (iii) to attempt to offer a new interpretation of their (apparently robust) geographical diffusion. This article has two appendices published online only: Appendix A (Tables 1-8) and Appendix B (Linguistic data).
