5. Verbal roots and stems

5.1 Classes of verbs

Yawarana verb roots can be divided into those yielding an intransitive stem, and those yielding a transitive stem. The only inflectional criterion distinguishing the two classes is the third person prefix ta-, which only occurs (optionally, see 6.1) on transitive stems. Thus, transitive yawanka takes ta- , but intransitive yaruwa does not . ❔

1. 1. iyawë chipëkë, tayawankase

      iyawë i- yawë 3-loc

      chipëkë chipëkë because

      tayawankase ta- yawanka -se 3p-kill-pst

      ‘Because of this, he killed her.’ ()
   2. yaruwakontomo yatum ponoko

      yaruwa =kontomo yaruwa -∅ =kontomo laugh-ipfv=pl

      yatum yatum day

      ponoko   ***

      ‘They laugh every day.’ (Conversación sobre la risa entre GrMe y ElPe : 42)

• potential additional verb classes:
  • detransitive
  • ditransitive
  • "n-adding"
  • accidental lability
  • irregular 'to go'
• all transitive verbs are C‑ or i-initial because of the fossilization of y-
• said y‑ disappears when preceded by the detransitivizer ❕

5.2 Verbalizing suffixes

None of these are productive, although there are many lexemes derived with them.

5.2.1 Intransitive

TBD: Introduction

5.2.1.1 -ta / -na

-ta derives intransitive verbs (Table 5.1).

5.2.1.2 -pamï / -mamï

❕

5.2.2 Transitive

TBD: Introduction

5.2.2.1 -ka

-ka derives transitive verbs. ❕

5.2.2.2 -jtë / -të

• -jtë ❕

5.2.2.3 -ma / -pa

• -ma ❕

5.3 Valency-changing affixes

TBD: Introduction

5.3.1 Detransitivizing prefixes

❔

• ëj-
• s-
• at-

5.3.2 Transitivizing suffixes

• -ma ❔
• does -ka go on intransitive verb stems? ❕

5.3.3 Ditransitivizing suffixes

• -po

5.4 Meaning-changing suffixes

• -po (only occurs with -ri and jra)
• -pëti ❔