Polysynthesis in Ket

• Main Author: Vajda, Edward J.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2017
• Subjects: Ket language; Siberia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199683208.013.49; https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/40413/chapter/347390070

Abstract The Ket language isolate of Central Siberia differs morphologically from the surrounding languages in having a strongly prefixing polysynthetic verb. Grammatical markers are interdigitated between lexical morphemes, creating a discontinuous stem based on a template of eight prefixal positions, a base position and a single suffix position expressing plural agreement with animate-class subjects. Finite verb forms distinguish past from non-past indicative, as well as an imperative form. Verbs are strictly transitive or intransitive and express person, number, and noun class agreement with the subject and direct object. Although the language has accusative alignment, with subjects marked differently than objects, much of the verb’s linear complexity derives from lexically conditioned agreement strategies. There are three productive transitive configurations of agreement markers, and five productive intransitive configurations. Noun incorporation is productive for only a small number of stems. Some Ket verbs incorporate their object, others their instrument, and others their unaccusative subject.