User:LhikJovan/Mermaid construction
A mermaid construction (人魚構文, ningyo kōbun) is a type of grammatical construction found among several of the world's language families, includingJaponic, Ainuic, Korean, Sino-Tibetan, Austronesian, Kra-Dai Mongolic, Dravidian, Yukaghir, Indo-Aryan, Chukotko-Kamchatkan, Tungusic, and Cushitic.[1] The description "mermaid" refers to two-halved nature: one part of the sentence resembles a verbal sentence, while the other part resembles a copular sentence.
Mermaid constructions appear to be mostly localized around East, Southeast, and South Asia. However, they are by no means limited to this area, as evidenced by their presence in the Yukaghir languages of Siberia and Sidaama language of Ethiopia.
Definition
[edit]As defined by Tsunoda (2013), a prototypical mermaid construction is defined by several key criteria:
- It has a structure consisting of three "slots":
clause
+noun
+copula
, in that order. - The
noun
is an independent noun. - The
clause
's subject and thenoun
are not coreferential. - The
clause
can occur as an independent sentence. - The
clause
is not the subject of the sentencenoun + copula
.
These prototypical criteria are based on the mermaid construction as found in Japanese, the first language for which the construction was studied in-depth. Many languages' mermaid constructions differ somewhat from this prototype, including some examples in Japanese, and those that deviate significantly are sometimes called "quasi-mermaid constructions." Some deviations include:
- Use of verbs other than a copula, or of a zero copula, in the
copula
slot. (Variation in #1) - Use of a different word order than
clause
+noun
+copula
. (Variation in #1) - Use of a clitic, noun-derived affix, or zero for the
noun
slot. (Variation in #2) - Use of nominalized, attributive, or other non-finite forms for the verb of the
clause
. (Variation in #4)
Individual mermaid constructions are usually differentiated from each other by the morpheme that is used in the noun
slot.
Examples
[edit]In each of the example sentences in the following sections, the noun
will be marked in bold text, and the clause
in red.
Japonic languages
[edit]Mermaid constructions are found in abundance among Japonic languages in general.
Japanese
[edit]Mermaid constructions were first studied in-depth as Japanese constructions. Tasaku et al. (2013) identified more than 106 nouns that can be used in prototypical mermaid constructions in Modern Standard Japanese, including:
Grammaticalized Noun | Etymological Meaning | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
予定 yotei | plan | planning | * 花子は Hanako=wa Hanako=TOP 名古屋に Nagoya=ni Nagoya=DAT/LOC 行く ik-u go-NPST 予定だ。 yotei=da plan=COP.NPST "Hanako plans to go to Nagoya." |
所 tokoro | place, location | aspectual, temporal, formal | * 花子は Hanako=wa Hanako=TOP 本を hon=o book=ACC 読んで yon-de read-GER いる i-ru be-NPST ところだ。 tokoro=da place=COP.NPST "Hanako is reading a book." |
模様 moyō | appearance, figure, model | seeming, appearing | * 外では soto=de=wa outside=LOC/INS=TOP 雨が ame=ga rain=NOM 降って fut-te fall-GER いる i-ru be-NPST 模様だ。 moyō=da appearance=COP.NPST "It appears/seems to be raining outside." |
表情 hyōjō | facial expression | expression, appearance | * 花子は Hanako=wa Hanako=TOP いつも itsumo always 明るい akaru-i cheerful-NPST 表情だ。 hyōjō=da expression=COP.NPST "Hanako always looks cheerful." |
積り tsumori | estimation | intention, decision, evaluation | * 花子は Hanako=wa Hanako=TOP 本を hon=o book=ACC 書く kak-u write-NPST つもりだ。 tsumori=da intention=COP.NPST "Hanako intends to write a book."
|
筈 hazu | nock | expectation, schedule, realization | * 花子は Hanako=wa Hanako=TOP 明日 ashita tomorrow 名古屋へ Nagoya=e Nagoya=ALL 行く ik-u go-NPST はずだ。 hazu=da expectation=COP.NPST "Hanako is expected to go to Nagoya tomorrow." |
の no | (nominalizer & complementizer) | cause, reason, etc. | * 試験が shiken=ga examination=NOM ある ar-u be-NPST のだ。 =no=da =no=COP.NPST "This is because there will be an examination." |
The closely related Hachijō language also contains mermaid constructions with nouns such as toko "place," moN "thing," hazu "expectation," and go͡oN "seeming."
Old and Middle Japanese
[edit]Mermaid constructions are attested throughout the entire history of Japanese, the earliest being found in Old Japanese in the Man'yōshū, where the phrase mono2 so2 "a person, a thing" is used (with a zero copula) to express inevitability, obligation, and related meanings:
kurenawi pa / uturo2pu mo2no2 so2 // turupami1 no2 / narenisi ki1nu ni / napo sikame2 ya mo2
kurenawi=pa
carthamin=TOP
uturo2p-u
fade.away-ADN
mono=so2
thing=FOC
//
//
turupami1=no2
acorn.color=GEN
nare-n-i(1)-si
get.used.to-PFV-INF-PST.ADN
ki1nu=ni
clothes=DAT
napo
further
sik-am-e2
reach-TENT-EXCL
ya
FOC
mo2
TOP
"Red (is flashy, but) is destined to fade. There is no match for a brown, well-used kimono."
