Situational possibility (Udmurt)

SitPsblV

SitPsblV:* Situational possibility is expressed through the use of verb constructions.

(1)soberegineotćyjukiśty-nyjara.
afteronlythere.ILLgrainpourINFallowed
’Grain may be poured there only after it.’ (UdmCorp.)

(2)jarabešbarmak-enopony-ny,siľinty-je.
allowedbeshbarmakILLtooputINFmeatplaceILL
’It can be put into beshbarmak [food of Turkic peoples] instead of meat.’ (UdmCorp.)

(3)heľsinki-yntolaltešunyt,uram-yniźy-teknovetly-ny
HelsinkiINEwinterwarmstreetINEhatABEtoogoINF
lue.
be_possible.3SG
’It is warm in Helsinki in the winter, it is even possible to walk the streets without wearing a hat.’ (Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 108)

(4)tonbygat-iśk-odkoťkytyśnotyl-ezǯuaty-ny
youcanPRS2SGeverywhere.ELAtoolightACClightINF
’You can turn on the light everywhere.’ (UdmCorp.)

(5)monbygat-iśk-okylburgožja-ny,pićijakektyn-nyno
IcanPRS1SGpoemwriteINFlittledance INFand
ymkreź-enšudy-ny!
mouthinstrumentINSCOMplayINF
’I can write poems, dance a little and play the jaw harp!’ (https://udmshundy.ru/archives/143)

In Udmurt, situational possibility can be expressed either by a combination of the auxiliaries jara ’may, can’ (1)–(2), lue ’be possible’ (lit. ’will be’) (3) and an infinitive or a construction involving the verb bygatyny ’can, be able to’ and an infinitive (4)–(5) (see e.g. Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 108–109).

Author: Laura Horváth


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