3.1.1.4. Possessive phrases / constructions :
In Konyak there is no possessive
marker as such except for pronouns (see sec 2.2.4.5.). By justaposing two nouns it is possible to
obtain possessive phrases, eg. :
wakcɨŋ waŋləm wakching rule
1 2 1 2
In the above example, the first noun
wakcɨŋ, n ‘wakching’ is the
attribute, and the second waŋləm, n ‘rule’ is the
head. So whatever occurs as the second
member is the head and the first member is the attribute. The relation is of possession.
Similarly;
wakcɨŋ ka?talan ‘wakching people’
1 2 1 2
waŋhiwoŋcɨŋ ‘east’
(direction or side)
lit.
place of raising of the sun
cɨŋmɨn ‘village
name’
1 2 1
2
nòkpu
nòk ‘owner of the house’
1 2
1 2
nòkwepu
waŋləm ‘house
building rule(s)’
1 2 3 1
2 3
3.1.2. Verb Phrase (VP)
As stated on verbs (sec. 2.4.3.) there are a few
verb stem formations which are formed in phrasal structure. First these are discussed before going
further about other aspects of VP.
3.1.2.1. Reciprocal verb base : Reciprocal verb base is formed by using təy. As a rule (except for iterative base an
infinitive base) all the base markers occur before the verb root while other
inflexional markers like t/a/m markers occur after the verb root, eg. :
(iman) təy kənnàŋ ‘(they)
love each other’
1 2 3 1 3 2
nàŋñí
təy sət ‘you two beat each other’
1 2 3 1
3 2
nàŋñí
təy yɨsət ‘you
two do not beat each other’
1 2 3 4 1 3 4
2
3.1.2.2. Concessive verb base
Concessive verb base is formed
by using mɨn. It is used only in 2nd and 3rd
person. In first person ‘concessive’ is
expressed in terms of a modal (sec.2.4.7.12), eg. :
imannə
mɨn wentəy? ‘let them go’
1 2 3 2
1 3
təwme
mɨn ŋo?təy? ‘let (it) be there’
1 2 3 2
3 1
eə
mɨn ha?si? ‘let him eat’
(request)
1
2 3
2 1 3
Basically concessive constructions
have overtones of ‘command / request’.
So usually in this type of constructions markers either of ‘command’ or
‘request’ also occur. So in the above
illustrations tey? Is ‘command marker, and si? Is ‘request
marker’.
Negative imperative can also occur
here. Then it will occur after the
concessive marker and before the verb root.
(a) imannə
mɨn ta?wən ‘let them not go’
1 2 3
4 2
1 3 4
təwə mɨn ta?yəy ‘let it not fall’
1 2 3
4 2
1 3 4
(b) eə
mɨn yaha?si? ‘let him not eat’
1
2 3
2 1 3
imannə
mɨn yɨpəysi? ‘let
them not come’
1 2 3 2
1 3
When ‘request’ is to be conveyed
negative imperative ta? Is not used; instead y used as issustrated in
(b) above.