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Do verbs classify the shape, size or consistency of absolutive arguments by means of incorporated nouns, verbal affixes or suppletive verb stems?

Summary

This question aims to capture the classification of shape, size or consistency of absolutive arguments with verbal classifiers. Incorporated nouns, verbal affixes or suppletive verb stems are types of verbal classifiers. This feature is concerned with verbal classifiers and not whether the verb agrees with the gender/noun class of the noun. Verbal classifiers can, however, be identical or very similar to possessive, numeral or demonstrative classifier systems.

Procedure

1. Code 1 if there are verbal classifiers such as incorporated nouns, verbal affixes or suppletive verb stems which classify the shape, size or consistency of absolutive arguments,
2. And if they do not simply express verbal agreement with the gender/noun class of the noun.
3. Code 0 if there is no system of verbal classification which indicates the shape, size or consistency of absolutive arguments.
4. Code ? if the distinction between verbal classifiers and noun class agreement is unclear in the grammar.

Examples

Anindilyakwa (ISO 639-3: aoi, Glottolog: anin1240)

Coded 1. In the following example, the classification of shape is captured by nominal incorporation of rreku ‘long.and.flexible’ and further specified by the external nominal mvngarukwa ‘fishing line’. There is also agreement on the verb with the vegetable noun class (the noun class marks non-humans), however, this is not relevant to this feature as we are interested in verbal classifiers and not agreement on the verb with noun class.

narrv-ma-rreku-wurra-ngv-ma               abvrrv-lhangwa     mvngarukwa
3AUG-VE-long.and.flexible-throw-PST-ma    3AUG-POSS          VE.fishing.line
‘they have thrown out their fishing lines’ (van Egmond 2012: 237)

Navajo (ISO 639-3: nav, Glottolog: nava1243)

Coded 1. Navajo has classificatory verbs. Verbal stems agree with the status of an object to indicate how it is either positioned, shaped, sized and/or what its consistency is. In the following examples, both sentences indicate somebody being given a coke. In (a) the stem -'aah for a ‘solid, roundish object’ (SRO) is used and in (b) the stem kaah meaning 'object in an open container' (OC) is used (Williams 2009: 194).

a. coke  naa      nish-'aah 
   coke  for.you  it.I.give-SRO
   ‘I give you a coke (in an unopened can or bottle)’ (Williams 2009: 194)

b. coke   naa       nish-kaah 
   coke   for.you   it-I-give-OC 
   ‘I give you a coke (in a cup)’ (Williams 2009: 194)

Further reading

Aikhenvald, Alexandra. 2000. Classifiers: A typology of noun categorization devices. (Oxford Studies in Typology and Linguistic Theory.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Allan, Keith. 1977. Classifiers. Language 53(2). 285–311.

References

van Egmond, Marie-Elaine. 2012. Enindhilyakwa phonology, morphosyntax and genetic position. Sydney: University of Sydney. (Doctoral dissertation.)

Williams, Jay Scott. 2009. An intermediate grammar of Navajo: A guide for bilingual educators. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico. (Doctoral dissertation.)

Related Features

• GB038 Are there demonstrative classifiers?

• GB057 Are there numeral classifiers?

• GB058 Are there possessive classifiers?

Patron

Jay Latarche and Jeremy Collins