Coding of the causee in intransitive constructions (Synya Khanty)

IntrCeeAccP: The causee appears as the direct object; in nominative languages, this is the accusative case.


(1) ńāwrem pasan-an ɔ̄mas-l.

child table-loc sit-prs.3sg 

‘The child is sitting at the table.’ (S. O.)


(2) ānťe-l ńāwrem-ǝl pasan-a ɔ̄mas-lal-(l)-li.

mother-3sg child-3sg table-lat sit-caus-prs-obj.3sg

‘The mother is getting her child to sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


(3) ānťe-l ńāwrem-ǝl pasan-a ɔ̄mas-ti pārlǝ-l-li.

mother-3sg child-3sg table-lat sit-inf order-prs-obj.3sg

‘The mother is getting her child to sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


(4) ānť-em-n ńāwrem pasan-a ɔ̄mas-ti pār-l-a.

mother-1sg-loc child table-lat sit-inf ask-prs-pass.3sg

‘The mother is getting her child to sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


(5) ānť-em manem pasan-a ɔ̄mas-lal-(l)-li.

mother-1sg I.acc table-lat sit-caus-prs-obj.3sg

‘The mother makes me sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


(6) ānť-em manem pasan-a ɔ̄mas-ti pārlǝ-l-li.

mother-1sg I.acc table-lat sit-inf order-prs-obj.3sg

‘The mother makes me sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


(7) ānť-em-n mā pasan-a ɔ̄mas-ti pār-l-ajm.

mother-sg1-loc I table-lat sit-inf ask-prs-pass.1sg

‘The mother makes me sit at the table.’ (S. O.)


The Synya Khanty intransitive causative construction in the active voice requires the causer to be in the nominative function. 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 (2)–(3), while pronominal causee objects are in their accusative forms (5)–(6) (S. O.). In the passive voice, the causer takes the locative suffix, while the causee is in the nominative (4), (7). The topic requires further research.

Author: 

Nikolett F. Gulyás