Knowledge base · Part XIV — Tense, Aspect, Mood, and Modality · this topic as a network

117. Abilitative easkay / eaykap (Ability and Possibility)

How does the language encode ability and inability using a lexical pair of auxiliary verbs?

13 sentences from 10 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

The V(ka)Vt frame: morphology and the person locus

What morphological frame do ability auxiliaries use, and where do person affixes attach?

In Shizunai Ainu, the verbs askay and aykap function as auxiliaries denoting possibility and impossibility. (Refsing 1986: 206, 207) In Shizunai Ainu, askay and aykap obligatorily take the prefix e- when functioning as potential auxiliaries. (Refsing 1986: 206, 207) In Shizunai Ainu, the restrictive postposition ka may be interpolated between the verb and the potential auxiliary for emphasis. (Refsing 1986: 208)

sinotca-easkay=an

song.compose-be.able=4.S

‘I could compose songs.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

easkay: ability and possibility

What types of ability and possibility does the verb 'easkay' express?

In Sakhalin Ainu, the auxiliary verb 'e'askay expresses ability or skill in performing an action. (Murasaki 2025: 37, 42, 94) The transitive verb easkay functions as an auxiliary expressing potentiality ('can / be able to'). (Nakagawa 2024: 315) The auxiliary easkay 'can, be skilled at' is also used as an independent verb. (Satō 2008: 80)

aoka ka sikunu=an easkay pe ne na

we even survive=4.S be.able NMLZ COP FIN

‘We too can survive.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

yaykata kina poka a=kar easkay hi neno

by.oneself greens just 4.A=gather be.able NMLZ since

‘from when she could gather wild greens by herself’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

eaykap and koyaykus: inability distinguished by source

How does the language express inability lexically, and what distinguishes 'eaykap' from 'koyaykus'?

In Sakhalin Ainu, the auxiliary verb 'e'aykah expresses inability due to lack of internal capacity. (Murasaki 2025: 37, 42, 65, 94) In Sakhalin Ainu, the auxiliary verb koyaykus expresses inability due to external circumstances. (Murasaki 2025: 37, 94) The transitive verb eaykap functions as an auxiliary expressing impossibility ('cannot / be unable to') in a broad sense, including lack of ability or circumstantial impediment. (Nakagawa 2024: 315) The auxiliary eaykap 'cannot do' is also used as an independent verb. (Satō 2008: 81) The auxiliary verb koyayekus expresses the inability to endure something or that something is too painful to do. (Satō 2008: 83) In colloquial Ainu, eaykap is never used as an independent verb (*k-eaykap), whereas in literary style, forms such as a-eaykap 'I cannot' are commonly found. (Satō 2008: 90) The auxiliary verb eaykap 'cannot' occurs after the inflected personal form of the verb, in the same position as somo ki. (Satō 2008: 124)

soyne=an ka eaykap kusu

go.out=4.S even be.unable because

‘because I cannot go outside,’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

aynu mosir ka ta ney ta pakno an=an ka eaykap kusu

human land even LOC wherever LOC until exist=4.S even be.unable because

‘because I cannot stay in the human realm indefinitely,’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

somo a=ahunke eaykap pe ne na

NEG 4.A=let.in be.unable NMLZ COP FIN

‘There is no way one cannot let (you) in.’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

e=ma eaykap yakun atuy or ta e=sus ka koyaykus

2SG.S=walk be.unable COND sea place LOC 2SG.S=swim even circ.unable

‘If you cannot walk, you cannot even swim in the sea.’

Ijäs 2023 · constructed