Knowledge base · Part XVII — Clause Linkage and Adverbial Subordination · this topic as a network

134. Simultaneous kor 'while' and Overlapping-Event Clauses

How does the language express temporal overlap between two events?

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

The suffix -ike (also hike) forms nouns from verbs or adjectives meaning 'good thing/person', etc., and when introducing a subordinate clause, it expresses meanings such as 'as', 'when', or 'while'. (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936) The conjunctive particle yayne indicates that the next action occurs around the time when a long continued or repeated action ends ('while doing, and finally doing'). (Murasaki 2025: 31) In elder speech, the conjunctive particle ko'ekaari expresses that another action occurs midway through an ongoing action ('in the middle of', 'on the way'). (Murasaki 2025: 32)

The form and its environments

What forms and environments are used for temporal overlap clauses?

The element kor is not a postpositional case particle, but a particle that conjoins two predicates. (Bugaeva 2006: 190) The conjunction kor expresses simultaneous coordination ('while') or conditional meaning ('when/if', equivalent to ko). (Kindaichi & Chiri 1936)

Overlapping events: the simultaneous reading

How does the language mark that two events occur simultaneously?

Unlike Japanese -tsutsu or nagara, the conjunctive particle kor expressing simultaneous or attendant action does not require the subjects of the two clauses to be identical. (Satō 2008: 50, 300, 329) The conjunctive particle kor indicates that two actions take place simultaneously or marks attendant circumstances ('while', '-ing'). (Nakagawa 2024: 340, Satō 2008: 46) In the Saru dialect, the conjunctive particle kor 'while' can be used grammatically even when the preceding and following clauses have different subjects. (Satō 2008: 360, 364) With the conjunctive particle kor 'while', the subjects of the preceding and following clauses do not necessarily have to be identical. (Satō 2008: 344) The conjunctive particle kor expresses simultaneous circumstances. (Satō 2008: 355) kor functions as a conjunctive particle meaning 'while, as, and'. (Satō 2008: 369)

sirokane otcike or sirokane makiri saya eusi wa kasi mikemike kor san hine

silver tray place silver small.knife sheath be.with CONJ surface sparkle CONJ descend CONJ

‘The silver knife on the silver tray, with its sheath, came descending while gleaming on the surface.’

Nakagawa 2024: 340 · SAR

ku=horipi kor en=nukar

1SG.S=dance CONJ 1SG.O=look.at

‘While I was dancing, s/he looked at me.’

Ijäs 2023 · constructed

The progressive: kor followed by an existential

How does the language form a progressive aspect from a temporal overlap marker?

apkas kor an

walk CONJ exist

‘(s/he) is walking’

Nakagawa 2024: 340 · SAR

a=onaha somo mokor no kamuyoritak kor an

4.POSS=father NEG sleep CONJ pray.to.god CONJ exist

‘Father was praying to the gods without sleep.’

Nakagawa 2024: 340 · SAR

Habitual and factual conditional: the whenever reading

How does the language express habitual or factual conditional relations between events?

a=kor huci a=kor ekasi earkinne i=omap wa sirkunne kor i=ukotumam wa hotke=an

4.A=have grandmother 4.A=have grandfather both 4.O=love CONJ become.night CONJ 4.O=hold.together CONJ sleep=4.S

‘My grandmother and grandfather both loved me, and whenever night came they would hold me close and sleep.’

Nakagawa 2024: 347 · SAR

ku=cis a ku=cis a ayne k=esikarun kor ku=cis patek ku=ki kor k=an

1SG.S=weep PFV 1SG.S=weep PFV CONJ 1SG.S=recall CONJ 1SG.S=weep only 1SG.A=do CONJ 1SG.S=exist

‘I cried and cried, and finally, whenever I recalled it, I was doing nothing but weep.’

Ainu Koraci 1991 · SAR

Dialect distribution and cognate forms

How do dialects differ in marking temporal overlap and habitual conditionals?

In Sakhalin Ainu, the conjunctive particle kanne expresses that an action is performed concurrently or in parallel with another action ('while', 'doing and...'). (Murasaki 2025: 31, 46, 96) In many dialects other than Saru and Chitose, kane is used with high frequency like kor to indicate that two actions are performed in parallel. (Nakagawa 2024: 342) In the Tokachi dialect, the form kan is used in addition to kane, basically also indicating that actions are performed in parallel. (Nakagawa 2024: 342) In the Saru dialect, the conjunctionalizer kor has two meanings: simultaneity (corresponding to Shizunai kane) and inevitable consequence (corresponding to Shizunai konno). (reported in Refsing 1986: 251) In western Hokkaido dialects, kor describes simultaneity between two predicates, whereas kane is a verbal auxiliary expressing surprise. (reported in Refsing 1986: 251)

a=kor katkemat utar an=oskur kane kesto an konno oka=an

4.A=have lady PL 4.A=cherish CONJ every.day exist CONJ exist.PL=4.S

‘Cherishing our ladies, we lived on day after day.’

Nakagawa 2024: 342 · SHI