Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language
Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language
Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
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).