211

MOTION VERBS IN CH'ORTI'

Robin Quizar

Metro State College of Denver

FUNCION 15-16 (1994): 211-9

212

Contents

1.2.2.12.23.3.13.23.2.13.2.23.2.34.

IntroductionMorphology of Motion Verbs

Verb InflectionVerb DerivationSyntax of Motion VerbsAuxiliary-Verb ConstructionsSerial Verbs (Verb-Verb) ConstructionsSame Subject ConstructionsDifferent Subject ConstructionsSplit Ergativity and Serial Verb ConstructionsConclusion.

References

213

1. Introduction

Motion verbs in Ch`orti� are not formally distinct from transitive orintransitive verbs that do not indicate motion; they are distinguishable only bytheir meaning. 1 The semantic aspects of motion verbs include CI) direction ofmotion (towards something, away from something, back and forth tosomething, rising or falling, etc,), (2) manner of motion (goin walking,running, flying, sliding, etc.; Carrrtakift : on one's hack or shoulders,in one's arms., in a bundle or basket, accompanying, etc.; putting: info anenclosure, onto a surface, onto a horse, etc.; stopplna: detaining, holding,etc.), and (3) motion into a certazn' posture or shape (curling around,straightening, sitting, standing upside down, etc,)-

The most significant aspect of motion verbs is their common occurrencein the serial verb constructions of Ch�orti', strucfures involving a series offinite verbs with no indication of embedding. While most of these serial verbconstructions maintain the same subject referent throughout as topic chains(swnesubject constructions), switch reference can occur in structures havingtransitive verbs, such that the subject referent of a transitive verb is not thesame as the subject referent of the following verb (derent subjectconstructions), Motion verbs in these latter constructions are often analogousto verb structures in other Mayan languages involving 'directionals,` a class ofmorphemes that does not exist in Ch' orfi' .

In this paper I will first present the morphology of single motion verbs,showing how the three sets of pronominal markers create a split ergativesystem of inflections on the verb and also demonstrating how the derivationalpossibilities of Ch�orti' allow for a large set of motion verbs with distinctivemeanings. 1 will then illustrate the syntax of motion verbs on two levels , TheAlJX-Verb construction consists of a single main verb with its most immediateaspectual and modal modifiers. fhe more inclusive level is the Verb-Verbconstruction which contains two or more main verbs. This Verb-Verb

I Cb`orti' (previously written Chorti) is a Mayan language spoken in Guatemalanear the border with Honduras. It is part of the Ch�olan branch of Mayan and is thusclosely related to Ch`ol and Chontal, both of which are spoken in Mexico.

Data for file present analysis came fronl my work with the Ch`"orti. learn at theProyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquin (PLFM) in Guatemala and from Charil(Mayan) Texts I by John G. Fought (University of Pennsylvania, I972).

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construction is shown to be either a topic chain (same subject) construction ora switch reference (different subject) construction.

2. Morffhology of Manon Verbs

2.1 Verb Inflection

All verbs in Ch' orti' , including motion verbs, are obligatorily inflectedfor person These person markers are chosen from one of three sets ofpronominals, traditionally called Set A, B, and C. Set A pronominals are usedfor the subject/agent (AGT) of transitive verbs, as well as the possessivemarkers on nouns; Set B are used for the object (OBJ) of transitive verbs andthe subject (SUB) of intransitive verbs in the completive aspect; and Set C areused for the subject (SUB) of intransitive verbs in the incomp!etive.2 Notethat Set C and Set A overlap in morpheme order and form; both sets areprefixed to the verb stem, and the Ist person pronominals are identical inform..

Ist sg.2nd sg.3rd sg.!st pl.2nd pl.3rd pl.

Set Ai'n-!n!'a-u-ka-i-u-. . . -oh '

Set B-en-et0-on-ox-ob'

Set Cin-i-a-ka_ "

ix-a-. . .-ob '

Table ! . Pronominal affixes in Ch' orti' 3

2 The notation of AGT, OBJ, and SUB are variations on A, P, and S in BernardComrie's Langtcage Universels and Lingttlstic polo (Univ. of Chicago, 1981) andon A, O, and S in Robert M.W. Dixon's Sci,dies in Ergativity (New York: NorthHolland 1987). These categories are necessary for explaining morpho-syntacticphenomena in ergative languages.

