| |
|
{
a hikho-yi
}2 |
|
| 4.
|
pfo-no1
|
{
} |
so-khro pie3
|
| |
|
{
ahikho
} |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
he1
helped3 Athikho2
|
|
|
The generalised rule that the direct object is marked by
-yi for living beings (including plants) needs,
however, to be qualified in terms of exceptions and other
hedges : There are three rather specific exceptions to the
rule of the sentient direct object being marked by -yi.
Firstly, the direct object of the verb complex pfo+
motion verb (= take and move) ‘to take away ; to bring’
is not marked for nonhuman animates.
|
| |
|
|
{ kosa
}2 |
|
| 467 |
.1. |
kaisa1 |
{
} |
pfo vue
3 |
| |
|
|
{ *kosa-yi
} |
|
| |
|
|
Kaisa1
brought3 cats2
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ osi-na-hi
}2 |
|
| |
2.
|
pfo-no1 |
{
} |
pfo-lo-*ie3 |
| |
|
|
{*osi-na-yi-hi
} |
|
| |
|
|
he1
took away3 the
dog2 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ hodzü-na-hi
}2 |
|
| |
3.
|
Hrenia-no1 |
{
} |
pfo vue3
|
| |
|
|
{ *hodzü-na-yi-hi} |
|
| |
|
|
Hrenia1
brought3 the
hen2 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ otu-na-hi
}2 |
|
| |
4.
|
kaiho-no1
|
{
} |
iniu3
-li4 pfo tae5 |
| |
|
|
{ *otu-na-yi-hi
} |
|
| |
|
|
Kaiho1
took5 the domestic
|
bovine2
to4 (the) village)3
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ ovo }1 |
|
|
|
5. |
|
{
} |
pfo ta le-shie2
|
| |
|
|
{*ovo-yi
} |
|
|
|
|
let’s take away2
(the) pig1
|
|
|
Note: |
however, that human
nouns take -yi, whatever the verb. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ sanni-yi
}1 |
|
|
460 |
1. |
|
{
} |
pfo vue2 |
| |
|
|
{ *sanni
} |
|
| |
|
|
brought2
Sanny1 |
(a human proper noun) |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
{ ni-yi
}2 |
|
| |
2. |
ai 1 |
{
} |
polis3
he4 sa ta5
le6 |
| |
|
|
{ *ni } |
|
| |
|
|
I1
will6 take5
you |
(sg.)2
to4 (the) police3
|
|
The second exception is more
interesting. It is a case of a word-complex on its way to becoming a
fullfledged compound evincing signs of a residual synactic life. The
word-complex is cü-vu ‘house-to-go’. The verb expressive of patrilocality
means ‘marry (sbj: fem. sg.)’. Now, look at the sentence.
|
| |
{
loli }2 |
|
| 469.
|
lolia1
{ } |
cü-vue 3 |
| |
{*loli-yi
} |
|
| |
Lolia1
married3 Loli2
|
|
|
Had cü-vu been a full compound, it would be syntactically
insular (for some evidence of its syntactic insularity,
see 5.2.2.) allowing its animate DO NP to take, true to
rule, -yi. That it does not is a function of its
role as a genitive attribute of the nominal component of
a compound, and as genitives are typically phonically unmarked,
loli is not marked. loli in 458 is at
the same time a DO and a genitival attribute to the nominal
component of a compound.
|
The third exception
is the verb da. etymologically meaning ‘to
beat’ which achieves the meaning of ‘to butcher’ in terms
of case marking on its DO.
|
| 470
|
a. |
sibo1
osi2 dae3
Sibo1 |
butchered3
(a) dog2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
b. |
sibo1
os-yi2 dae3
|
Sibo1
beat3 (a) dog2
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Exceptions to the rule of -yi
marking plants are again specific ; generalising the exceptions, one could
say that these (exceptions) are considered inanimate :
|
| |
|
{
v**hobu }2 |
|
| 471
|
1.
|
ai
1
{
} |
shue
3 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
{ *vuhobu-yi
} |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I1
planted3
|
banana plants2
|
|
