CHAPTER 5
VARIATION IN THE NOUN SYSTEM

5-1 Introduction

The noun system of Aymara consists of roots and
derived roots (stems), which are all free, derivational
suffixes, and zero complement vowel drop. | Nouns occur
alone and in noun phrases as heads and modifiers; some
occur modifying verbs. The open class of nouns takes in
loanwords freely. Closed classes of roots do not freely
admit loanwords, although they may have done so in the
past. They are interrogatives, demonstratives, personal
pronouns, numbers, positionals, and temporals. There
is also a small class of ambiguous noun/verb roots.
Other closed classes are shapes used in weaving, and
kinship and age terms, which were only sporadically in-
vestigated in this research although meriting detailed
study.

Noun suffixes occur only on noun roots, stems,
and nominalized themes. The limitations on their occur-
rence help define noun classes. There are three order
classes of noun suffixes and a class of limited occur-

rence. (Verbal derivational suffixes that can verbalize

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