3 A variety of phonological mies can apply w!ten dtese affixes are added to verbstems, especially in cases where two vowels are placed contiguously. One commonrule that applies is: V I V2 1 V2. Another involves the insertion of an epencfleticconsOnallt (w] or (y] between the two vowels.

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Finite verbs have the following structure, with transitive verbs marked bya Set A prefix for AGT and a Set B suffix for OBJ and with intransitive verbsmarked by a Set C prefix for SUB in the incompletive and a Set B suffix forSUB in the completive:

A - Vtr BAGT OBJ

Transitive Verbs

Intransitive Verbs (incompletive) C VinSUB

(completive) Vin BSUB

Note that while the transitive verb is unmarked as to aspect, the intransitiveverb is marked completive or incompletive according to the set of personmarkers used. Split ergativity thus occurs in the aspecWal marking of theverb, with intransitive verbs being pivotal in the� split ergative system .

The ergative pattern of person marking can be seen by the following setof verbs in the completive in which OBJ and SUB are marked alike with thesuffix -et ' you,' as opposed to dle marking of AGT with the pre6x a- 'you':4

`he saw you

` you slept'

(1) u-ira'-etA3-see -82

OBJ

4 The following abbreviations appear in die text: 1, 2, 3 = predicate person, A =set A of person markers, ACT = 6rst argunlent of transitive, AP = antipassive, AUX= auxiliary, B = set B of person markers, C = set C of person markers, CAUS =causative, CLF = classifier DESID = desiderative, HABIT = habituative, OBJ =Second argunlent of traz]sitive, POSSIB = possibilitative, PASS = passive, PL =plural, FROG = progresive, SC = singular, SUB = argunlent of intransitive, VI =verbalizer for positionsls to produce intransitive stems, VTR verbalizer for positionalsto produce transitive stems.

2/6

(3) a-ira-0 ` you saw him'A2-see-B3AGT

The tripartite pattern of person marking is illustrated by the followingverbs in the incompletive, where AGT, OBJ, and SUB are each markeddifferently:

you see me

` I see you �

` you sleep'

(4) a-ira-enA2-see-BlAGT

(5) in-ira.-etAl-see-82

OBJ

(6)

2.2 Verb Derivation

Motion verbs can he based on intransitive, transitive or positional roots.Intransitive roots. and the stems derived from them, constitute the mostcommonly-occurring type. �Semantically, verbs from intransitive roots usuallyinvolve direction or manner of motion. A number of these roots appear to beclosely related to a class of morphemes called 'directionals' in other Mayanlanguages~ Although Ch'orti' does not have a class of `directionals,' similarmeanings are achieved by using these verbs in serial constructions, as will bediscussed below.

Table 2 is a list of such intransitive verbs, their transitive derivationalpossibilities, and their intransitive meanings. Most of the roots have athematic suffix to form the verb stem, which is either - with a reduplicatedvowel or the suffix vowel -i or -a. While a number of the roots can be madetransitive with the causative suffix -est-se (one root is made transitive with a

suffIx), almost half of the roots cannot be transitivized.

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Intransitive Transitive Meaning

and Direction:uyemse

utaresut 'ab 'Se

Motion and Manner:ajni ayaJ"nesakta ayatab 'oy utob 'Sexaaa

` descend �`go' (no direction)`fall``arrive�`leave' (from)`move back and forth'pass`enter'`go in and out�`come � (tr.�bring`)`rise, ascend '`come (towards)

`run, gallop`dance' (tr~ ` abandon' )`fly, jump'`walk'

Table 2. Intransitive Verb Roots~

Examples of verbs'from intransitive'roots are:

(7) in-lok t-Oy

CISG-Ieave-THEME`I leave'

in-lok t-Se

AlSG-leave-CAUS-B3SG` I take it out�

(8)

Motion verbs from positional and transitive roots are more numerousthose from intransitive, but because of the specificity of their meanings,

thanthey

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are more restrictively employed in texts. Those from positional roots usuallyinvolve a change in the posture or shape of an object, while those fromtransitive roots involve a variety of actions like carry, put, and stop.