(Man'yōshū Book 18, Poem 4109)
purukoromo / utituru pito pa / akikaze no / tatikuru toki ni / monomopu mono so2.
puru-ko2ro2mo2
old-clothes
utit-uru
discard-ADN
pi1to2=pa
person=TOP
aki1-kaze=no2
autumn-wind=GEN
tat-i(1)-k-uru
stand-INF-come-ADN
to2ki1=ni
time=DAT
mo2no2-(o)mo2p-u
thing-think-ADN
mo2no2=so2
thing=FOC
"Someone who throws away old clothes is bound to think about things when the autumn wind comes."
Poetic meaning: "The kind of man who deserts his wife who he has been married to for a long time is bound to regret it when his days are over."
(Man'yōshū Book 11, Poem 2626)
This construction continued to be used in Early Middle Japanese in the form ものぞ mono zo. Early Middle Japanese also attests many more prototypical mermaid constructions:
(夕闇には、物を想はぬ氣色なり。)
yufuyami=ni=fa
dusk=DAT=TOP
mono=wo
thing=ACC
omof-an-u
consider-NEG-ADN
kesiki=nar-i
sign=COP-CONCL
"In the dusk, (Princess Kaguya) seems to not be worried about anything."
(Taketori Monogatari)
Unlike Modern Japanese, Old and Middle Japanese distinguished attributive and sentence-concluding forms of verbs, meaning that the clause
was not necessarily able to appear as an independent sentence.
Miyako
[edit]The Irabu dialect of the Miyako language has mermaid constructions quite similar to Japanese. However, as Irabu Miyako allows for a zero copula, the copula
slot is often empty. Some example nouns for mermaid constructions in Irabu are:
Grammaticalized Noun | Etymological Meaning | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
kutu | fact | deontic modal, anticipated future | * Vvaa zzair kutu. vva=a 2SG=TOP z-zai-r scold-PASS-ADN.NPST kutu be.supposed.to "You are supposed to be scolded."
|
munu | thing | causal | * Jamatukara hikookisii cciur munu. jamatu=kara mainland=ABL hikooki=sii airplane=INS c-ci-u-r come-THM-PROG-ADN.NPST munu because "because (he) came from mainland Japan by airplane" |
-paz | nock | conjecture | * Karia pzsarakara ttarpaz. kari=a 3SG=TOP pzsara=kara Hirara=ABL t-tar=paz come-ADN.PST=maybe "He may have come from Hirara." |
-suu ~ -ruu | person, thing | evidential? | * Pztunu jaanu suijagaman ikii mmna parrii ukiarruu. pztu=nu person=GEN jaa=nu house=GEN suija-gama=n balcony-DIM=DAT ik-i-i go-THM-MED mmna all par-ri-i leave-THM-MED uk-i-ar=ruu put-THM-RSL.ADN.NPST=it.seems "It seemed that (they) had gone to the balcony of someone's house, and had all entered (under it)." |
Sino-Tibetan languages
[edit]In addition to in the varieties described below, mermaid constructions have been found in the Lolo-Burmese Lahu language, the Sal Jingpho language, and in Central Tibetan.
Amdo Tibetan
[edit]Amdo Tibetan is one of the four main spoken Tibetic languages within the Sino-Tibetan language family. Amdo Tibetan has six independent nouns that can be used in mermaid constructions:
Grammaticalized Noun | Etymological Meaning | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
ntɕʰarʑə | plan | intention | * ཨ་པ་ གིས arɟa=kə father=ERG ནོར nor yak བཙོངས ptsoŋ-ɟu sell.IPF-NMLZ.GEN འཆར་གཞི་ ntɕʰarʑə plan རེད rɛ COPB "(My) father plans to sell yaks." |
le | karma | destiny | * ཁུར་གེ་ kʰərgɛ 3SG མཐའ་མ་ mtʰama=a last=DAT ཕམ་ཁ་ pʰamkʰa defeat ཉོ་རྒྱུ་ ȵo-ɟu buy.IPF-NMLZ.GEN ལས le karma རེད rɛ COPB "He/she was destined to suffer a defeat after all." |
bkopa | way, manner | decision, planning, future | * ང་ ŋa 1SG ཁེར་ kʰɛrndək being.single X X jɛc-cu do.IPF-NMLZ.GEN X bkopa way X jən COPA "It have decided to remain single." |
tsʰəkka | appearance | counterfactual evidential | * ཁུར་རྒེ་ kʰərgɛ 3SG X hpo anger ལང་ X ནོའི laŋ=go=nu rise.up=AUX=NMLZ.GEN ཚུགས་ཀ་ tsʰəkka appearance རེད rɛ COPB "He looks angry (but actually he is not angry)." |
ndʑoŋwa | character, nature | by nature, habitual aspect | * ཁུར་རྒེ་ kʰərgɛ 3SG དྲང་མོ་ ʈaŋmo honest ཡིན་ནོའི་ jən=nu COPA=NMLZ.GEN X ndʑoŋwa nature རེད rɛ COPB "He is honest by nature." |
xwe | habit, custom | habitual aspect, deontic modality | * ཁུར་རྒེ་ kʰərgɛ 3SG ལས་ཀ་ lehka work མ་ལས་ནོའི mə-le=nu NEG-do=NMLZ.GEN དཔེ? xwe habit རེད rɛ COPB "It is his habit not to work."
