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Antipassive?

From:Lars Finsen <lars.finsen@...>
Date:Thursday, May 22, 2008, 22:36
I am tempted to reclassify the Urianian r-form verbs, which I have
called reflexive before. You can use it to form reflexive forms and
meanings. For example, the r-form of firde (carry) is used to mean
'behave.' The r-form of agit (see) means 'look, appear.' The r-form
of brigid (ask) means 'wonder.' In fact, I have noted brigrid as a
verb in its own right. Probably firurde should be one, too. In these
constructions, a transitive verb is turned into a new intransitive verb.

But there are other functions, too. Consider the difference between
'di ugem' - I talked to you, and 'ugrent' - we talked. Similar, but
not exactly. And then I find that r-verbs also can take an argument.
'Fazurent nidrant' - we watched out for enemies. However, nidrant is
a dative. So even if a new verb fazurid could be construed meaning
'watch out for something,' it doesn't work that way because then it
should have an accusative argument. Am I having an antipassive, or a
deponent, or what?

There are of course several other, more or less ancient, IE languages
having such r-forms. I found I needed them because I had so many
names in my big Urianian name collection with -r endings. For
example, today I analysed the name Galtir, which seems to be from
galt 'figure, image,' hence the verb galtid 'cut a (fine) figure' -
from *koldos 'something hewn.'

Incidentially the reason why I have so many names is that I liked to
simulate sporting events when I was a kid. One of the several weird
things I did when other kids were doing their homework. I just found
another old book a couple of days ago full of fresh names to analyse.
Among them Tirm Armoz, the shot-putter from Kerkoran, personal best
16.52 meters, and Arza Dindin, female javelin thrower from Derekia,
pb 53.36 (though this is with the old javelin used in the 70s, of
course).

LEF

...P.s.: Today I used quoting the way I was taught in English class
at school, with inside punctuation. To me it looks really weird, and
I don't think I will use it again. But to you it looks fine, I guess?...

...P.p.s.: Will I be starting a quoting thread now?...