Positionals are a class of words whose form Is a CVC root plus a -Vrsuffix, where the vowel of the suffix is a copy of the root vowel.5 Table 3below is a list of representative positionals in Ch`orti`, plus their derivedforms as intransitive and transitive motion verbs.6

Positional Intransitive Transitive Meaning(stative) (motion verb) (motion verb)

cho'rC/z 'A 'rcit 'It tr

nacharnat 'arpok'orsoyortzororwa ~r

c!zo'n\'a,zCh fa rWAn

Clt SH 'wannac/lwAnHat 'wanpok 'wanSoywAnIZolwanWA 'WAn.

ucho 'rb 'aitch 'a 'b 'uitch 'uh 'aunachb 'uunat 'b 'uupok 'b 'ausoyb 'autzorb 'au\va 'b 'u

sitting with legs apartlying downhanging, suspendedsupported, proppedheld captivesitting with legs crossedcurvedbe in a linestanding (on feet - humans;mouth upward - baskets, cups)

Table 3. Positional Verb Roots

Positionals can be used as adverbs, to describe the position or shape ofthe object involved in the action; in this capacity they are not marked bypronominals or tense/aspect:

(9) a-xana kotorC3SG-walk bent over` he walks bent over '

5 When the second consonant of the root is a glottal stop, the suffix voweldisappears; other phonological mies also apply to these forms.

6 A dissimiiation rule causes -b�u to occur following [-back} vowels and -bra tooccur following [+back} vowels; a number of phonological processes are possiblewhen the root form involves a final glottal stop consonant.

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Positionals can also be used as main predicates; in this capacity they are stativepredicates and are marked by pronominals:

(10) ch 'a 'r-enlie-BISG` I am lying down � (stative)

The role of positional roots as motion nerbs', however, is only found Intheir derived forms, where the suffix -wan is added to make an intransitiveaction meaning 'to become or to be put into a certain position' and the Suffix..-~~h �a/-.-~h'u is added to make a transitive action verb meaning 'to cause or toput into a certain position. Examples of motion verbs from positional rootsare:

(ll) I.n-clz 'A '-wan

CISG-lie-VI

`I lie down "

Li-Cjl 'A '-b tit-0

A3SG-lie-VTft-B3SG` she lays it dOwn "

(12)

Transitive verbs made from transitive roots. plus their correspondingpassive and antipassive verbs, can be motion verbs as well. Transitive rootsoften have the same CVC shape as positional roots and also have nominalizedforms of transitive roots with the suffix -Yr. Nevertheless, they are clearlydistinguishable from positionals in their formation of transitive and derivedverbs. Transitive verb stems have a theme vowel suffix; passive verbs arederived with a discontinuous affix . . . -A or the suffixes -tz 'a, -pa, or 'a;and antipassive verbs are formed with the suffix -ala or ~an.

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Transitive Passive Antipassive Meaning

b'.ajrab 'artz 'A

k'ecF:pa

uh 'art

uchak'i

uk'eche

b 'arma tie around

cIzak'machak'onk'echma

poke a holeintocarry, guide

Table 4. Transitive Verb Roots

` Examples of motion verbs from transitive roots are:

(13) 'u-"k'ech-e-0"A3SG-lead-TfIEME-B3SG` she leads him ..

(14) a-k'echaC3SG-lead-PASS` he is led ."

(15) in.-k'echnuCISG-lead-AP`I lead .`

Othe`r sources for motion verbs include verbs made from polyvalent roots,multiderived stems, and other parts of speech. These derived verb formsbehave simi.lady to the ones described above.