|
In addition to these six nouns, Amdo Tibetan also has several clitics and affixes that can be used in the noun
slot, such as =kʰawo "mood, appearance" and =ɟə ~ =cə "thing to do, value of doing."
nDrapa
[edit]nDrapa or Zhaba is a Qiangic language within the Sino-Tibetan language family. nDrapa has four morphemes that can appear in the noun
slot of its mermaid constructions:
- ndei3 ~ =ndei
- Expresses a plan or intention.
somuȵi3
tomorrow
no1
2SG
tɕhei3
what
mɵ=ndei3
make=intention
wa3
COP1
"What do you intend to do tomorrow?"
- -zɨ
- Expresses an expectation.
anʌ3
today
ȵjɛ=ʈo1
1PL=place
lɛmɛ3
monk
vo-zɨ3
come-prospect
rɛ3
COP4
"A monk is scheduled to come to our home today."
- nkhei1 ~ =nkhei
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearance.
ŋoro1
3SG
kaoʈoŋ1
high.school
l̥o=ɕi2
learn=wish
ɦdi=ʈɨ3
think=IPFV
nkhei1
appearance
rɛ3
COP4
"He seems to want to go to high school."
- mʌlo3
- Expresses readiness to perform an action.
ŋoro1
3SG
ȵjɛ=ʈo1
1PL=place
kɨ-m̥i-a1
INW-sleep-RT
mʌlo3
readiness
ʈɛ3
COP3
"He is ready to sleep in our house."
Newar
[edit]Newar or Nepāl Bhāṣā is a Newaric language within the Sino-Tibetan language family. In the Kathmandu–Patan dialect of Newar, there are two morphemes that can appear in the noun
slot of its mermaid constructions:
- =gu bhāgya
- Expresses that an action was destined, lucky, or otherwise caused by fate. This construction uses the noun bhāgya "fate, destiny, lot, luck," borrowed from Sanskrit भाग्य bhāgya.
वएक:या
waekaː=yā
3.HON=GEN
ज्यलए
jyal=ae
jail=LOC
सि:
siː
die-INF
मा:गु
māː=gu
need.NFND=NMLZ
भाग्य
bhāgya
fate
जुय
juy-a
COP-CM
च्वन।
cwan-a.
CONT-NFPD
"That person was destined to die in the jail."
- inanimate nominalizer =gu
- Expresses a variety of meanings such as assertion, explanation, and elaboration.
राम्
rām
Ram
दाक्तर्
dāktar
doctor
जु:गु
juː=gu
COP.NFND=NMLZ
ख:।
khaː
COP.NFND
"(It is the case that) Ram has become a doctor."
चानए
cān=ae
night=LOC
वा
wā
rain
व:गु
waː=gu
come.NFND=NMLZ
खए
kha-e
COP-INF
मा:।
māː
should.NFND
"It must have rained during the night."
Burmese
[edit]Burmese is a Lolo-Burmese language within the Sino-Tibetan language family. Burmese has many morphemes that can appear in the noun
slot of its mermaid constructions; among them are:
- pòuɴ "shape"
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearance.
X
t̪ù
3SG
X
dì
this
X
híɴ=ɡò
curry=KO
X
sá=dɛ̂
eat=AN
X
pòuɴ(=bɛ́)
shape(=EMPH)
"It seems that he ate this curry."
- hàɴ "appearance"
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearance.
X
t̪ù
3SG
X
dì
this
X
híɴ=ɡò
curry=KO
X
sá=dɛ̂
eat=AN
X
hàɴ(=bɛ́)
appearance(=EMPH)
"It seems that he ate this curry."
- d̪ăbɔ́ "nature"
- Expresses an assertion or a statement of fact.
X
t̪ù
3SG
X
dì
this
X
híɴ=ɡò
curry=KO
X
măhlwɛ́d̪àlô
against.one's.will
X
sá=dɛ̂
eat=AN
X
d̪ăbɔ́(=bɛ́)
nature(=EMPH)
"It is that he unwillingly ate this curry."
