Derivational Verb Morphology


There are a variety of derivational suffixes in Jiwarli with a range of functions, such as changing the transitivity of the verb to which they attach, changing a verb to a nominal, or giving extra 'semantic' information about the verb, for example that the verb action has a continuous sense. Whilst all main/dependent verb inflectional suffixes can attach to all main/dependent verbs respectively, derivational suffixes in Jiwarli can not necessarily attach to all types of verbs. The restrictions of which suffixes can attach to which verbs are explained below.

The derivational suffixes of Jiwarli can be divided into three main groups:

  • Those that do not affect the transitivity of the verb.
  • Those that do affect the transitivity of the verb.
  • Those that change the category of the verb.

Affixes not affecting transitivity

There is one affix (with various allomorphs for different tenses) that can attach to either transitive or intransitive verb stems without changing their transitivity. It signifies continuous activity over an extended period of time, and can only apply to verbs of conjugation 1 or 2.


Affixes affecting transitivity

Transitiviser

The suffix ‘-jipa’ can be added to intransitive verb roots of conjugations 3 and 4 to form a transitive verb. The resulting transitive verb will always belong to conjugation 1.

Detransitiviser

The suffix ‘rri-a’ is added to transitive verb stems of conjugation 1 to create an intransitive verb. When this suffix is applied, the transitive object (TO) of the transitive verb becomes the intransitive subject (IS) of the new intransitive verb.

Collective

This suffix (which has various allomorphs) does not change transitivity in the sense that the above two do, but it does have an effect on transitivity. It signifies joint activity by the subjects (which must be non-singular). When attached to an intransitive verb root, the verb subjects are jointly performing the verb action on someone else, or on each other (reciprocal). However, when attached to a transitive verb root, it results in an intransitive stem whose subjects perform the action on each other (ie. reciprocal).

Intransitive Stems

  
 

Juma-kutharra

ngunha

thurni-tharri-a.

child-dl.nom

that.nom

laugh-coll-pres
 

‘The two children are laughing at one another.’
       
       
 

Wirripuka

ngunha

ngathi-tharri-a.

many.nom

that.nom

cry-coll-pres
 

‘The mob are crying.’

  
       
       

Transitive Stem

  
 

Purra-lparri-ngu

parlu-jaka

thurangka-nyjarri

hit-coll-imperSS

stone-comit.nom

drunk-pl.nom
 

‘The drunks pelt one another with stones.’

 

Category changing affixes

There are two suffixes (each with different allomorphs for the different conjugations) that can be attached to verbs to create a noun, or nominal.

Agentive Nominaliser

This suffix, when attached to verb, creates a noun which is the agent, or ‘doer’ of the verb action. For example the verb ‘to run’ with this suffix attached would create a noun ‘runner’.

Instrumental Nominaliser

This suffix, when attached to a verb, creates a noun which is the ‘entity used as an instrument to carry out the action of the verb.’ Eg:
 

Kupa-arri

    

to sit-instr

 

‘It’s a chair.’