Language: Zenzontepec Chatino
Contributors: Eric Campbell
Complex verb
Verb meaning: BREAK [break]
Comment: /nka-u-laʔa/; CPL-CAUS-break
Examples: see at the bottom
Schema: V 1 jiʔį̄+2 (lóʔō+3)
| # | Microrole | Coding set | Argument type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | breaker | Ø | A |
| 2 | broken thing | jiʔį̄+NP | P |
| 3 | breaking instrument | lóʔō+NP | I |
| (121) |
Lēʔ nchuʔukāchíʔ jā nu na nkwítzą ntilaʔ kee jā titǭ nkalaʔaūʔ jiʔį̄. lēʔ then n-ch-uʔu-kāchíʔ HAB-ITRN-be.inside-hidden(.3) jā CONJ nu NOM na ART nkwítzą child nti-laʔ HAB-touch kee rock jā CONJ titǭ several nka-laʔa=ūʔ CPL.CAUS-get.broken=3PL jiʔį̄ RN(.3) They (the jugs) get hidden there, because the children grab rocks and they have broken several (of the jugs). Comment: verb nti-laʔ means 'grab' here instead of 'touch' or 'hold' |
| (177) |
Nkutyejnā ntiʔe choo kunu suwe ʔne lēʔ nkutyejnā ntulaʔaūʔ jnā keeʔ lōʔ kwitīʔyú. nku-tyejnā CPL-begin nti-ʔe HAB-go.down choo rain kunu a.little suwe small ʔne HAB.do lēʔ then nku-tyejnā CPL-begin nt-u-laʔa=ūʔ HAB-CAUS-get.broken=3PL jiʔį̄ RN na ART kee=Vʔ rock=DEM lóʔō RN.with kwitīʔyú lightning Then it started to sprinkle a little bit, and they began to break the rock with lightning. |
| Alternation | Derived coding frame | Alternation class | Occurs | Comment | # Ex. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (248) |
Nkulaʔa na yaka. nku-laʔa CPL-get.broken na ART yaka wood The stick broke. Comment: This example shows the intransitive verb from which the transitive BREAK is derived via the u-causative alternation. |
