Alternations of Mandinka
| Alternation name | Coded? | Description | Examples | Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
U
|
n | In this uncoded alternation, the same verb is used in a (basic) transitive construction and in a (nonbasic) intransitive construction; the subject of the intransitive construction is assigned the same role as the object of the transitive construction; the participant encoded as the subject of the transitive construction is semantically present in the intransitive construction but cannot be expressed. | 55 | |
|
C
|
y | The verb takes the causative suffix -ndi; a causer is introduced in subject function; the subject of the non-derived verb form (the causee) fulfills the object role in the causative construction; if the initial construction includes an object, it is converted into an oblique marked by the postposition la. | 38 | |
|
U
|
n | The same semantic role is assigned to the subject of the verb used intransitively and to the subject of the same verb used in the middle construction (i.e., with the reflexive pronoun in object function). | 2 | |
|
U
|
n | The same participant can be encoded as an oblique in a basic intransitive construction or as the object of a (nonbasic) transitive construction. | 8 | |
|
U
|
n | The verb has an intransitive construction in which the subject is assigned the same semantic role as the subject of the same verb used transitively, and in which the participant encoded as the object of the transitive construction cannot be expressed. | 1 | |
|
U
|
n | The same verb is used transitively and in a middle construction in which the subject is assigned the same semantic role as in the transitive construction, whereas the participant encoded as the object of the transitive construction can be encoded as an oblique marked by the postposition la in the middle construction. | 3 | |
|
U
|
n | This alternation concerns trivalent verbs that have two constructions with the same argument selected in subject function, but two possible choices for the argument encoded as the object. | 4 | |
|
C
|
y | This derivation applies only to transitive constructions; the verb takes the causative suffix -(di)rindi; a causer is introduced in subject function; the subject of the non-derived verb form (the causee) fulfills the object role in the causative construction; the object of the initial construction is converted into an oblique marked by the postposition la. | 49 | |
|
C
|
y | The verb has a (basic) intransitive construction with an oblique argument and a (nonbasic) transitive construction in which the same participant is encoded as the object; the postposition marking the oblique argument in the intransitive construction is suffixed to the verb in the transitive construction. | 2 | |
|
U
|
n | The verb has a canonical intransitive construction and a non-canonical intransitive construction in which the argument encoded as the subject of the first construction is encoded as an oblique, whereas the subject position is occupied by an expletive 3rd person pronoun functioning as a mere place holder. | 1 | |
|
U
|
n | The verb has an intransitive and a transitive (causative) use; the referent of the subject of the intransitive construction is assigned a semantic role similar to that assigned to the object of the transitive construction, but the intransitive construction does not imply the involvement of a participant with the role assigned to the subject of the transitive construction. | 7 | |
|
U
|
n | The verb has a transitive and an intransitive (noncausative) use; the referent of the subject of the intransitive construction is assigned a semantic role similar to that assigned to the object of the transitive construction, but the intransitive construction does not imply the involvement of a participant with the role assigned to the subject of the transitive construction. | 8 |