Knowledge base · Part XII — The Simple Clause and Nonverbal Predication · this topic as a network

97. Existential and Locational Clauses (an / oka)

How does Hokkaido Ainu form existential and locational clauses, including number suppletion and the negative existential isam?

9 sentences from 22 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

Semantics and clause structure

How do the existential predicates an (sg) and oka (pl) express existence and location for both animate and inanimate entities?

The equative construction equivalent can take an 'exist' (the antonym of isam 'not exist') as its predicate. (Bugaeva 2015: 53) The same verbs of existence and non-existence ('an [SG], 'okay [PL], 'isam) are used whether the existing entity is human or non-human. (Murasaki 2025: 17) The existential verb an and the copula ne can both express a static state and a change of state. (Nakagawa 2022: 14.2)

Strict intransitivity and the locational frame

How are existential clauses strictly intransitive, and how is location expressed as an oblique?

Locative 'be/exist' is expressed by the intransitive locative copula an/oka 'exist, appear (SG/PL)'. (Bugaeva 2012: 500–501) There are three ways to express the location of existence: using adverbs such as teeta 'here', taata 'there', and nahta 'where'; attaching the postposition 'ohta to place names; or attaching the locative suffix -ta to positional nouns. (Murasaki 2025: 17)

poro cise an hine

big house exist CONJ

‘There was a big house, and —’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

orwano ku=cise or ta ku=an kor

then 1SG.POSS=house place LOC 1SG.S=exist while

‘Then, while I was in my house, —’

Nakagawa 2024: 166 · ISH

Number suppletion: an (sg) and oka / okay (pl)

How does number suppletion work for the existential verb between singular an and plural oka?

'an is the singular existential verb meaning "to exist / to be". (Murasaki 2025: 62) 'okay is the plural existential verb meaning "to exist / to be". (Murasaki 2025: 62) In the Saru and Chitose dialects, the plural form of the existence verb okay appears without final -y as oka. (Nakagawa & Fukazawa 2022: 8.3)

mippoho tan kotan ta an

grandchild this village LOC exist

‘My grandchild lives in this village.’

· constructed

mippoutari tan kotan ta oka

grandchildren this village LOC exist.PL

‘My grandchildren live in this village.’

· constructed

a=kor kotan ta oar sinen ne oka=an wa

4.A=have village LOC truly one COP exist.PL=4.S CONJ

‘I was living all alone in my village, and —’

· constructed· SHI

The negative existential isam

How is the negative existential isam used, and does it take person affixes like an?

mak ne hine nea cawan isam isam

how COP CONJ that bowl not.exist not.exist

‘Where has that bowl gone? Gone?’

Nakagawa 2024: 410 · SAR

sinen ka isam ruwe ne

one even not.exist track-POSS COP

‘There was not even one.’

Ainu Koraci 1991 · SAR

Grammaticalized uses of an

What grammaticalized constructions does the existential verb an participate in?

The existential verb an can express the arrival of a time period or change to existence when used with temporal nouns. (Nakagawa 2024: 119, Satō 2008: 34)