Abstract

This article describes the semantics of four periphrastic verb constructions in Sakha with prospective-intentional meaning: -aarɪ tur- [-сvb.purp stand-], -aarɪ gɪn- [-сvb.purp do-] with past tense markers, -aarɪ gɪn- [-сvb.purp do-] with non-past tense markers, and -aarɪ sɪrɪt- [-сvb.purp walk-]. The choice of auxiliary verb is partially determined by the verb’s lexical meaning: for example, the verb tur- is used with standing objects (including frost or heat, which can “stand”), gɪn- in non-past tense situa‑ tions where a certain process is observable, and sɪrɪt- with objects that are moving in different directions. The article likewise describes the limitations on the type of situation and participants involved, as well as the collocation of these constructions with various temporal and aspectual adverbs. The latter helps to determine the aspectual profile of the discussed constructions. Finally, the iterative-prospective polysemy of the -aarɪ gɪn- construction is discussed: this construction can be used both to refer to a situation that is about to happen and to a situation that occurs regularly (more often than usual).

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