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Deictic motion verbs in Pashto: to whom shall we come?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2015

David Pate
David Pate*
Affiliation:
SIL International
*
david_pate@sil.org
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Abstract

This paper investigates the uses of the deictic motion verbs in Pashto. First, the paper focuses on the Pashto verbs COME and GO. The Pashto COME verb is unique in that it requires a directional person marker. These person markers are used in specific situations, which are outlined in this paper. Furthermore, the verbal person marker and the dative argument of the motion verb can differ in person. Such person “mismatches” are explained in terms of ascendance on the Person Hierarchy and of a semantic understanding of person. Second, this paper shows that the phenomenon of directional person markers extends to all Pashto motion verbs. Finally, the paper briefly discusses how Pashto COME and GO do not align with cross-linguistic analyses of COME and GO verbs in other languages. This misalignment is credited to the unique three-way deictic split of COME.

Keywords

Deictic motionPerson hierarchyDeictic projectionVerbal directive pronounsReference point setVerbs with thematic argumentsPashto
Type
Articles
Information
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , February 2016 , pp. 103 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS, University of London 2015 

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