Navajo - Pronominal Affix Question

Discussion of natural languages, or language in general.
Post Reply
User avatar
2+3 clusivity
Avisaru
Avisaru
Posts: 454
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:34 pm

Navajo - Pronominal Affix Question

Post by 2+3 clusivity »

Navajo's Wikipedia page suggests that the language has -- in addition to the typical 3rd person markers -- subject and object affixes for obviates, indefinites and, uh, "space." This latter one confuses me. The translations given seem to line up with dummy pronouns in the English translations.

What is the difference between the "space" and indefinite sets?

Any sources or further reading suggestions are much appreciated.
linguoboy wrote:So that's what it looks like when the master satirist is moistened by his own moutarde.

User avatar
Zaarin
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1136
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:00 pm

Re: Navajo - Pronominal Affix Question

Post by Zaarin »

I don't know about Navajo specifically, but I know a lot of the Athabaskan languages and their cousins, Tlingit and Eyak, in the Northwest have many very specific affixes pertaining to direction and location (I believe Tlingit has over sixty of these). That could be what is being referenced.
"But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me,
What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?”

----
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1418
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: Navajo - Pronominal Affix Question

Post by ---- »

The 3rd person affix for space marks an argument that really is spacial in nature.

compare:

sik'az
PERF-cold.STAT
'it's cold (an object)'

hoozk'az
AREA-PERF-cold.STAT
'it's cold [in here]'

jizk'az
4-PERF-cold.STAT
'one is cold'

azk'az
INDEF-PERF-cold.STAT
'something [an unknown thing] is cold'

where the person marking elements are bolded.

Post Reply