(Udmurt)

PAff & Neutr

PAff: The function P is marked with affixation.

Neutr: Case alignment is neutral: the functions S, A, and P are not marked morphologically.

(1)stuďent„šuži”-jezlyʒ́ʒ́-o-z.
studentShuzheeACCreadFUT3SG
’The student is going to read “Shuzhee” [Udmurt novel].’ (Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 148)

(2)koťkudanajnylpi-zejarat-e.
everymotherchild3SG.ACClove3SG
’Every mother loves her child.’ (Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 148)

(3)pinal-josjölju-onońańśi-jo.
childPLmilkdrink3PLandbreadeat3PL
’The children are drinking milk and eating bread.’ (Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 147)

In Udmurt, nouns with the function P can have an accusative or an unmarked form, as opposed to the overall unmarkedness of the functions A and S. Accusative case in the singular is marked by the suffix -ez/-jez (1), in the plural it is -yz or -ty. The suffix -yz is the southern variant, and -ty is used in the middle and northern dialects, but in the literary language, they are in free variation (Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 31–32, 144–148). The accusative forms of possessive marked nouns (2) (ibid. 133) constitute a separate paradigm. Marked and unmarked Ps are contingent on function: indefinite/non-specific Ps are unmarked, definite/specific Ps are marked (cf. Csúcs 2003, Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 31–32, 144–148, É. Kiss – Tánczos 2018).

Author: Laura Horváth


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