Nominalization in Q'anjob'al (Maya)

Abstract

Q’anjob’al typically makes a rigid distinction between transitive and intransitive verb inflections. Transitive verbs cross-reference their subjects with an ergative prefix while intransitive verbs cross-reference their subjects with an absolutive prefix. Transitive verbs have one set of status suffixes, while intransitive verbs have a different set of status suffixes. However, an exception to this rule occurs in complement clauses that lack an aspect marker.

Keywords

• Kanjobal language
• Mayan languages
• Grammar, Comparative and general-- Nominals