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

115. Hortative, Optative, and Cohortative

How does the language express first-person inclusive proposals, wishes, and optative meanings?

The hortative system

What sentence-final particles are used to form hortative constructions?

In the Shizunai dialect, the hortative mood is expressed by adding the sentence-final particle na to the predicate, indicating a mutual invitation or light inclusive command. (Refsing 1986: 205) The particle ta functions to mark optative/wishing sentences, and clauses with this ta can also end with okai. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) The sentence-final okai expresses strong desire. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) The particle oka correlates with the emphatic adverbial particle ta in a kakari-musubi-like manner to express an optative wish ('if only...', 'I wish I could...'). (Nakagawa 2024: 336) In sentence-final position, na may also have a hortative function. (Refsing 1986: 253)

Dialect distribution of the hortative particles

How do the hortative particles vary across dialects?

In the Saru dialect, the particle ro is used to express the hortative function. (reported in Refsing 1986: 205) In Chitose Ainu, ro can also be used in clauses with a first-person singular subject and a second-person singular object. (Nakagawa 2024: 334) To express the cohortative meaning 'let's do (something)', the final particle ro is used in Saru, Chitose, Horobetsu, Yakumo, Asahikawa, Nayoro, and Sōya; rok is used in Asahikawa, Nayoro, and Obihiro; and no is used in Urakawa and Samani. (Nakagawa & Fukazawa 2022: 8.4)

The cohortative: inclusive fourth-person subject

What subject marking appears in hortative clauses with inclusive meaning?

The sentence-final particle ro expresses hortative/cohortative meaning ('let's...'). (Shibatani 1990, Satō 2008: 34) The particle ro is an imperative particle directed to the first-person plural ('let us...'). (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) The particle ro is most frequently placed after fourth-person plural verbs to invite someone ('let's...'), but Tamura (1988a) notes it can be used with other persons, showing examples with first-person singular and third person. (reported in Nakagawa 2024: 334) The phrase itak-an ro expresses 'let's talk'. (Ōno 2022: 12.6) The modern expression Iku-an ro! is used to mean 'Let's drink together' as a toast. (Ōno 2022: 12.8)

Volitional and deliberative uses

How does the language express the speaker's own volition or proposal?

Relationship to the imperative, prohibitive, and desiderative

How does the hortative construction differ formally from the imperative and prohibitive?

The hortative sentence-final na is probably identical with the sentence-final na derived from the conjunctionalizer na implying an unstated order or admonition. (proposed in Refsing 1986: 205)