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

95. Oblique and Adjunct Syntax; Verbless and Presentational Clauses

How does Hokkaido Ainu structure oblique phrases and adjuncts, and what verbless or presentational clause types exist?

4 sentences from 12 sources · every sentence names the pages it rests on

Ambient predicates: the 0-place (完全動詞) verb class

What verb class in Hokkaido Ainu expresses ambient states without a subject, and how is it formed?

Expressions referring to meteorological phenomena and ambient states are subjectless. (Shibatani 1990)

me-an

coldness-exist

‘It is cold.’

Nakagawa 2024: 126;Shibatani 1990: 19 · SAR

sir-pirka

scene-be.good

‘The weather is fine.’

Nakagawa 2024: 126 · HK

haw-as

voice-stand

‘There is a sound; it is said (an utterance is occurring).’

Nakagawa 2024: 127–128 · HK

merayke=an ka somo ki no

feel.cold=4.S even NEG do ADV

‘Without even feeling cold…’

Nakagawa 2024: 130 · SAR

Oblique adjuncts and the locational predicate gap

Can a bare oblique phrase (postpositional phrase, locational NP, temporal adverb) serve as the predicate of a main clause in Hokkaido Ainu?

Oblique arguments are marked by postpositions. (Bugaeva 2012: 472–473) An adverbial adjunct may consist of a conjunction, an interjection, an adverb, or a conjunctionalized sentence. (Refsing 1986: 274) An adverbial adjunct may in some cases be followed by a restrictive postposition. (Refsing 1986: 274)

iwor or ta an wa

mountains inside.of LOC exist.S CONJ

‘being in the mountains …’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

e=kor iwatarap apunno hon or ta anakne apunno an wa

2SG.A=have infant gently womb inside.of LOC TOP gently exist.S CONJ

‘your infant, peacefully in your womb …’

ILCAA Ainu materials 1976 · SAR

Labelling, naming, and specificational uses of the copular frame

How does Hokkaido Ainu use the copular frame for labelling and naming referents?

tap a=ye katu Piratur sekor a=ye hawe ne

now 4.A=say way Piratur QUOT 4.A=say NMLZ COP

‘The way it is now called is 'Piratur'.’

Nakagawa 2024: 393 · SAR

Formal-noun fragments: polar questions, exclamatives, and answers

How does Hokkaido Ainu form polar questions and exclamatives using bare formal nouns without a copula or existential?

e=eraman hawe

2SG.S=understand NMLZ

‘You understood? / You understood!’

Nakagawa 2024: 395, 409 · SAR

ku=nu ru-we un

1SG.A=hear track-POSS FIN

‘Yes, I heard it.’

Nakagawa 2024: 396 · HK

mak ne hine nea CAWAN isam isam

how COP CONJ that bowl NEG.exist NEG.exist

‘How can that bowl be gone, gone?’

Nakagawa 2024: 410 · SAR

Elliptical answers and minimal clauses

What is the standard strategy for answering content questions in Hokkaido Ainu?

somo ku=oman

NEG 1SG.S=go

‘I am not going.’

· constructed

Nominal-frame conditionals: B ne yakun

How does Hokkaido Ainu form conditional clauses based on class membership or identity using the copula?

aynu ku=ne yakun

Ainu 1SG.S=COP COND

‘if I am an Ainu …’

· constructed

nispa ne yakun

chief COP COND

‘if (he) is a chief …’

· constructed