Nominal and verbal conjunctions (Surgut Khanty)

Juxta: Both nominal and verbal conjunction are expressed through juxtaposition.

NomConj~VConj: Nominal conjunction and verbal conjunction are expressed in part through the use of the same coordinating conjunction(s) and in part through the use of distinct strategies.

NomConjNotVConj: Nominal conjunction and verbal conjunction are expressed through distinct strategies.


(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) säŋk-i, säŋk-i, kēmə lükəmt-i.

hit-pst.pass.3sg hit-pst.pass.3sg out push-pst.pass.3sg

‘They hit him and hit him and pushed him out.’ (Csepregi 1998: 70.)


(3) īmi pānə īki waʌ-ʌ-əɣən.

wife and husband live-prs-3du

‘The man and woman are living.’


(4) īki jaqə ʌaŋ, pānə ӯʌə ӯməʌ.

man into step.pst.3sg and down sit.pst.3sg

‘The man entered and sat down.’


(5) īmi-ɣən īki-ɣən waʌ-ʌ-əɣən.

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

‘The man and woman are living.’


(6a) mīša pānə māša jaqə ʌaŋ-ɣən, ӯʌə ӯməʌ-ɣən.

Misha and Masha into step.pst-3du down sit.pst-3du

‘Misha and Masha entered and sat down.’ (L. N. K.)


(6b) mīša-ɣən māša-ɣən jaqə ʌaŋ-ɣən, pānə ӯʌə ӯməʌ-ɣən.

Misha-du Masha-du into step.pst-3du and down sit.pst-3du

‘Misha and Masha entered and sat down.’ (L. N. K.)


In Surgut Khanty, both nominals (1) and verbs (2) can be linked only by the bare juxtaposition of the elements. It is possible to use the pānә ‘and’ complementizer in both configurations (3), (4). Two nominal subjects can also be coordinated if a dual marker is attached to both elements (5). In the case of verbal coordination, however, dual markers cannot be used. The only option for verbs is the bare juxtaposition of the elements or linking them with a complementizer (6a), (6b).

Author: 

Márta Csepregi