3� Syntil>t of Mot:ion Verbs

The significance of motion verbs in Ch'orti' becomes apparent uponexamination of the verb phrase. Two levels of verb phrase exist: AUX-Verband Verb-Verb. The AUX-Verb construction involves modification of themain verb through auxiliary verbs and clitics. The Verb-Verb constructionconsists of a series of two or more finite verbs. In both types, motion verbsplay an integral p'drt.

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3.1 AmdBary-Verb Coostrflc6oos

All verbs in Ch �orti � , including motion verbs, can be marked fortense/aspect or mood by means of auxiliaries and clitics. Auxiliary verbsinclude the following; war (progressive), kay (habitual), ka ' < aka �begin'(inceptive), k'a �pa < ak 'a �pa �finish� (terminative), k'ani < t want. 'want�(desiderative; necessity, obligation), z!yub 'i < ab 'i ' hear (possibility;permission), and in < in g̀o� (future). Many auxiliary verbs in Ch'orti�are obviously related to specific main verbs, as shown above, but in theirauxiliary status they exhibit restricted pronominal marking. As auxiliaries,they either are not inflected for person, as in the case of war in example (16),or are inflected with the impersonal 3rd person even when the following mainverb has a Ist or 2nd person subject, as in the case of k'ani and uyub wt. ofexamples (17) and (18).7

(16) war a-kax!FROG C3SG-fall'he is falling'

(17) k fAni-O in-~ jZDESID-ft3SG CI SG-go� I want to go'

(18) u-ab wt in n

A3SG-POSSIB-B3SG ClSG-go'I can go�

While any motion verb can serve as a main verb in AUX-Verbconstructions, the only motion verb that serves as an auxiliary is in 'to go,'as in example (19).

7 Cozlsidemhle complexity arises in die Aux-Verb construction of Ch'orti' due to(1) variation among speakers in usage, (2) distinctions in meaning created by variationin pronominal marking on the auxingtry verb, and (3) distinctions in mealling createdby the addition of postcfitics.

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(19) beta-0 patna-engo-B3s work-Bis

Much more often, however, the verb in occurs as a fully marked main verbin Verb-Verb constructions, as discussed below.

In addition to auxiliaries, the verb phrase can be modified by postcliticsthat indicate tense7aspect or mood, The most common of these are ant (Past;irrealis), -tx 'already' and -to 'stifl.' These verb modifiers usually follow the6rst element in the verb phrase, but can also follow other verbs in theconstruction:

(20) k'aniix in-lokoyDESIS-B3SG-already CISG-leave'I already want to leave`

AkAy ARi {H-ix(n Xe aC3SG-HABIT PAST CI SC-go Xela�I used to go to Xela'

(21)

3.2 Serial Verb (Verb-Verb) Constructions

Serial verb constructions consist of a related series of fully marked finiteverbs with no indication of embedding.8 Each verb is marked like any normalmain clause verb, with obligatory pronominals and optional auxiliaries andpostclitics, as discussed above. The verbs have no special derivationalproperties, such as nominalization, and there are no subordinators (orcoordinators) present in the construction.

Two types of serial verb constructions exist: (1) same subject or topicchain constructions, and (2) drent subject or switch reference constructions.Motion verbs play a significant role 1o both types

8 Serial verb constructions are apparently unique to Ch'orti' among the Mayanfamily, since other Mayan languages use specially marked embedded verbs (orno~ ed verbs) and/or finite verbs plus directionals in such constructions.

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3.2.1 Same Subject ConstrncHons

Same subject constructions are serial verb structures in which the subjectAGT or SUB has the same referent across all the verbs. Motion verbs thatPrecede other tyPes of verbs are often intransitive and refer to motion thatoccurs prior to or concurrent with the main verb, as in examples (22)-(24):

SUB AGTa-xana u-sik 'b 'aC3SG-walk A3SG-look.for-ft3SG'he walks around looking for it'

SUB ACTa-yo pa Lt-waJptnC3SG-come A3SG-grab-B I SG' it comes and grabs me'

SUB SUBa\-in a-nujb iC3SG-go C3SG-mate' he goes (out) to mate'

(22)

(23)

(24)

Sanle subject constructions usually behave as topic chains, in which thetoPic noun is maintained as subject (AGT or SUB) across several verbs. IntoPic chain constructions, the topic is either understood from previous mentionin the discourse, as in example (25), or mentioned again in sentence initialposition.

