Person markers[18] Halkomelem

1 person markers

1.1 first- , second-person argument particles
1.2 object person markers
1.3 third-person arguments
1.4 constraints
1.5 subordinate clauses

person markers

the halkomelem person markers (forms correspond in meaning english personal pronouns) include set of affixes, 1 set of particles, , 2 sets of words (personal , possessive). mentioned in morphology section, there no dual number or inclusive/exclusive distinction in language, however, scholars believe forms identified here second-person singular once used in addressing married couple, pair of brothers, or family, while plural forms used larger or less integrated group.

first- , second-person argument particles

the first- , second-person particles pattern nominative–accusative case marking system. in other words, same particles mark first- , second-person arguments in both intransitive , transitive predicates in main clauses (coordinate constructions).

suttles (2004) classified first- , second-person argument particles second-position predicate particles, along twenty other particles can appear within predicate. of second-position predicate particles mobile, appearing after first word of predicate (whatever may be). if word in predicate head, first- , second-person argument particles follow it; if head preceded auxiliary verb, follow auxiliary; if head preceded adverb, follow adverb.

cʼéw-ət cən ceʔ. ll him/her/them.
ʔi cən cʼécʼəw-ət. helping him/her/them.
lə́qʼ cən wəmʼi técəl. here.

object person markers

an object person marker can suffixed transitive verb (i.e. verb stem has transitive suffix). 4 forms appear composed of identifiable elements: /-s/ , /-am/ non-third-person singular, /-al-/ non-third-person plural, /-x/ , /-xʷ/ first person, , /-ə/ second person. third-person objects unmarked.

the element /-s/ occurs transitivizer /-t/, , coalesce /θ/. root cʼéw- , /-t/ transitive, find:

cʼéwəθàmx me
cʼéwəθàlʼxʷ

these forms accompanied person markers.

third-person arguments

the third-person arguments follow ergative–absolutive system. intransitive predicate head, third-person argument third-person object in being marked zero. plurality optionally indicated particle ʔé·ɬtən.

némʼ ceʔ. he/she/it/they go.
némʼ ceʔ ʔé·ɬtən. go.

with transitive predicate head in main clause, on other hand, third-person agent must marked suffix /-əs/. follows transitivizer , object person marker, if any. unlike first- , second-person particles, suffix not move follow auxiliary or adverb. again, plurality of third-person may indicated particle ʔé·ɬtən.

cʼéwətəs ceʔ. he/she him/her.
ni cʼéwətəs. he/she helped him/her.
kʼʷəcnámxəs ceʔ ʔé·ɬtən. see me.

constraints

in active paradigm, third person cannot agent second person object. instead, find passive forms.

cʼéwətàləm ceʔ. folks helped.

only third persons can agents in passive. other relations (e.g. forms *i seen or *he seen me ) can expressed in active (e.g. see me , see him ).

subordinate clauses

a subordinate clause produced prefixing 1 of 2 subordinating particles, /wə-/ if, when, , /ʔəl/ whenever, whatever, first word in predicate , replacing coordinate agent marker subordinate agent marker. subordinate agent markers same in both intransitive , transitive active predicates.

subordinate clauses follow main clauses, there few exceptions.

kʼʷəcnámə cən ceʔ, wənémʼè·n. see you, if/when/that go.




^ suttles, wayne. (2004), 320–329.