Verb form of reported clause (Northern Mansi)

RepdVBlcd: Although direct and indirect reported clauses display some differences, the verb of the reported clause appears in base form in both types.


(1) miša lāw-ǝs, χolitan erttam ūś ūs-n mini.
Misa say-pst.3sg tomorrow maybe then town-lat go.prs.3sg
‘Misa said that he was going to the town the next day.’ (S. D.)


(2) miša lāw-ǝs: „χolitan am ūs-n min-ēγ-um”.
Misa say-pst.3sg tomorrow I town-lat go-prs-1sg
‘Misa said: “I’m going to the town tomorrow.”’ (S. D.)


In reported speech, the cited clause is agreed with the subject of the main clause (1), thus the construction is contrasted with direct citations (2), where the subject is always in the first person. In both cases, however, the verb is in its base form (which can be adjusted for person when it is required).

Author: 

Szilvia Németh