Exploring the secundative
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 2:21 pm
This query relates to my own invader conlang, Classical Leheitak, but may be of broader interest. I'd like to learn more about how exactly secundative languages work, beyond the basic.
For those who don't know, in languages like English the direct object corresponds to the transitive patient and the ditransitive theme, whilst the indirect object is the ditransitive recipient. In secundative languages the primary object corresponds to the transitive patient and ditransitive recipient and the secondary object is the ditransitive theme.
I've been planning to use this alignment in Classical Leheitak, but have lately thought, there would be little scope for it as ditransitive verbs are rare in languages I'm familiar with. So I want to find ways to make some more of them and extend the scope for secundativity.
The classic ditransitive situation involves the transfer of an object:
X gave Y to Z
In a secundative language this becomes something like:
X gave Z "ka" Y
Do secundative natlangs extend this to:
- required locatives, e.g. placing objects?
X put the Y on the Z becoming X put.on Z "ka" the Y
- the directional sense of English "to" or "at" with intransitive verbs?
X went to Y becoming X went "ka" Y
X laughed at Y becoming X laughed "ka" Y
- benefactors that are not required (in English, at any rate)?
X did Y for Z becoming X did.for Z "ka" Y
- patients in the presence of an instrument?
X climbed the Y with a Z becoming X climbed.with Z "ka" the Y
Are there any other ways of adding ditransitive verbs to a language that would generate candidates for the secundative treatment? Thanks in advance.
For those who don't know, in languages like English the direct object corresponds to the transitive patient and the ditransitive theme, whilst the indirect object is the ditransitive recipient. In secundative languages the primary object corresponds to the transitive patient and ditransitive recipient and the secondary object is the ditransitive theme.
I've been planning to use this alignment in Classical Leheitak, but have lately thought, there would be little scope for it as ditransitive verbs are rare in languages I'm familiar with. So I want to find ways to make some more of them and extend the scope for secundativity.
The classic ditransitive situation involves the transfer of an object:
X gave Y to Z
In a secundative language this becomes something like:
X gave Z "ka" Y
Do secundative natlangs extend this to:
- required locatives, e.g. placing objects?
X put the Y on the Z becoming X put.on Z "ka" the Y
- the directional sense of English "to" or "at" with intransitive verbs?
X went to Y becoming X went "ka" Y
X laughed at Y becoming X laughed "ka" Y
- benefactors that are not required (in English, at any rate)?
X did Y for Z becoming X did.for Z "ka" Y
- patients in the presence of an instrument?
X climbed the Y with a Z becoming X climbed.with Z "ka" the Y
Are there any other ways of adding ditransitive verbs to a language that would generate candidates for the secundative treatment? Thanks in advance.