Coding of the causee in transitive constructions (Synya Khanty)

TrCeeP: The causee appears in the same form as the patient of a transitive verb in a non-causative sentence.


(1) ānť-em jērnas jɔ̄t-l.

mother-1sg dress sew-prs.3sg

‘My mother is sewing a dress.’ (S. O.)


(2) ānť-em jērnas jɔ̄t-ti pārlǝ-l-li.

mother-1sg dress sew-inf order-prs-obj.3sg

‘My mother is having a dress sewn.’ (S. O.)


(3) ānť-em ima-jem jērnas jɔ̄t-ti pārlǝ-l-li.

mother-1sg aunt-1sg dress sew-inf order-prs-obj.3sg

‘My mother is having a dress sewn by my aunt.’ (S. O.)


(4) ānť-em-n ima-jem jērnas jɔ̄t-ti pār-l-a.

mother-1sg-loc aunt-1sg dress sew-inf ask-prs-pass.3sg

‘My mother is having a dress sewn by my aunt.’ (S. O.)


(5) ānť-em manem jērnas jɔ̄t-ti pārlǝ-l-li.

mother-1sg I.acc dress sew-inf order-prs-obj.3sg

‘My mother made me sew a dress.’ (S. O.)


(6) ānť-em-n mā jērnas jɔ̄t-ti pār-l-ajm.

mother-1sg-loc I dress sew-inf ask-prs-pass.1sg

‘My mother made me sew a dress.’ (S. O.)


The Synya Khanty intransitive causative construction in the active voice requires the causer to be in the nominative function (1)-(3), (5). The causee is in the accusative form. In Synya Khanty, nominals do not have distinct accusative forms, thus the causee in the object position is unmarked (3)–(4), while pronominal causee objects are in their accusative forms (5). In the passive voice, the causer takes the locative suffix, while the causee is in the nominative (4), (6). The topic requires further research.

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás