Subject inflection Derivational morphology 275

Chapter 4 Verbal inflection This chapter deals with verbal morphology, one of the most complex aspects of Muna grammar. More specifically, it is restricted to verbal inflection. First, subject inflection is discussed with its complexities, such as the three different paradigms for subject markers 4.3, 4.4, the influence of the irrealis mood on subject inflection 4.5 and the so-called definiteness shift 4.6. A first analysis of these topics is given in Van den Berg 1987. Direct and indirect object inflection are treated in 4.8. The chapter ends with a discussion of inflection in morphologically complex words 4.9.

4.1. Subject inflection

In Muna a clause can consist of a single verb, as illustrated in 1: 1 a. no-leni he is swimming 3sR-swim b. a-leni I am swimming 1sR-swim In 1a the prefix no- marks the subject of the verb leni as third person singular it also indicates the realis R mood, see 4.5, while the prefix a- in 1b marks the subject as first person singular realis. These clauses can be expanded by a full nominal or pronominal subject; a free pronoun usually indicates emphasis see 5.3.1: 2 a. ama-ku no-leni my father is swimming father-my 3sR-swim b. inodi a-leni I am swimming I 1sR-swim In these cases there is agreement between the noun phrase functioning as the subject of the clause and the prefix indicating the subject on the verb. Henceforth these prefixes will be called subject markers. The following clauses are therefore ungrammatical: 4 VERBAL INFLECTION 51 3 a. ama-ku a-leni b. inodi no-leni The following chart presents the subject markers for one class of verbs. For ease of reference the full paradigm of subject inflection illustrated on the verb kala go is given together with the free pronouns, which are further treated in 5.3. person pronoun verb form gloss sg 1 inodi a-kala I go 2 ihintu o-kala you go 2 polite intaidi to-kala you polite go 3 anoa no-kala hesheit goes du 1 inclusive intaidi do-kala we 2 incl go pl 1 inclusive intaidi-imu do-kala-amu we 2 incl go 1 exclusive insaidi ta-kala we ex go 2 ihintu-umu o-kala-amu you plural go 2 polite intaidi-imu to-kala-amu you polite pl go 3 andoa do-kala they go Notice the following points about these subject markers: 1. -Vmu, the plural marker on first person inclusive and second person, is a derivational suffix see 10.2.30. The first vowel of the suffix is a copy of the base to which it is attached vowel harmony; compare the following examples: leni swim o-leni-imu you plural swim horo fly o-horo-omu you plural fly 2. The dual takes a marginal position in this system. A formal distinction between dual and plural can only be made for the first person inclusive, not for the other persons. And even for the first person one frequently finds the dual where the referents are clearly more than two. Formally there is an opposition, but the unmarked member of the two can cover both meanings. 3. The do-forms can also be used for the second person singular, in which case they have a rather formal connotation. Their use does not imply politeness but rather aloofness; the form is especially suitable for addressing foreigners. The following possibilities exist for the second person singular: 4 do-mai-ghoo ne hamai? where do you come from? 2suR-come-IO loc where said to a stranger 5 to-mai-ghoo ne hamai? where do you come from? 2shR-come-IO loc where said to a respected person 6 o-mai-ghoo ne hamai? where do you come from? 2sR-come-IO loc where normal register 52 A GRAMMAR OF THE MUNA LANGUAGE This extra meaning of do- results in a threefold ambiguity for a do-form: 1. we dual inclusive; 2. they; and 3. you to a foreigner. In the translation of examples of do- in this grammar a choice will be made between we and they instead of giving both possibilities. Finally, the do-forms also occur in general statements, comparable to English one Dutch men; this can be viewed as a combination of the meanings of we and they.

4.2. Agreement