26 Applicative constructions in Kartvelian
-
Kevin Tuite
Abstract
Two types of applicative constructions-benefactive and superessive (or locative)- occur in all four languages of the Kartvelian family (Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian and Laz). The principal marker of Kartvelian applicatives is a single-vowel morpheme preceding the verb root (“preradical vowel”). In this chapter, the two types of applicatives are illustrated with examples from Georgian and its sister languages. The applicatives are compared to “version”, a grammatical category commonly employed in Kartvelian linguistics, which indicates the orientation of the action denoted by the verb either toward the referent of the subject, or that of the indirect object. Also presented are applicativa tantum with lexically-specified benefactive or superessive applicative markers; double applicatives; and morphological and syntactic lookalikes. The chapter includes a discussion of the origin of the preradical vowels which mark applicatives in Kartvelian. Whereas the applicative markers of other language families tend to come from adpositions or serial verbs, no such source can be identified for Kartvelian preradical vowels, which are clearly very ancient in this language family.
Abstract
Two types of applicative constructions-benefactive and superessive (or locative)- occur in all four languages of the Kartvelian family (Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian and Laz). The principal marker of Kartvelian applicatives is a single-vowel morpheme preceding the verb root (“preradical vowel”). In this chapter, the two types of applicatives are illustrated with examples from Georgian and its sister languages. The applicatives are compared to “version”, a grammatical category commonly employed in Kartvelian linguistics, which indicates the orientation of the action denoted by the verb either toward the referent of the subject, or that of the indirect object. Also presented are applicativa tantum with lexically-specified benefactive or superessive applicative markers; double applicatives; and morphological and syntactic lookalikes. The chapter includes a discussion of the origin of the preradical vowels which mark applicatives in Kartvelian. Whereas the applicative markers of other language families tend to come from adpositions or serial verbs, no such source can be identified for Kartvelian preradical vowels, which are clearly very ancient in this language family.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Purpose and Aim of the Series V
- Contents VII
-
Part I: General chapters
- 1 Applicative constructions: An introductory overview 1
- 2 Questionnaire on applicative constructions 57
- 3 Languages examined or referred to in the present book 61
-
Part II: Case studies
-
Individual languages
- 4 Hul’q’umi’num’ Salish applicative constructions 79
- 5 Applicatives in Upper Necaxa Totonac 115
- 6 Applicatives in Toba/Qom (Guaykuruan) 143
- 7 The applicative constructions of Mapudungun 179
- 8 Applicative constructions and non-applicative uses of applicative morphology in Tswana (Bantu) 211
- 9 Applicativization in Amharic 243
- 10 Applicative constructions in Standard Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) 279
-
Areal overviews
- 11 Contact-induced diffusion of applicatives in northwestern Amazonia? 307
- 12 Applicatives in Papuan languages 347
- 13 Applicative constructions in Australian Aboriginal languages 391
- 14 Applicativizing preverbs in selected European languages 419
-
Genealogical overviews
- 15 Applicatives in Northern Uto-Aztecan languages 475
- 16 Applicative constructions in Uto-Aztecan languages from Northwestern Mexico 509
- 17 Applicative constructions in the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan (Eskimo-Aleut) languages 557
- 18 Applicatives across Algonquian 601
- 19 Applicative constructions in Mayan languages: An overview with special focus on Chontal 645
- 20 Applicative constructions in two Otomanguean families: Otomi and Zapotec 679
- 21 The polyfunctional applicative *-ɪd in Bantu languages 719
- 22 B-applicatives and I-applicatives in Atlantic languages (Niger-Congo) 749
- 23 Nilotic applicatives 783
- 24 Applicative constructions in Cushitic 835
- 25 Applicative constructions in the Northwest Caucasian languages 869
- 26 Applicative constructions in Kartvelian 913
- 27 Applicative derivations in Kiranti 943
- 28 Applicative constructions in languages of western Indonesia 971
-
Part III: Theoretical/Comparative outlook
- 29 Understanding applicatives 1007
- 30 Applicatives cross-linguistically: Features and distribution 1033
- 31 Applicative and related constructions: Results and perspectives 1045
- Language index 1077
- Subject index 1083
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Purpose and Aim of the Series V
- Contents VII
-
Part I: General chapters
- 1 Applicative constructions: An introductory overview 1
- 2 Questionnaire on applicative constructions 57
- 3 Languages examined or referred to in the present book 61
-
Part II: Case studies
-
Individual languages
- 4 Hul’q’umi’num’ Salish applicative constructions 79
- 5 Applicatives in Upper Necaxa Totonac 115
- 6 Applicatives in Toba/Qom (Guaykuruan) 143
- 7 The applicative constructions of Mapudungun 179
- 8 Applicative constructions and non-applicative uses of applicative morphology in Tswana (Bantu) 211
- 9 Applicativization in Amharic 243
- 10 Applicative constructions in Standard Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) 279
-
Areal overviews
- 11 Contact-induced diffusion of applicatives in northwestern Amazonia? 307
- 12 Applicatives in Papuan languages 347
- 13 Applicative constructions in Australian Aboriginal languages 391
- 14 Applicativizing preverbs in selected European languages 419
-
Genealogical overviews
- 15 Applicatives in Northern Uto-Aztecan languages 475
- 16 Applicative constructions in Uto-Aztecan languages from Northwestern Mexico 509
- 17 Applicative constructions in the Inuit-Yupik-Unangan (Eskimo-Aleut) languages 557
- 18 Applicatives across Algonquian 601
- 19 Applicative constructions in Mayan languages: An overview with special focus on Chontal 645
- 20 Applicative constructions in two Otomanguean families: Otomi and Zapotec 679
- 21 The polyfunctional applicative *-ɪd in Bantu languages 719
- 22 B-applicatives and I-applicatives in Atlantic languages (Niger-Congo) 749
- 23 Nilotic applicatives 783
- 24 Applicative constructions in Cushitic 835
- 25 Applicative constructions in the Northwest Caucasian languages 869
- 26 Applicative constructions in Kartvelian 913
- 27 Applicative derivations in Kiranti 943
- 28 Applicative constructions in languages of western Indonesia 971
-
Part III: Theoretical/Comparative outlook
- 29 Understanding applicatives 1007
- 30 Applicatives cross-linguistically: Features and distribution 1033
- 31 Applicative and related constructions: Results and perspectives 1045
- Language index 1077
- Subject index 1083