The short yiqtol

Alexander AndrasonUniversity of Stellenbosch

dynamic

Contents

1 Introduction: short yiqtol and its “problem” 2 Methodology3 Evidence

synchronicdetecting a path

diachroniccomparativetypological

4 Conclusion – dynamic model

Introduction

Definitions:JussiveVoluntativeInjunctiveApocopated form

1.1 Short Yiqtol

1.2 Systematic relations

Short yiqtol vs. long yiqtol

formal coincidence – no genetic relation

Short yiqtol vs. wayyiqtol

genetic relation < PS *yaqtul

1.3 “Problem”

Genetic relation but semantic dissimilarity

wayyiqtol indicative perfect, perfective and past narrative

short yiqtol modal discursive

This “paradox” may be explained if we employ a dynamic method/approach/perspective

Methodology

Synchronic semantic heterogeneity (polysemy) =

- manifestation of a diachronic process

- logical homogenous whole (map)

- direct diachronic chaining chaining by means of universal evolutionary scenarios (paths)

2.1 Dynamic approach

2.2 Panchronic methodology

synchronic evidence taxonomy of senses

diachronic evidence origin and posterior development

comparative evidence grams in cognate languages

typological evidence behavior of typologically similar grams

Gram = (a portion) of a path (cluster of paths)

2.3 Back to the problem

How can the -yiqtol morphology constitute a rational phenomenon?

Dynamic connection between the short yiqtol and the wayyiqtol?

Is the path representation of the wayyiqtol compatible with the path representation of the short yiqtol?

Wayyiqtol = advanced portion of the resultative path

Dynamic short yiqtol = ?

3.1 Synchronicdesiderative-volitional: orders, requests and blessings

3rd - jussiveprohibitive

2nd - jussive/imperative/optative sense (infrequently) prohibitive

1st - (suspect and uncertain)

final/purposive value = “subjunctive”

discourse-pragmatic: foreground form of the direct discourse

Evidence

Syntactic environment

Neutral environment

the modal force is conveyed by the gram itself

Modal environment

accompanied by modal particles (אל and נָא)following another directive form (e.g. jussive, imperative or cohortative) introduced by the particle ְו

Summary

Short yiqtol = an undeniable modal gram an optative (jussive-prohibitive-imperative) final sense in dependent clauses encountered both in overtly modal and modally neutral milieus

3.2 Detecting the path

modal constructions

< properly modal paths (ability, obligation, desire)

< a modal contamination

Synchronic evidence is not conclusive!

3.3 Diachronic evidence

The short yiqtol and the -yiqtol in the wayyiqtol < PS *yaqtul

wayyiqtol < PS *yáqtul short yiqtol < PS *yaqtúl

PS *yaqtul < a verbal resultative/perfective adjective/participle

*q(a)tal+ personal pronouns (y-, t-, and n-)

The short yiqtol and the -yiqtol of the wayyiqtol share their origin

> the modal value of the short yiqtol is not genetic > it derives from “external” factors > it stems form a modal contamination

3.4 Comparative evidence

(1) the successors of the *yaqtul = resultative path and modal path

(2) modal values are contextually induced

Akkadian liprus, ayyiprus and iprus <<< PS *yaqtul

iprus present perfect, perfective, past, stative

edûm and išûm with lū: imperative and precativein conditional protases: hypothetical-modalwhen the apodosis is not expressed: optative

l-iprus jussive, cohortative, imperative of the 1st and 3rd final/purposive sense

ayy-iprus ‘vetitive’, negative desires and mild prohibitions

Arabic

yaqtul < PS *yaqtul

lam(mā) yaqtul present perfect, past and pluperfect

the modal yaqtul cohortative (1st) , jussive (3rd) prohibitive with the particle lā ال final sense (following an imperative)

frequently preceded by ل orفل in conditional protases and apodoseswith the particle lā ال

3.5 Typological evidence

A single form:

resultative path senses (perfect, past) modal path senses (jussive, optative and cohortative)

is not infrequent or typologically rare

Mandinka ŋa/ye tenseSemitic qatal(a)

4.1 ResultsThe short yiqtol = an advanced portion of the modal contamination path

The *yaqtul of the resultative cline > re-shaped as a fused periphrasis (wayyiqtol, cf. Ar. lam yaqtul <---> Akk. iprus)

The “simple” *yaqtul > specialized as a modal gramthe modal sense is indissoluble from the construction

(short yiqtol, cf. Ar. yaqtul <---> Akk. liprus and ayyiprus)

Conclusion

4.2 Model

The *yiqtol bifurcated into two sovereign constructions:

resultative path wayyiqtol (consistent with the input expression)

modal contamination path short yiqtol (consistent with modal environments in which the resultative source could be employed)