- shɛ́zɛ́ "moment just before"
- Expresses that an action is or was about to happen.
X
t̪ù
3SG
X
dì
this
X
híɴ=ɡò
curry=KO
X
sá=mɛ̂
eat=AN
X
shɛ́zɛ́(=bɛ́)
just.before(=EMPH)
"He is about to eat this curry."
Mandarin Chinese
[edit]Mandarin is the dominant variety of Chinese within the Sino-Tibetan language family. Mermaid constructions in Mandarin are distinct from the Japanese-based prototype in that Mandarin's word order is subject–verb–object, not subject–object–verb. Mandarin mermaid constructions can occur in the following two structures:
subject1
+copula
+clause1
+noun
subject (clause1)
+copula
+clause2
+noun
In structure 1, the subject1
is the subject of clause1
. In structure 2, clause1
is the subject of the entire sentence.
Mandarin mermaid constructions can use the following nouns:
- 样子 yàngzi "appearance, expression"
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearance.
大家
Dàjiā
everyone
都
dōu
all
是
shì
COP
松了
sōng-le
relax-ASP
一
yì
one
口
kǒu
CL
气
qì
breath
的
de
PART
样子
yàngzi
appearance
"Everyone seemed to be relieved."
- 缘故 yuángù "reason, circumstance"
- Expresses a reason. (Uses structure 2.)
冯庆
Féng Qìng
Feng Qing
从
cóng
from
小
xiǎo
young
便
biàn
already
长得
zhǎng-de
grow-PART
细高
xìgāo
tall.and.slender
精瘦
jīngshòu
thin
大概
dàgài
probably
是
shì
COP
吃
chī
eat
饭
fàn
meal
时中
shǐzhōng
throughout
没
méi
NEG
有
yǒu
have
胃口
wèikǒu
appetite
的
de
PART
缘故
yuángù
reason
"Feng Qing has been tall, thin, and pretty skinny since he was a child, and this is probably because he has never had a (good) appetite."
- 脾气 píqì "nature, character"
- Expresses someone's nature, personality, or propensity.
他
Tā
3SG
从
cóng
from
小
xiǎo
young
就
jiù
already
是
shì
COP
一
yí
one
副
fù
CL
天
tiān
heaven
不
bú
NEG
怕
pà
fear
地
dì
earth
不
bú
NEG
怕
pà
fear
的
de
PART
脾气
píqi
nature
"He has been afraid of nothing (lit. neither heaven nor earth) since he was a child."
- 德行 déxing "bad attitude"
- Expresses the consequence of someone's poor attitude or behavior.
他
Tā
3SG
从
cóng
from
小
xiǎo
young
就
jiù
already
是
shì
COP
一
yí
one
副
fù
CL
姥姥
lǎolao
grandmother
不
bù
NEG
亲
qīn
kiss
舅舅
jiùjiu
uncle
不
bú
NEG
爱
ài
love
的
de
PART
德行
déxing
bad.attitude
"He has a bad attitude such that his grandmother has not kissed him and his uncle has not loved him since he was a child."
- 架势 jiàshi "posture, arrogance"
- Expresses the extent of someone's arrogance.
他
Tā
3SG
现在
xiànzài
now
完全
wánquán
completely
是
shì
COP
一
yí
one
副
fù
CL
要
yào
will
把
bǎ
CAUS
皇帝
huángdì
emperor
拉下
lā-xià
pull-down
马
mǎ
horse
的
de
PART
架势
jiàshi
arrogant.manner
"Now, he is totally arrogant enough to attempt to topple the emperor."
Austronesian languages
[edit]In addition to in Tagalog (described below), mermaid constructions have been found in the Oceanic Neku language and the Philippine Kapampangan language.
Tagalog
[edit]Tagalog is a Philippine language within the Austronesian language family. Mermaid constructions in Tagalog differ from the Japanese-based prototype in that Tagalog's word order is verb–subject–object, not subject–object–verb, and Tagalog is a zero copula langauge. As a result, its mermaid clauses take the form of noun
+ clause
, with a linking morpheme attached to the noun
.
There is only one type of mermaid construction in Tagalog that is used used with a finite clause in the clause
slot, which uses the noun mukha "face."
mukha-ng
face-LK
binata=pa=siya
bachelor=yet=3SG:TOP
"It seems he is still a bachelor."
mukha-ng
face-LK
sa-sabog=na
AF:CONT-erupt=already
ang
TOP
bulkan
volcano
"It seems the volcano will erupt soon."
There are five types of quasi-mermaid constructions that can be made with infinitive verbs in the clause
slot:
- plano "plan"
plano-ng
plan-LK
b-um-isita
AF:INF-visit
ni
GEN
Noya
Noy
sa
OBL
Davao
Davao
bukas
tomorrow
"Noy plans to visit Davao tomorrow."
