Epistemic possibility (Synja Khanty)

EpsPsblV: Epistemic possibility is expressed through the use of verb constructions.

EpsPsblNonaffNonV: Epistemic possibility is expressed through a strategy other than verbal affixes and verb constructions.


(1) xɔ̄taśkepa wɔ̄j wēlti jɔ̄x ār lāŋki wēl-s-ǝt.

possible animal kill- prs.ptc people lot squirrel kill-pst-3pl

‘I think it is possible that the hunters killed a lot of squirrels.’ (S. O.)


(2) wɔ̄j wēl-ti jɔ̄x ār lāŋki wēl-ti wērǝt-s-ǝt.

animal kill-prs.ptc people lot squirrel kill-inf can-pst-3pl

‘I think the hunters were able to kill a lot of squirrels.’(S. O.)


In Synja Khanty, epistemic possibility can be expressed by the xɔ̄taśkepa particle (1), or with the ‘can’ + infinitive construction (2) (S. O., F. L.). The topic requires further research.

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás