Reflexive pronouns and intensifiers (Northern Mansi)

Refl~Intens: Reflexive pronouns and intensifiers are partially identical in form.


(1) ōjka takwi kol-e ūntti-s-te.
man himself house-3sg build-pst-obj.3sg
’The man has built his house himself.’ (S. D.)

(2) takwinate wiľt-sus-ne ťer-t sunsiγli-te.
woman herself face-see-ptcp.prs bark-loc watch-obj.prs.3sg
‘The woman is watching herself in the mirror.’ (S. D.)


(3) taw akw-pisyγ takwi urǝ-t nomsi.
he/she always him-/herself manner-loc think.prs.3sg
‘He/she only thinks about him-/herself.’ (S. D.)


(4) taw akwaγ noms-aχt-i.
he/she always think-ref-prs.3sg
‘He/she only thinks about him-/herself.’ (T. M.)


In Northern Mansi, the intensification of personal pronouns is coded by attaching the suffix -ki to the pronoun (1) (Kálmán 1976: 51). The intensifed verson of reflexive pronouns can be expressed by the suffixed form of the presonal pronoun (2) or a compound of the suffixed pronoun (3). Reflexivity can also be expressed by other means: by a bare verbal suffix (without a pronoun) (4).

Author: 

Szilvia Németh