- tradisyon "tradition"
tradisyon-g
tradition-LK
ipag-diwang
PF:INF-celebrate
nang
GEN
manga
PL
Filipino
Filipino
ang
TOP
Easter
Easter
"Filipinos have the practice of celebrating Easter."
- kapalaran "fate"
kapalaran-g
fate-LK
ma-talo
AF:INF-lose
ni
GEN
Erap
Erap
noon-g
last-LK
eleksyon
election
"Erap was destined to lose in the last election."
- balak "plan"
- destino "destiny"
Korean
[edit]More than 70 different nouns can be used for mermaid constructions in Korean. The copula
slot can be filled by the copula 이다 ida or by one of its variants depending on context. Some examples are:
Grammaticalized Noun | Etymological Meaning | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
예정 yeyceng | prediction, expectation | intention, planning | 친구는 chinkwu=nun friend=TOP 일본에 ilpon=ey Japan=DAT/LOC 갈 ka-l go-ADN.PROS 예정이다 yeyceng=i-ta plan=COP-DECL "(My) friend plans to go to Japan." |
모양 moyang | appearance, condition | sensory evidential | 밖에는 pakk=ey=nun outside=DAT/LOC=TOP 비가 pi=ka rain=NOM 오는 o-nun fall-ADN.NPST 모양이다 moyang=i-ta appearance=COP-DECL "It appears to be raining outside." |
길 kil | road, path, means | progressive aspect | 나는 na=nun me=TOP 은행에 unhayng=ey bank=DAT/LOC 가는 ka-nun go-ADN.NPST 길이다 kil=i-ta road=COP-DECL "I am on my way to the bank." |
Ainu
[edit]Ainu has ten nouns that are usable in mermaid constructions, all of which are used with the equative copula ne:
Grammaticalized Noun | Etymological Meaning | Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
ruwe | the trace of | inferential, or modal marker of certainty | * タネ tane already アィヌ aynu ainu コタン kotan village ハンケ hanke be.close ルヱ ru-w-e trace-EP-POSS ネ。 ne COP "I infer that an Ainu village is already nearby." |
hawe | the voice of | reportative | * ピㇼカ pirka be.good ウエペケㇾ uepeker folktale ネ ne COP ハヱ haw-e voice-POSS ネ ne COP ワ。 wa FIN "It is said to be / Based on what you said, I assume that it is a good folktale." |
siri | the sight of | visual | * アコㇿ a=kor IND.A=have フチ huci grandmother アコㇿ a=kor IND.A=have エカシ ekasi grandfather アイメッカㇻ a=imekkar IND.A=give.presents.to シリ sir-i sight-POSS ネ。 ne COP "Grandmother, grandfather, look, this is for you." |
humi | the sound of | non-visual sensory | * アツ゚イェサㇳサチ atuyesatsaci shallow.stream タ ta LOC ラヤン ray=an die.SG=IND.S フミ hum-i sound-POSS ネ。 ne COP "I felt that I was going to die in the shallow stream." |
kusu | the reason of | intentional | * アウㇰ a=uk IND.A=take.SG ワ wa and アエ a=e IND.A=eat クス kus-u reason-POSS ネ。 ne COP "(If you offer some hard wine lees), I will accept that and eat." |
kunip | should | deontic | * エチキ eci=ki 2PL.A=do クニㇷ゚ kun-i-p obligation?-POSS-thing/person ネ ne COP ナ。 na FIN "You should do (this)." |
pe ~ p | thing, person | assertive, pragmatic imperative | * ヌプリ nupuri mountain ケㇱ kes end ウン un attach.to プリ puri habit ヱン wen be.bad クㇽ kur person アネㇷ゚ a=ne-p IND.A=COP-thing/person ネ ne COP クス… kusu because "Because I am surely the demon from the end of the mountains..." |
katu | the shape/manner of | assertive | * アカㇻ a=kar IND.A=make アィネ ayne finally アィヌ aynu human ウワㇱテ u-w-as-te RECP-EP-stand.SG-CAUS カツ゚ kat-u shape/reason-POSS ネ。 ne COP "(The gods) made (this and that) so finally humans reproduced (and became so numerous)." |
hi | place, time, thing | assertive | * カムィ kamuy gods テンカィネ tenkayne thanks エパ e=pa 2SG.A=find ワ wa and エシㇰヌレ e=siknu-re 2SG.A=be.alive-CAUS ヒ hi place/time/thing ネ ne COP アーン。 aan ADM "You must have found (that girl) with the help of the gods and revived her!" |
uske | the place of | progressive | * タネ tane already イペアン ipe=an eat=IND.S ウㇱケ us-ke place-POSS ネ。 ne COP "I'm eating right now." |
The noun kunip is so strongly grammaticalized that it does not appear outside of mermaid constructions.
Evidential-type nouns, namely ruwe, hawe, siri, and humi, have also been attested in quasi-mermaid constructions with the verbs an "to exist," isam "to not exist," and as "to stand" instead of the copular verb ne.
