Reflections on verbal sequences in the Apyãwa language

Abstract

This article investigates verbal sequences in the Apyãwa language that follow the person-V₁-V₂ structure, where V₁ is any lexical verb and V₂ belongs to a select group of verbs that generally convey aspect or modality. We selected the most productive verbs, namely kwããw [know], patãr [want, to wish], pãw, [end, finish], and kãto [be fine, be good]. As the Covid-19 pandemic precluded field work, the data were mostly drawn from the work of Praça (2007). We analyse person-V₁-V₂ verbal sequences for each verb, emphasising their main characteristics: both verbs in each sequence being full-fledged verbs and the sequences forming single-clause constructions. These are sometimes close to serial verbal constructions and sometimes distant; attempting to classify V₂ as an auxiliary verb is also problematic. We consequently propose a different analytical approach. For the transitive verbs, kwããw [to know] and patãr [to want, to wish], the clause object related to V₁ is incorporated by V₂. In the case of the intransitive verbs, pãw [to end, to finish] and kãto [to be fine, to be good], we observe that they become modifiers of V₁.

Keywords
Apyãwa; Verbal sequences; Serial verbs; Auxiliary verbs; Modifiers