Adverbs, in Mishmi, are derived from other classes. An
adverb contains a stem or a bound morpheme and an adverbializing suffix. The
structure shows only the inner layer of stem formation and centers on the
morphological processes that modify the semantic content of the stems to
form stems of varying complexity. The study of the structure fails to show
any simple adverb stems.
2.2.4.2.1.
Primary Derived Stems :
These are the polymorphemic stems consisting of two bound
morphemes. The structure is parallel to the case inflexion of nouns,
specifically, the spatio-temporal inflexions. Hence the first part of the
stem may be considered on par with a noun but without free-occurrence.
/ya-gõ/
`across’
Other stems are analyzable into bound morphemes but the
individual morphemes cannot be assigned any class membership.
/bś-dõ/
`again’
/bś-pį/
`suddenly’
/bś-ge/
`sometimes’
/bś-tył/
`sometimes’
/mį-tył/
`soon’
/-d/
`more’
2.2.4.2.2.:
Secondary Derived Stems
These are polymorphemic stems derived from simple stems
by suffixing an adverbializer or a case marker. The simple stem is either a
noun or an adjective.
2.2.4.2.2.1.
Derivatives from Adjectives :
The derivative suffixes
are /-jyim/, /-tyą/, /-a/ and /-ų. The
first two are in free variation in most cases. In
the examples given below, the structure is read as
adjective-adverbializer.
/kapį-tyą/
`alone, lonely’
/kad
tyą/
`neatly’
/kad-jyim/
`neatly’
/miẽ-tyą/
`newly’
/miẽ-jyim/
`newly’
/biyõ-jyim/
`innocently’
/tamé-tyą/
`madly’
/tamé-jyim/
`madly’
/dłk-a/
`sadly, unhappily’
/tįwč-a/
`conscienciously’
/įsa-ų/
`freshly’
/prą-ų/
2.2.4.2.2.2.
Derivatives from Nouns :
All locative Noun Phrases function as
adverbials in sentences.