Thai
[edit]Thai is a Tai language within the Kra–Dai language family. Thai has structures similar to a mermaid construction, considered "quasi-mermaid constructions." There are three types within Thai, which are only used with verbs denoting psychological or speech actions.
- (
target
+ )copula
+nominalizer
+psych. verb
( +oblique
+experiencer
) - (
target
+ )copula
+nominalizer
+speech verb
( +oblique
+speaker
) copula
+nominalizer
+psych./speech verb
+complement clause
To elaborate:
- The
target
identifies the target, goal, etc. of the psychological or speech act. - A
psych. verb
is a verb denoting a psychological act such as "worry," "love," "want," "believe in," etc. - A
speech verb
is a verb denoting a speech act such as "say," "mention," "criticize," "rumor," etc. - An
oblique
is an adjunct prepositional phrase. - The
experiencer
andspeaker
are the agents of the psychological or speech acts. - The
complement clause
is the quotative complementizer wâa plus a clause. - The
nominalizer
, equivalent to thenoun
slot of a prototypical mermaid construction, can be occupied by the noun thîi "place, entity" or kaan "activity, matter."
X
phûu ráp cháy
employee
X
thîi
REL
X
thɯ̌ɯ
hold
X
khwaam sɯ̂ɯ troŋ
loyalty
X
pen
COP
X
thîi
NMLZ
X
ʔùn cay
feel.relieved
X
khɔ̌ɔŋ
GEN
X
hǔa nâa
boss
"Employees with loyalty are a relief to the bosses."
X
phalìttaphan
product
X
làw níi
these
X
pen
COP
X
thîi
NMLZ
X
klàaw khwǎn
criticize
X
thɯ̌ŋ
reach
X
yàaŋ mâak
very.much
"These products are criticized very much."
X
pen
COP
X
thîi
NMLZ
X
yɔɔm ráp
admit
X
kan
RECP
X
thûa
be.overall
X
pay
go
X
wâa
COMP
X
wannakam
literary.work
X
lɛ́ʔ
and
X
phâaphayon
movie
X
mii
have
X
ʔìtthíphon
influence
X
tɔ̀ɔ
upon
X
kan lɛ́ʔ kan
each.other
X
yàaŋ mâak
very.much
"It is generally admitted that literary works and movies influence each other very much."
Mongolian (Khalkha)
[edit]Khalkha Mongolian is the predominant variety of the Mongolian language within Mongolia. It has only one type of mermaid construction:
- xereg "occurrence, fact, circumstance, necessity"
- Adds a tone of explanation like English "I mean that ..." or inquiring an explanation like "Do you mean that ...?" in a question).
Визээр
viz-eer
visa-INS
бизнес
biznjes
business.NOM
хийгчид
xijgč-i-d
doer-EP-PL.NOM
чухам
čuxam
actually
хаана
xaana
where
орогнодог
orogno-dog
flee-VN.HAB
хэрэг
xereg
occurrence
вэ.
ve
Q
"Where on earth do (illegal) visa dealers flee to?"
Эндээс
end-ees
here-ABL
аваачсан
avaač-san
take-VN.PST
хэрэг
xereg
occurrence
үү?
üü
Q
"Did they take (it) from here?"
Гадаадад
gadaad-a-d
foreign.country-EP-DAT
хаанач
xaana=č
where=even.FOC
билээ
bilee,
MP
хуралтай
xuraltaj
with.meeting
байсан
baj-san
be-VN.PST
хэрэг.
xereg
occurrence
"He was going to have a meeting in a foreign country; I cannot remember which."
Khalkha Mongolian also has two types of quasi-mermaid constructions:
- (gesen) üg and (gedeg) üg
- Elaborates on the meaning or significance of something, like English "This means that..." This is not a true mermaid construction because the
noun
üg is coreferential with the subject of theclause
, e.g. enen’ "this" in example 4 below:
(Энэнь)
(ene=n’)
(this.NOM=3.POSS)
амьнаснь
am’+nas=n’
live.NOM=3.POSS
аюулгүй
ajuulgüj
safe
байнал
bajna=l
be-TV.NPST=only.FOC
гэсэн
ge-sen
say-VN.HAB
үг.
üg
word
"(This) only means that their lives are safe."
- -taj ~ -toj ~ -tej
- A proprietive adjective-deriving suffix that attaches to a noun. This is not a true mermaid construction because the
noun
slot is filled by an adjective, not a noun.
Би
bi
1SG.NOM
маргааш
margaaš
tomorrow
хөдөө
xödöö
countryside
явах
jav-a-x
go-EP-VN.NPST
төлөвлөгөөтэй
tölövlögöö-tej
plan-PROP
байна.
baj-na
be-TV.NPST
"I am planning to go to the countryside tomorrow."
Монголчууд
mongol-čuud
Mongolian-PL.NOM
өвөгдээдсээ
övög+deeds-ee
ancestors-REFL
хүндэлдэг
xündel-deg
respect-VN.HAB
заншилтай.
zanšil-taj
custom-PROP
"Mongolians have the custom of ancestor worship."
