Abstract
AbstractHittite features three derivational suffixes, i.e.,-ške/a-, -šša-, and -anna/i-, that attach to verbs and are commonly described as expressing a number of imperfective-like functions. So far, the distribution and use of these suffixes has defied a satisfactory explanation. Whereas some scholars argue that they operate within the domain of lexical aspect, others view them as associated with the encoding of grammatical imperfective aspect. In this paper, we focus on the interpretation of-ške/a-and argue that a better understanding of the nature of this suffix can be achieved if one frames its description within the typology of pluractional constructions. As we show, the range of polyfunctionality of-ške/a-fully complies with the cross-linguistic behavior of pluractional markers. We also provide a tentative diachronic scenario that accounts for the rise of such polyfunctionality out of the original semantic core of the suffix.
Highlights
The Hittite verbal system notoriously lacks the morphological distinction between perfective and imperfective stems that is common to several ancient Indo-European (IE) languages
After an illustration of the possible functions associated with the suffix (Section 4.1), we argue that the behavior of the suffix can be captured in terms of pluractionality: we explore in detail the distribution of the individual functions and possible constraints for their occurrence (Section 4.2.1) and show that the polyfunctionality of the suffix can be described by means of a semantic map (Section 4.2.2)
What has emerged from our analysis is that the suffix -ške/a- in Hittite is better described by referring to the notion of pluractionality
Summary
The Hittite verbal system notoriously lacks the morphological distinction between perfective and imperfective stems that is common to several ancient Indo-European (IE) languages. In this language, the overt encoding of imperfectivity is partly taken over by a number of derivational suffixes, whose interpretation, in spite of the sizable number of studies devoted in whole or in part to them, remains controversial.
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