Basic ditransitive word order (Surgut Khanty)

RT: The basic ditransitive word order is RT, whether either of both items appear as nouns or pronouns.


(1a) īmi ńēwrem ńāń-at mə-ʌ.

woman child bread-ins give-prs.3sg

‘The woman is giving bread to the child.’ (L. N. K.)


(1b) īmi mānt ńāń-at mə-ʌ.

woman I.acc bread-ins give-prs.3sg

‘The woman is giving bread to me.’ (L. N. K.)


(2a) īmi ńēwrem-a ńāń mə-ʌ.

woman child-lat bread give-prs.3sg

‘The woman is giving bread to the child.’ (L. N. K.)


(2b) īmi māntem ńāń mə-ʌ.

woman I.dat bread give-prs.3sg

‘The woman is giving bread to me.’ (L. N. K.)


(3a) īmi-nə ńēwrem ńāń-at mə-ʌ-i.

woman-loc child bread-ins give-prs-pass.3sg

‘The woman is giving bread to the child.’ (L. N. K.)


(3b) īmi-nə ńāń-at mə-ʌ-oj-əm.

woman-loc I bread-ins give-prs-pass-1sg

‘The woman is giving bread to me.’ (L. N. K.)


In Surgut Khanty, ditransitive verbs have two argument structures. In the typical construction, the recipient takes the accusative case (which is identical to the nominative for nouns), while the object is marked with the -at instructive-finalis suffix (1a), (1b). In the other construction (which is less frequent), the theme takes the accusative case, while the recipient gets an directional suffix (nouns take the lative -a marker or the approximative -nam suffix, while pronouns get the dative case ending) (2a), (2b). The passive construction is also frequent in Surgut Khanty. In the latter construction, the agent is marked with the -nə locative suffix, the recipient, being the grammatical subject of the sentence, is presented in its nominative form, while the theme takes instrucive-finalis case ending (3a), (3b). In all three constructions, the recipient precedes the object (theme).

Author: 

Márta Csepregi