Applicative
The applicative ([ ˈaplikaˌtiːf ], from the Latin applicātum 'added' ) is the derived form of a verb which, compared to the non-applicative verb, has an additional non-self-acting participant. If the non-applicative verb is already transitive , the direct object can be replaced by the new participant in the action. The formation of the applicative is a case of diathesis .
The term was already in the 17th century by missionaries in Central America used (verbos applicativos) , the Uto-Aztec languages explored.
Applicative in German
An applicative verb in German is z. B. loaded . While some on a wagon loads , loads to the car with something . In this case the non-applicative verb laden is transitive, i.e. it has a direct object . In the case of laden , the cart , which is not directly involved in the action and is used as an adverbial definition of the goal in the sentence, is introduced as a new direct object through the application formation with loading . He displaces the previously existing object, which in turn becomes an adverbial definition.
In the case of an intransitive verb, such as going , the applicative prefix be also adds a direct object (that which is committed ), but does not displace anything from this position.
Applicative in other languages
Many other languages also have applicative forms. In some the system is much more complex than in German. Several examples for languages with applicative morphology are presented below. For the sake of clarity, the interlinear glossing is shown in a simplified manner.
Ainu
The isolated language Ainu (spoken in Japan ) has an applicative prefix that can introduce local adverbial definitions as an object. This example is taken from the work of David A. Peterson (2002), see literature.
poro | cise | e -horari |
big | House | Applicative living |
"He be a great home lives." |
Juǀ'hoan
The Ju language Juǀ'hoan (spoken in the southwest of Botswana ) has a fairly simple system. It only uses a suffix -a , which, similar to the German be , can form different applicative. If a verb is already transitive, the newly introduced object does not replace the direct object, as in German, but is inserted into the sentence as a secondary object .
For this case study data from the grammar of Patrick J. Dickens (2005) are used, see literature.
locative
In the following example, a location is included as an object.
Aíá | nǀóá- á | ´msì | kò | tzí |
my mother | cooking- applicative | food | secondary object | open |
"My mother cooked the food outside (literally: in the open)." |
Instrumental
However, with the same suffix, the tool with which an action is performed can also be introduced as an object in the sentence.
Mí | bá | ǁohm- a | ǃaìhn | kò | ǀˀáí |
my | father | case- applicative | tree | secondary object | Axe |
"My father felled the tree with an ax." |
Hakha Lai
In the Sino-Tibetan language Hakha Lai (spoken in the west of Myanmar ) there are seven different applicative suffixes . They differentiate the type of adverbial definition that is incorporated into the sentence as a new direct object.
The data for this case study are taken from the work of David A. Peterson (2002), see literature.
Comitative
If an action is carried out together with someone, this can be integrated as a direct object with the suffix -pii .
kalaw | ʔan-ka-thloʔ- pii |
my field | seven me -hacken- comitative .Appl. |
"They hacked my field together with me ." |
Instrumental
The tool with which an action is carried out can be integrated as a direct object with the suffix -naak .
tiilooŋ | khaa | tivaa | kan-Ø- tannaak |
boat | this | flow | we- it -überqueren- Instrumental .Appl. |
" We crossed the river in a boat ." |
Allative / Malefactive
With the suffix -hnoʔ verbs are formed that include a target or a victim of an action as a direct object.
kheeŋ | ʔa-ka-hloʔn- hnoʔ |
dishes | seven me -werfen- allative .Appl. |
"She threw dishes at me ." |
Benefaktiv / Malefaktiv
The suffix -piak denotes verbs that emphasize a beneficiary or victim of an action.
maʔ | khan | vantsuŋmii = niʔ | tsun | tleempii | ʔantiimii | tsuu | ʔantaat | ʔan-Ø-taat- piak = ʔii ... |
then | this | Angel = Ergative | this | large wooden plate | like you said | this | they grind | seven it -schleifen- benefactive case .Appl. = and |
"Then the angels sanded and sanded the so-called large wooden plate for him and ..." |
Additional benefit
Verbs are given the suffix -tseʔm when an action is done in favor of the person carrying out the action and additionally in favor of the person to be emphasized. As far as is known, such an applicative construction is unique worldwide.
thiŋ | ʔa-ka-laak- tseʔm |
Wood | er mich -schleppen- Add.Benefaktiv.Appl. |
"He also carried wood for me (not just for himself)." |
Priority
If it is to be expressed that the agent performed the action in front of someone in terms of time or space, the suffix -kaʔn is used. Like the additional-benefit-construction (see above), the priority construction can only be found in the Hakha Lai.
booy | ʔa-kan-ton- kaʔn |
leader | er us -treffen- Prioritiv.Appl. |
"He met the leader before us ." |
Relinquitive
If the agent leaves someone or something behind before or after performing the action, he or she can be included as a direct object in a verb with the suffix -taak . The reliquitive construction is also very rare, but it may still be found in a few other languages.
ʔalaw | ʔa-kan-thloʔ- taak |
his field | er us -hacken- Relinquitiv.Appl. |
"He left us and hacked his field." |
Classic Nahuatl
Classical Nahuatl has a few applicative suffixes , namely -lia , -ia / - (l) huia .
- Nicchihuilia cē calli. "I'm building him a house."
- Nimitzixquilia tōtoltetl. "I'll fry you an egg."
literature
- Patrick J. Dickens: A Concise Grammar of Juǀˀhoan . (Sources for Khoisan research 17) Köppe-Verlag, Cologne 2005, ISBN 3-89645-145-6 .
- David A. Peterson: Applicatives. Extended new edition of the dissertation, 2002. Not yet published.
- Hadumod Bußmann (Ed.) With the collaboration of Hartmut Lauffer: Lexikon der Sprachwissenschaft. 4th, revised and bibliographically supplemented edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-520-45204-7 .
- Michael Launey, Christopher Mackay: An introduction to classical Nahuatl , ISBN 978-0-521-51840-6 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-521-73229-1 (pbk)
credentials
- ↑ See the book by Launey and Mackay, pp. 203 and 204