Marking of nominal conjunction and comitative (Surgut Khanty)

JuxtaN&DM: Juxtaposition (zero-marking) is used to express nominal conjunction; dependent marking is used to express the comitative.

ConnN&DM: A medial connective is used to express nominal conjunction; dependent marking is used to express the comitative.


(1) nüŋ jӯs ārəɣ, jӯs måńť mӯńť-a!

you old song old tale tell-imp.2sg

‘Sing me old songs, tell me old fairy tales!’ (Csepregi 1998: 70.)


(2) mīša pānə māša jaqə ʌaŋ-ɣən.

misha and masha into step.pst-3du

‘Misha and Masha entered.’ (L. N. K.)


(3) īmi-ɣən īki-ɣən waʌ-ʌ-əɣən.

wife-du husband-du live-prs-3du

‘The man and woman are living.’


(4) mīša māša-nat wɔ̄č-nam mən.

misha masha-com town-apr go.pst.3sg

‘Misha went with Masha to the town.’ (L. N. K.)


In Surgut Khanty, nominals can be linked with the bare juxtaposition of the elements (1) or with a conjunction (2). The coordination of two subjects can be marked with dual number markers as well, attached to both subjects (3). Comitative functions are marked with the case suffix, which is attached to the subordinate element of the construction (4).

Author: 

Márta Csepregi