Person marking on verbs (Surgut Khanty)

APM: The verb displays person agreement with only A.


(1a) mīša āmp wū-ʌ.

Misha dog see-prs.3sg

‘Misha can see the dog.’


(1b) mīša ʌüw-at wū-ʌ.

Misha he/she-acc see-prs.3sg

‘Misha can see him/her.’


(1c) mīša nüŋ-at wū-ʌ.

Misha you-acc see-prs.3sg

‘Misha can see you.’


(2a) nüŋ amp wū-ʌ-ən? wū-ʌ-əm.

you dog see-prs-2sg see-prs-1sg

‘Do you see the dog? I do.’


(2b) nüŋ man-t wū-ʌ-ən? wū-ʌ-əm.

you I-acc see-prs-2sg see-prs-1sg

‘Do you see me? I do.’


(2c) nüŋ ʌīn-at wū-ʌ-ən? wū-ʌ-ɣəʌ-am.

you they_two-acc see-prs-2sg see-prs-du.obj-1sg

‘Do you see those two? I do.’


In Surgut Khanty, verbs only agree with the agent, irrespective whether the agent is expressed by a nominal (1a, 2a) or pronominal subject (1b, 1c, 2b). The verbal suffixes in the determinate conjugation indicate the number of the patient. Different morphemes refer to dual and plural patients, but there is no agreement between the verb and the person of the patient (2c). In the description of the present typological parameter, only active verbs are considered.

Author: 

Márta Csepregi