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Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

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3. PVCS OF TYPE2 161<br />

(73) a. x-ach-'il-le a-ma'-on <strong>in</strong>-an<br />

PERF-B2-see-PASS A2-hit-SUF B1-CL1s<br />

`You were seen hitt<strong>in</strong>g me.'<br />

b. x-ach-'il-cha a-ma'-on <strong>in</strong>-an<br />

PERF-B2-see-PASS A2-hit-SUF B1-CL1s<br />

`You were caught hitt<strong>in</strong>g me.'<br />

c. il-b'il-ach a-ma'-on <strong>in</strong>-an<br />

see-PASS/PF-B2 A2-hit-SUF B1-CL1s<br />

`You have been seen hitt<strong>in</strong>g me (at least once).'<br />

The same applies to <strong>in</strong>transitive type2 PVCs. Set A pronom<strong>in</strong>al prexes<br />

on the PVC <strong>verb</strong> express the PVC subject while set B pronom<strong>in</strong>al<br />

a xes on the passivized PV are coreferential with them. In example<br />

(74) these pre xes are aw- (for vowel-<strong>in</strong>itial roots) on the PVC <strong>verb</strong><br />

and ach on the passivized matrix PV.<br />

(74) a. x-ach-il-le aw-'el-toj<br />

PERF-B2-see-PASS A2-leave-DIR<br />

`You were seen leave.'<br />

b. x-ach-il-cha aw-'el-toj<br />

PERF-B2-see-PASS A2-leave-DIR<br />

`You were caught (byvision) leav<strong>in</strong>g.'<br />

c. il-b'il-ach aw-'el-toj<br />

see-PASS/PF-B2 A2-leave-DIR<br />

`You were spied on (when) leav<strong>in</strong>g.'<br />

or: `You were guarded (while) leav<strong>in</strong>g.'<br />

As can be observed <strong>in</strong> the translations of examples (73-b) and (74-b),<br />

the cha-passive's adversative sense is expressed by the <strong>verb</strong> `caught',<br />

i.e. the perception was to the detriment of the one perceived. The b'ilpassive<br />

even obta<strong>in</strong>s two <strong>in</strong>terpretations as depicted <strong>in</strong> example (74-c).<br />

The general notion is one of be<strong>in</strong>g watched, either <strong>in</strong> the sense of spy<strong>in</strong>g<br />

or <strong>in</strong> the sense of guard<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

The translations of the le-passive <strong>in</strong> example (75) illustrate that <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>Akatek</strong> il `see' is a passive aswell as an active PV, i.e. it can express<br />

either accidental see<strong>in</strong>g or purposeful see<strong>in</strong>g. The same observations<br />

apply to the examples <strong>in</strong> (76).

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