Yakut
[edit]Yakut or Sakha is a Siberian Turkic language within the Turkic language family. Yakut has 28 nouns that can be used in quasi-mermaid constructions. They are considered not to be true mermaid constructions because the clause
must be non-finite, and the noun
is required to take a proprietive suffix meaning "having," essentially filling the noun
slot by an adjective. For example:
Мин
min
1SG
Токиоҕа
tokio-ʁa
Tokyo-DAT
барар
bar-ar
go-VN.PRS
былааннаахпын.
bɯlaan-naax-pɯn
plan-PROP-COP.1SG
"I plan to go to Tokyo."
Үлэтэ суох
ylete suox
without.work
хаалар
xaal-ar
remain-VN.PRS
кэскиллээхтэр.
keskil-leex-ter
future-PROP-COP.3PL
"They will still be unemployed."
Дьолломмут
žollom-mut
feel.happy-VN.PST
дьүһүннээххин.
žyhyn-neex-xin
shape-PROP-COP.2SG
"You look happy."
Kurukh
[edit]Kurukh or Oraon is a language within the Dravidian language family. It has two clitics and one noun that can occupy the noun
slot in its mermaid constructions.
इ:
iː
this
रे:ल्ग:ड़ि
reːlgaːɽiː
train
को:डर्म:
koːɖarmaː
Koderma
क:लु:मधेद्
kaːl-uː=madʰe(-d)
go-PRS.VADJ=ADJ-NM
हिके।
hike
COP.PRS.3SG.NM
"This train is scheduled to go to Koderma."
अ:स्
aːs
3SG.M.NOM
चिं:ख़न:बेसे:
cĩːx-naː=beseː
cry-VBN=like
रह्चस्।
rahc-as
be.B2-PST.3SG.M
"It was as if he would cry," or "He was about to cry."
अ:स्
aːs
3SG.M.NOM
तम्बसिन्
tamba-s-in
own.father-M-ACC
इल्च्क:
ilc-kaː
fear.B2-PST.VADJ
चड्डे:
caɖɖeː
because
बोङगस्
boŋg-as
run.away-PST.3SG.M
केरस्।
ker-as
go.B2-PST.3SG.M
"He ran away because he was scared of his father."
Sidaama
[edit]Sidaama is a Highland East Cushitic language within the Afroasiatic language family, and the first language outside of Asia to be described as having a mermaid construction. It has three types of mermaid constructions:
- ɡara "manner, way"
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearing.
X
ise
3SG.F.NOM
X
dod-d-anno
run-3SG.F-IPFV.3
X
ɡara-a=ti
manner-LV=NPC.PRED.MOD
"It seems like she (habitually) runs."
- =ɡede "like, as if, so that"
- Expresses evidentiality such as seeming or appearing.
X
ise
3SG.F.NOM
X
dod-d-anno=ɡede-e=ti
run-3SG.F-IPFV.3=like-LV=NPC.PRED.MOD
"It seems like she will run."
X
ise
3SG.F.NOM
X
dod-d-a-ra-a=ti
run-3SG.F-INF-DATLOC.MOD-LV=NPC.PRED.MOD
"She is about to run."
Kolyma Yukaghir
[edit]Kolyma Yukaghir is one of the two extant Yukaghir languages. Kolyma Yukaghir has two varieties of mermaid construction that deviate from the Japanese prototype:
- The
noun
slot is occupied by an enclitic =ben ~ =bed, and the verb of theclause
is in a non-finite participle form. This type of mermaid construction usually describes past (uncommonly, present) actions and also has a modal meaning of assertion. - The
noun
slot is occupied by a nominalizing suffix -joːn ~ -joːd ~ -d’oːn ~ -d’oːd ~ -t’oːn ~ -t’oːd, and the verb of theclause
is in its stem form. This type of mermaid construction also describes past actions, but does not have a modal meaning.
The copula
slot can generally be filled by the focus marker -(e)k for either type, or by the copular verb "to be" for type 2.
Тудэл
tudel
3SG
тудаа
tudaː
before
миидьиилэ
miːd’iː-le
sledge-INS
хонрошмэлэбэдэк.
xonroʃ-mele=bed-ek
break-PTCP.3SG=bed-FOC
"He broke a sledge before."
Мэт
met
1SG
төвкэ
töwke
dog
йуомэбэдэк.
juo-me=bed-ek
see-PTCP.1SG=bed-FOC
"I saw a dog."
Тэт
tet
2SG
тудаа
tudaː
before
хондьоон
xon-d’oːn
go-d’oːn
оодьэк.
oː-d’ek
be-INTR.2SG
"You went (there) before."
Титтэл
tittel
3PL
киэтьоонпэк.
kie-t’oːn-pe-k
come-t’oːn-PL-FOC
"They came."
