on the basis of their inflexional and
functional behaviour. The classes of stems showing identical inflexional and
functional behaviour are called `form classes’. The classification can also
be interpreted as a classification of words, since, by definition, a word
must contain at least one stem.
|
Mishmi shows a tripartite system
based on the type of inflexion the stems can take.
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-- Stems which can be inflected for
case are NOUNS.
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-- Stems which can be inflected for
tense, aspect and mood are VERBS.
|
-- Stems which remain uninflected are
INDECLINABLES.
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Further subclassification is possible
on the basis of additional criteria.
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Nouns contain a subclass of pronouns.
The distinction is based on two factors.
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(i) Pronouns are subclass of
pronouns.
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(ii) Pronouns are differentiated for
person while nouns are always in the third person.
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Indeclinables fall into three
classes.
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--Adjectives : Stems that modify
nouns.
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--Intensifiers : Stems that modify
adjectives.
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--Particles : Stems that occur
virtually independently in a sentence and whose functions are other than
modification.
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2.0.2. A.
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|
|
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Though adverbs do not form a class by themselves since
there are no primary adverbial stems, it is necessary to recognize them as a
functional subclass of indeclinable which modify verbs.
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Mishmi stems possess what can be
termed as multiple class membership, i.e., the same stem
may belong to more
than one class based on its functional behavior.
|
(i) Stems that functionally belong to
noun, verb and adjective classes without any stem modification.
|
| / prą/ |
`good/goodness/to be good’ |
| / maci / |
`jealous/jealousy/ to be jealous’ |
/mad / |
`respectful/respect/to be respectful’ |
/kįnįm/
|
`reasonable/reason/to be reasonable.
|
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(ii) Stems that functionally belong
to noun and verb classes without any stem modification.
|
|
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