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Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

Perception verb complements in Akatek, a Mayan language

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3. PVCS OF TYPE2 185<br />

(137) x-;-y-il ix Mik<strong>in</strong> aw-'el-toj jun-el<br />

PERF-B3-A3-see NCL Micaela A2-leave-DIR one-time<br />

ch'an<br />

only<br />

`Micaela saw you hit me only once.'<br />

Modi cation with jaxkati' `like this' is also grammatical and requires<br />

a demonstration of the way <strong>in</strong> which the perceived action was<br />

performed.<br />

(138) x-;-y-il ix Mik<strong>in</strong> aw-'el-toj jaxkati'<br />

PERF-B3-A3-see NCL Micaela A2-leave-DIR like.this<br />

`Micaela saw you leave like this.'<br />

A modality clitic that occurs with type2 PVC is the admirative<br />

clitic la. Zavala (1992b) describes the mean<strong>in</strong>g of la as rang<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

amazement to compla<strong>in</strong>t or presumption. The admirative <strong>in</strong> example<br />

(139) has to be re ected <strong>in</strong> an adequate tone of voice express<strong>in</strong>g<br />

amazement, compla<strong>in</strong>t, presumption or someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> between when<br />

translated <strong>in</strong>to English.<br />

(139) x-;-y-il ix Mik<strong>in</strong> aw-'el-toj jaxka-ti'<br />

PERF-B3-A3-see NCL Micaela A2-leave-DIR like-DEM<br />

la<br />

ADM<br />

`Micaela saw you leave like this!'<br />

As is typical for purely event denot<strong>in</strong>g PVC types, type2 PVCs <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>Akatek</strong> cannot be modi ed with the sentential ad<strong>verb</strong> tejan `possibly'<br />

as shown <strong>in</strong> (140-a). Tejan can modify the matrix PV as can be seen<br />

<strong>in</strong> (140-b).<br />

(140) a. *x-;-y-il ix Mik<strong>in</strong> tejan<br />

PERF-B3-A3-see NCL Micaela possibly<br />

aw-el-toj<br />

A2-leave-DIR<br />

`Micaela saw you possibly leave.'<br />

b. tejan x-;-y-il ix Mik<strong>in</strong> aw-el-toj<br />

possibly PERF-B3-A3-see NCL Micaela A2-leave-DIR<br />

ewi'<br />

yesterday<br />

`Possibly Micaela saw you leave yesterday.'

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