Hindi
[edit]Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-European language family. Hindi has one mermaid construction, where the noun
slot is filled by the enclitic =vālā "one who ~s," and the verb of the clause
is in the non-finite infinitive form. This mermaid construction can indicate:
- Aspectual meaning, expressing that an action is about to occur.
- Deontic modal meaning, expressing an intended or scheduled action.
- Epistemic modal meaning, expressing the speaker's belief about the occurrence of an action.
मैं
mãĩ
1SG
यूनिवर्सिटी
yūnivarsiṭī
university.F.SG
जानेवाला
jā-ne=vālā
go-INF.OBL=vālā.M.SG
हूँ।
hū̃
COP.PRS.1SG
"I am about to go to the university," or "I am on my way to the university."
वह
vah
3SG
आज
āj
today
कल
kal
tomorrow
मरनेवाला
mar-ne=vālā
die-INF.OBL=vālā.M.SG
है।
hai
COP.PRS.3SG
"He will die in a day or so."
Hindi -vālā "one who ~s" is thought to derive from Sanskrit पाल pāla or पालक pālaka, both meaning "guardian, protector, maintainer."
Koryak
[edit]Koryak is a Chukotkan language within the Chukotko-Kamchatkan language family; this section specifically deals with the Chawchəvan dialect. Koryak has one quasi-mermaid construction, where the noun
slot is filled by the nominalizing suffix -jolqəl, and the verb of the clause
is in its stem form.
Koryak does not have a copula, instead marking subject complements (in this case, -jolqəl) by personal pronoun suffixes. For quasi-mermaid construction, this suffix follows ergative–absolutive alignment: it agrees with the intransitive subject or transitive object of the clause
.
The nominalizing suffix -jolqəl expresses a deontic modal meaning of obligation:
(Гыцци)
(ɣəcci)
(2SG.ABS)
эцги
ecɣi
today
вайолӄылэгэ
va-jolqəl-eɣe
stay-should-2SG.S
гэньпицитэ
ɣ-eɲpici-te
COM-father-COM
йайак.
jaja-k
house-LOC
"You should stay at home with your father today."
(Ыццу)
(əccu)
(3PL.ABS)
ав’йэйолӄыло
awje-jolqəl-o
eat-should-3PL.S
ав’йэйак.
awje-ja-k
eat-house-LOC
"They should eat at the buffet."
(Гымнан)
(ɣəmnan)
(1SG.ERG)
инг’э
inʕe
soon
г’айӈав’йолӄыл
ʕajŋaw-jolqəl-∅
call-should-3SG.O
ӄайыкмиӈын.
qajəkmiŋ-ə-n
boy-EP-ABS.SG
"I should call the boy soon."
(Митив’)
mitiw
tomorrow
гынан
(ɣənan)
(2SG.ERG)
ӈэлвылг’ыӈӄо
ŋelvəlʕ-ə-ŋqo
reindeer.herd-EP-ABL
йылэйолӄыл
jəle-jolqəl-∅
bring-should-3SG.O
тымйон.
təm-jo-n
kill-NMLZ-ABS.SG
"You should bring the killed (reindeer) from the herd tomorrow."
Xibe
[edit]Xibe or Sive is a language within the Tungusic language family, and a close relative of Manchu language. Xibe has at least two different mermaid constructions, which are used with a zero copula:
- aliŋe "like"
- Expresses likeness or seeming.
X
merxenje da
Merxenje
X
ji-xe
come-PRF.ADN
X.
aliŋe.
like.
X
kicebu da
Kicebu
X
ji-xe
come-PRF.ADN
X
aqu
NEG
X.
aliŋe.
like.
"It seems that Merxenje came, (but) it seems that Kicebu didn't come."
- nominalizer =ŋe
- Expresses discourse-relative functions such as assertion.
X
si
2SG
X
zuŋgo
China
X
nane
person
X?
na
yes.no.Q
/
/
/
X.
waqe.
not.
X
bi
1SG
X
zibeN=deri’
Japan=ABL
X.
ji-xe=ŋe
come-PRF.ADN=NMLZ
"Are you Chinese? / No, I came from Japan."
X
si
2SG
X
ai
what
X?
are-maχe=ŋe
do-PROG.ADN=NMLZ
/
/
/
X
bitke’
book
X.
ta-maχe=ŋe
read-PROG.ADN=NMLZ
"What are you doing? / I'm reading a book."
References
[edit]- ^ Tsunoda (2013), pp. 1–2.
Works Cited
[edit]- Kaneda Akihiro [in Japanese] (2001), 八丈方言動詞の基礎研究 (Basic Research on Verbs in the Hachijō Dialect), 笠間書院 (Kasama Shoin Co., Ltd.).
- Tsunoda Tasaku, ed. (2013), Adnominal Clauses and the ‘Mermaid Construction’: Grammaticalization of Nouns, doi:10.1515/9783110670844, ISBN 9783110670806.