Resonances of the light in the central and south Andean languages: a study of correlations in Amerindian semiotic constellations of brightness

Abstract

This paper describes the evidence of cross linguistic and intercultural relations concerning the semiotics of brightness in the South-Central Andean area, which displays a co-tradition regarding this subject. The research method used in this work is the translinguistic study of correlations in semiotic constellations. This concept designs the series of meaning relations that lead to the performance and understanding of sense units in different languages. From the analysis of the illa concept, which denotes ‘light’ in Quechua and Aymara, and the lexematic series that contain its metathesis, we point out the connection of the latter with terms in other languages, firstly Mapuche and secondarily Kallawaya, Chipaya, Lule and Kunza. The geo and ethnolectal diffusion of these ‘resonances of light’ and the parallel similarity in their semiotic constellations reveal the existence of a long standing intercultural life in the Andean world spreading toward the North-Patagonian area.