Morphology[14] Halkomelem

1 morphology

1.1 verbs
1.2 nouns
1.3 adjectives
1.4 affixes
1.5 possessive affixes
1.6 ordering of affixes

morphology

like majority of salishan languages, halkomelem polysynthetic. word in halkomelem may consist of root standing alone , unaltered, or of root altered 1 or more processes of internal modification and/or accompanied 1 or more affixes. since words (with exception of few adverbs) can function predicate heads, there no basis distinguishing verbs, nouns, , adjectives. there other bases, however, distinguishing these classes. verbs have progressive forms , not take possessive affixes, while nouns not have progressive forms , take possessive affixes. adjectives have neither progressive forms, nor take possessive affixes. compounding non-existent in language, although scholars believe have found few possible examples.

the majority of verb roots have shapes cac, cəc, cəcc, while noun roots typically have shape cvcvc (v vowel). common shapes of adjective roots cəc , cac. there prefix nominalizes verbs , adjectives, , there several prefixes make verbs out of nouns. additionally, there several ways make adjective-like words nouns. processes of internal modification of root include reduplication (of initial cv , cvc), shift in stress , vowel grade, , glottalization of resonants (which affects suffixes). roots of different shapes undergo different processes produce forms grammatically identical.

verbs

verbs roots identified perfective, opposed progressive, aspect.

perfective sə̀qʼ split, tear
progressive səsə̀qʼ splitting, tearing

several verbs have durative aspect, can occur in both forms.

perfective qʼíkʼʷət “bite it”
progressive qʼíqʼəkʼʷət “be biting it”

a number have iterative-dispositional aspect. few of these verb roots, aspect can appear in both progressive , in perfective form.

sə́qʼsəqʼ “easy split”

the majority of verbs have resultative form adjective-like , not carry progressive-perfective distinction.

ssəsíqʼ “split, torn”
skʼʷəkʼʷíɬ “spilled, capsized”

the plural can optionally marked in of these forms. diminutive marked, optionally, in progressive , resultative aspects.

nouns

it possible internally modify noun roots in halkomelem plural, diminutive, , diminutive plural. compare:

céləx “hand”
cəlcéləx “hands”
cécləx “little hand”
cəcécləx “little hands”

a few nouns may have resultative forms. not have progressive forms, may made verb verbalizing affix , express form.

adjectives

similar noun roots, adjective roots can internally modified plural, diminutive, , diminutive plural. can have progressive forms if made verbs means of verbalizing affix.

pʼə́qʼ white
pʼépʼqʼ white(pl)

complex adjectives formed adjective roots , lexical suffixes.

máʔəqʷ large bird

affixes

halkomelem contains prefixes, suffixes, , infixes. infixes of language have been described in preceding sections. affixes typically divisible inflectional or derivational , grammatical or lexical categories, depending on involvement in paradigms , meaning, however, number of halkomelem affixes mix these categories. suttles (2004) identifies following classes of suffixes , prefixes; sampling of these affixes follow.

non-personal affixes

suffixes of voice system

transitive: /-t/ /-nəxʷ/ /-x/ “transitive”
intransitive: /-əm/ “intransitive,” /-éls/ “activity” (compare pə́n “get buried,” pə́nət “bury it,” pə́nəm “plant,” , pə́néls “bury something”)
causative: /-stəxʷ/ “causative”
permissive: /-s/ “let,” in “let him go” or “let be”
applicative: /-nəs/ “goal” (e.g. in nəʔémnəs “go after him”), /-ném/ “go”
reflexive: /-θət/ “oneself,” /-námət/ “oneself (limited control)”
reciprocal: /-təlʼ/ “each other”
subordinate passive: /-ət/ “subordinate passive”


aspectual , modal affixes

aspectual prefixes: /wə-/ “established,” wəɬ- “already”
modal suffixes: /-ə́lmən/ “want to, intend to, seem to”


derivational affixes

affixes purely grammatical meaning

nominalizing prefix: /s-/ “nominalize (verbs , adjectives)”


verbalizing affixes (combine grammatical , lexical meaning): /c-/ “get, make, do, go to,” ɬ- “partake of,” /txʷ-/ “buy,” /-à·l/ “travel by”
lexical prefixes: /mə-/ “come,” /tən-/ “from”
lexical suffixes

body parts: /-aqʷ/ “head”
common artifacts: /-wət/ “canoe”
natural phenomena: /-ətp/ “plant, tree”






personal affixes

possessive affixes

the following table lists possessive affixes appear in attributive possessive structures in halkomelem.

possession marked either on possessed noun (the head) or word preceding through these affixes. appearance of affixes, possession requires structural component, in possessor of head found right of head. possessor preceded determiner, although depending on noun class, can appear oblique case marker. if possessor common noun, introduced determiner, without oblique case marker. if, however, possessor proper noun, must appear in oblique case. thus, preceded oblique case marker, , possessed noun appear without possessive affix. proper nouns, determiner , oblique case marker fused single particle. marking common nouns oblique case marker results in ungrammatical construction

most verbs roots semantically patient-oriented (e.g. have glosses “get hit” or “get washed”), while few verbs semantically agent-oriented (e.g. “look” or “see”). grammatically intransitive. these relations different suffixes of voice system. verb made of inactive root , intransitive suffix grammatically intransitive, semantically active. inactive or active root takes on transitive suffix grammatically transitive , takes object. transitive suffix base object or passive person suffix. 2 of commonly used transitive suffixes distinguish actions performed limited control or accidentally performed full control or purposely.

aspectual prefixes, precede predicate heads, have adverbial meaning , express temporal distinctions. modal suffixes follow suffixes of voice system , indicate desire or intention , search or arrangement.

lexical suffixes can related verb roots objects, locus, or instruments; adjective roots noun heads; , noun roots noun possessors or noun heads of modifiers.

the personal affixes distinguish first, second, , third person in singular , plural. there neither dual forms nor inclusive/exclusive distinctions in language. there set of possessive affixes (prefixes first , second person singular, suffixes first-person plural , third person, , combination of prefix , suffix second-person plural). system covered, in detail, in syntax section.

ordering of affixes

derivational prefixes , suffixes form inner layer around word root, while inflectional affixes form outer layer around root. among derivational affixes, lexical meaning stand closer root purely grammatical meaning. among inflectional affixes, of voice , person systems stand closer root aspectual prefixes , modal suffixes.

xʷqʷénəctəs. [she] punches holes in bottom of it.




^ suttles, wayne. (2004), 23–30.
^ galloway, brent d. (1993). grammar of upriver halkomelem. london, uk: university of california press.
^ gerdts, d.b. 1988. object , absolutive in halkomelem salish. new york, ny: garland.