(25) SUB SUB AGTa-Wu'r1va a-tikruma u-sajkaC3SG-stand C3SG get.busy A3SG-look.for-B3SG' be would get up and get busy looking for it'

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SUB SUB SUBja 'xLr war taka a-k 'otoy jojp-nu jujra"..t9he PROG just C3SG-leave grab-PASS-B3SG tluow(PASS)

ca runt-B3SG on earth

'he was just leaving when he was grabbed and thrown to the ground'

(26)

Transitive verbs are often made passive to maintain the topic in the SUBrole, as in examples (27) and (28):

SUB SUB AGTma'ch!-ix a-'sut-'pa cto'pa u-Lrano-longer C3SG-turn(PASS) C3SG-come A3SG-see-B3SG

u=mrninA3SG-money

'he could no longer return to see his money'

(28)

While the motion verb ixin 'go' can be used as an auxiliary with restrictedpronominal marking, as illustrated in example (19) of the previous section,!xin occurs more commonly as a fuHy marked verb in serial verbconstructions. In this capacity it sometimes indicates motion, as in example(27), and other times serves to mark the future 'going to,' as in example (29).

(29) SUB ACT

Fm going to kill her'

3.2.2 DMerent Subject ConstrncHons

Different subject constructions involve switch reference, whereby the

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subject referent changes within the Verb-Verb construction. Different subjectconstructions in Ch�orti' have a transitive verb followed by another verb.Transitive verbs of perception and causation can be followed by motion verbswhose subject referent (ACT or SUB) is different from the subject AGT of theperceptive or causative verb. Following verbs of perception, the motionoccurs concurrently with the perceptual action, whll'e following verbs ofcausation, the motion occurs after, and as a consequence of, the causativeverb. Observe in examples (30)-(32) that ACT of the initial verb is notidentical to SUB or ACT of the second verb:

AGT SUBka.-ira yo'paAIPL-see-B3SG come-B3SG'we saw her coming'

ACT SUBin-ya're a'ajreA I SG-order-B3SG C3SG-put.on(PASS)`I order it to be put on'

ACT ACTin-c!ze u-tar-esA I SG-make-B3SG A3SG-come-CAUS-B3SG� I make him bring it�

(30)

(31)

(32)

Note that it is not clear from the above examples whether the 3rd personsingular object OBJ of the initial transitive verb is identical in referent to the3rd person singular SUB or AGT of the following verb or if the OBJ refers tothe entire action. In other words, the literal translation of example (30) couldbe 'we saw her (as) she came� or 'we saw it (that) she can\e. � This ambiguityin the switch to the 3rd person singular is made clearer by a look atcontrasting constructions in the non-3rd person, where ambiguity does notoccur. In example (33) OBJ and SUB obviously have the same referent, whilein example (34) they do not.

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OBJ SUBu-che-en ininA3SG-make-BISG CISG-go'he makes me go'

OBJ SUBin-cbe. patna-etAISG-make-B3SG work-B2SG'I make you work'

(33)

.(34)

More interesting, and even more unusual, are the switch referenceconstructions in Ch'orti� that are analogous to structures involving'directionals' in other Mayan languages~ These derent subject constructionshave an initial transitive verb of motion that acts semantically as a type ofcausative on the following intransitive motion verb. Causative motion verbsthat can occur in initial position have such meanings as bring, carry, take, and haul. Like the causative constructions above, the subject AGT of thesecausative motion verbs is not identical in referent to the subject SUB of theintransitive verb that follows:

AGT SUBukerl'b 'a-'g lokoyA3S G-haul-B3SG leave-B3SG'he hauled it out' (lit., 'he hauled it, it came out')

ACT SUBu-k'ecJze a-lok'oyA3SGcarry-B3SG C3SG-leave'he carries it away' (lit., 'he carries it, it leaves')

AGT SUBu-wa 'rb 'u ob ' yo 'paA3-put-B3SG-3PL come-B3SG`they put it down' (lit., `they put it, it came')

(35)

(36)

(37)

The motion verb constructions with a switch in reference to a 3rd person

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subject carry the same potential ambiguity as structures with perceptive andcausative verbs. Although there are no paraphrases in English to adequatelyillustrate the meaning differences, Ch`orti' constructions with transitive motionverbs whose 3rd person object OBJ differs in referent from the !st or 2ndperson subject SUB of the following verb demonstrate the ambiguity.

