When-­clause markers (Northern Mansi)

WhenV: When-­clauses are marked by the use of a special verb form.

WhenWV2: When-clauses are marked by the use of an independent word (conjunction) within the clause.


(1) tolyγ lakw ťīwǝr-t sāw χūl ōl-nē-te por-at tūp-ǝl wit rakwtā-we.
net round inside-loc lot fish be-ptc.prs-3sg time-loc oar-ins water fall-pass.3sg
‘When there are many fish in the net, the oar starts splashing the water.’ (Rombandeeva 1976: 11)


(2) jij-ima-men āpśiť-um akw mā-t χūľt-ǝs.
come-conv-1du nephew-1sg a place-loc stay-pst.3sg
‘When we were walking, my nephew dropped behind.’ (Rombandeeva 1976: 47)


(3) χuń miša juw-śalt-ǝs, maša kon-kwāl-ǝs.
when Misha in-step-pst.3sg Masha out-start-pst.3sg
‘When Misha entered the room, Masha left.’ (S. D.)


In Northern Mansi, temporal relations between events can be expressed in various ways. It can be coded by participles (1), converbs (2) and conjunctions (3).

Author: 

Szilvia Németh