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Article published In: Studies in Language
Vol. 48:2 (2024) ► pp.390–435

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A binary inflectional voice contrast in Mabaan (Western Nilotic)

ORCiD logo with link | Aalborg University
Published online: 3 October 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.22023.and
Abstract
In Mabaan, a Western Nilotic language, there is a binary inflectional voice contrast in the morphology of verbs. In addition to a morphologically unmarked basic voice, there is a fully productive applicative voice, which is morphologically marked. This applicative voice may be called circumstantial in order to distinguish it from another applicative voice, which is derivational, namely benefactive. The circumstantial voice turns an adjunct into an object, making an intransitive verb transitive and a transitive verb ditransitive. In a main clause, however, a transitive verb needs to be detransitivized via antipassive derivation in order for an adjunct to become object through the circumstantial voice. In some types of subordinate clauses, by contrast, any verb can get the circumstantial voice, whatever its transitivity, derivational status and meaning. This voice is obligatory in relative clauses when the relativized constituent is an adjunct and in some types of adverbial clauses.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Basic clause structure
    • 2.1Constituent order, indexation of core arguments, and tense
    • 2.2Adjuncts
      • 2.2.1Adjuncts with oblique marking
      • 2.2.2Adjuncts without oblique marking
    • 2.3Simple and derived verb stems
      • 2.3.1Antipassive verbs
      • 2.3.2Benefactive verbs
  • 3.Circumstantial voice in main clauses
  • 4.Circumstantial voice in subordinate clauses
    • 4.1Relative clauses
      • 4.1.1Relativization of subjects and base objects
      • 4.1.2Relativization of adjuncts in intransitive and copulative clauses
      • 4.1.3Relativization of adjuncts in transitive clauses
    • 4.2Adverbial clauses
      • 4.2.1Adverbial clauses with an intransitive or copulative base verb
      • 4.2.2Adverbial clauses with a transitive base verb
  • 5.Morphology of the circumstantial voice
    • 5.1Circumstantial voice with an intransitive base
    • 5.2Circumstantial voice with a transitive base
  • 6.Western Nilotic outlook
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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Creissels, Denis
2024. Transitivity, Valency, and Voice, DOI logo

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