OBJ SUBka-k'eche b'e-etAlPL-carry-B3SG travel-B2SG'we are bringing you' (lit., 'we bring it, you come')

(38)

The causative meaning of serial motion verbs in such switch referenceconstructions becomes more obvious when the full NP indicating both OBJ ofthe transitive motion verb and SUB of the following verb comes between thetwo verbs. Observe that the causative motion construction is used even insentences like example (40) where the action is only a wish.

OBJ OBJ/SUB SUBa'otoy u-k'eche-O in-te' wiRik a'-k'otoyC3SG-come A3SG-carry-B3SG one-CLF man C3SG-'come`she came and brought a man along'

OBJ OBJ/SUB SUBk 'ant ant ain u-ch 'ak �i b ' u-nej a-lok 'oywant irreal C3SG-go A3-chop-B3SG-3PL A3SG-tail C3SG-leave'they wanted to chop off its tail'

(39)

(40)

3.2.3 SpRt ErgaHvity and Serial Verb ConstrucOous

Since Ch'orti' is an ergative language. it is perhaps constructive to viewserial verb constructions as following a split ergative system. Same subjectconstructions, for example, can be analyzed as conforming to an accusativepattern of subject-subject identity, since the SUB or ACT of the second verbis identical in referent to the SUB or ACT of the initial verb, as in examples(22)-(29) above.

Different subject constructions involving motion can conversely be

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analyzed as following an ergative pattern of object-subject identity, since thesubject SUB of the second verb can be identical in referent to the OBJ of theinitial transitive motion verb, as in examples (35)-(37) and (39)-(40).

It should be noted that many 3rd person serial verb constructionsinvolving motion verbs are structurally ambiguous as to whether they involvetoPic chains or causative motion. For example, the following sentence can beinterpreted as either a Burne subject or a clrent subject construction.

(41) AGT OBJ SUBu'eche a-xanaA3SGcarx-y-B3SG C3SG-walk'he takes him around'toPic chain: (lit, 'he carries him, he{agentl walks around')orcausative: (lit. 'he brings him, he(patient} walks around')

The ambiguity arises because SUB can be identical to either ACT or SUB, asdiscussed above- This ambiguity rarely causes a problem in context, however(note that the English construction 'He takes him around' has a similarambiguity)' since the agent or cause of the motion is often concurrentlyinvolved in the effect of the motion.

4. Conclusion

Motion verbs in Ch'orti� are morphologically similar to other verbs in thelanguage. They follow a split-ergative system of person marking, using threesets of Pronominals, and like all other verbs, exhibit considerable flexibility inderivation.

Syntactically, motion verbs play a significaxlt role in both the AUX-Verband the Verb-Verb constructions of the language. Except for the verb in'go,' however, they are always treated as main clause verbs. Their role in theVerb-Verb, or serial verb, constructions is their most unique characteristic.Not only are the Verb-Verb constructions of Ch'ortf' unusual, but alsoremarkable are the series of fully marked motion verbs that occur within theseconstructions. The serial verb constructions with a transitive motion verbacting as a causative on a following intransitive motion verb are analogous tostrucWres involving 'directionals' in other Mayan languages.

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References

Fought, John G. 1972. Chorti (Mayan) T I. Philadelphia: University ofPensilvanya.

Cowrie, Bernard, 1981. Language Universals and Linguistic Typology.Chicago: University of Chicago.

Dixon, Robert M. W. 1987. Studies in Ergatlvity. New York: North Holland.