(Meadow Mari)

NoWhenMark / WhenWV1 / WhenAff

NoWhenMark: When-clauses are not marked as such. The two events are described in juxtaposition, and the temporal relationship between them must be inferred logically or based on contextual cues.

WhenWV1: When-clauses are marked by the use of an independent word within the main clause.

WhenAff: When-clauses are marked by the use of a special verbal affix.

(1)mišapačer-əš,purə-š,mašalekt-e.
MishaflatLATenterPST.3SGMashaleavePST.3SG
’When Misha entered the flat, Masha left.’ (T. E.)

(2)kunammišapačer-əšpurə-š,mašalekt-e.
whenMishaflatLATenterPST.3SGMashaleavePST.3SG
‘When Misha entered the flat, Masha left.’ (T. E.)

(3)kunampüj-etwel-ənpət-a,tunamwelepükš-əmkond-enpu-at.
whentooth2SGfallCVBend3SGthenonlypeanutACCcarryCVBgive3PL
’They will offer you peanuts only when your teeth have fallen.’ (Bereczki 1990: 78)

(4)olga-mjörat-enšinčə-mekevasilijpessimistgəčoptimist-əšsavərn-en.
OlgaACCloveCVBsitCVB.PRIVasiliypessimistfromoptimistLATturnPST2.3SG
’After falling in love with Olga, Vasiliy turned from a pessimist into an optimist.’ (Riese et al. 2022: 87)

(5)keč-mogajdoklad-əmkoləšt-modečvaraprenijman-me
any_kindlectureACClistenPTCP.PASSfromlaterdebatesayPTCP.PASS
užaštüŋal-eš.
partbegin3SG
’A debate begins after listening to any kind of lecture.’ (Korp.)

In Meadow Mari temporal subordination can be expressed by simply juxtaposing two clauses (1), or using the pronoun kunam ’when’ in the main clause (2) (Bereczki 1990: 77-78). Anteriority can be expressed with the help of the affix -mek(e) combined with the converb (4) (Riese et al. 2022: 272). For posterior meanings the complex postposition deč vara can also be used (5) (Riese et al. 2022: 194).

Author: Bogáta Timár


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