Block 21 · pages 194-202

Chapter 4: Argument Structure – Instrumental-Comitative, Two Complements, and Reflexive Constructions

4.3.6 Verbs with instrumental-comitative complement (anda)

The preposition anda marks instrumental ('with an ax') or comitative ('accompany with') meanings. With certain intransitive reciprocal-like verbs, the comitative complement is obligatory for a non-reciprocal reading (e.g., haŋgá 'pass' vs. haŋgá anda X 'accompany X'; sáawa 'look alike' vs. sáawa anda X 'look like X'). With movement verbs, anda means 'in the direction of'. The verb dá 'make' with anda X means 'make sb./sth. into X'.

4.3.7 Verbs with two complements

Some verbs take both an unmarked complement and a dative complement marked with se. The dative typically encodes the recipient or beneficiary. Examples: ná 'give' (na X [Y se]), záw 'take to', hár 'tell', dá 'do', cí 'say', gaŋgá 'keep from', s-ə́kən 'show'. Causative verbs also often take two complements, with the human causee marked by dative se. Non-human causees are not marked with se.

4.3.8 Verbs taking two unmarked complements

This group consists of causative movement verbs. They can have two unmarked nominal complements: one expressing a location, the other a causee/item. When a complement is pronominalized, the appropriate postposition appears. If no human is involved, the pronominalized location gets dative marking and the causee is unmarked (e.g., a-ṣṣ-ə́wər ée-ɣar i-kád-en 'she put the pot on the fireplace' > a-ṣṣ-ə́wər íi-se ée-ɣar 'she put the pot on it'). If a human is involved, the location remains unmarked and the human causee takes dative (e.g., a-ss-ə́wən barr-én farká 'she made the children mount the donkey' > a-ss-ə́wən íi-se farká 'she made them mount the donkey').

4.3.9 Reflexive constructions

4.3.9.1 Reflexive constructions

There is no reflexive pronoun. Overt reflexives use the noun ga (plural j-en) 'self', possessed by the subject (e.g., a-háw ay-n gá 'he attached himself'). The reflexive NP can take postpositions, notably se 'for oneself' (e.g., a-mm-ə́gəz ay-n gá se 'may he look after it for himself'). With the preposition anda, it emphasizes the referent (e.g., surgóy anda ay-n gá 'the woman herself').

4.3.9.2 Reflexive verbs

Some verbs can denote a reflexive event when used without an overt direct object, e.g., hímay 'wash' (t-a-ŋgud a-hímay 'the girl washed herself').

Keywords : instrumental comitative anda double complement dative causative reflexive self