Nyelvtudományi Közlemények 94. kötet (1994-1995)
Kisebb közlemények - Sherwood, Peter: Ob-Ugrian ’consume’ 119
126 PETER SHERWOOD Other verbs for 'burn' that behave likewise include: ul'a jási WW 179a das Feuer brennt xàtel kwotäri WW 242a die Sonne brennt B(2) NEGATIVE EFFECT. This subdivides into B(2i), where the negative effect is on a NON-HUMAN (possibly also NON-ANIMAL), and B(2ii), where the negative effect is on a HUMAN (possibly also ANIMAL). B(2i) 'burn and so damage or destroy (combustible) object'. Here 'fire' is always the Agent (marked -Na); the verb takes the passive suffix. kwoläm ul'ä-n kwon-taj-wa-s WW 637a mein Haus ist abgrebrannt kat töha'-na li-s-i DEWOS 713 ffPM cropeji xot náj-na te-t-àj DEWOS 713 M>M cropeji Since it is always the case that it is 'fire' that is the Agent in cases where the affected Patient is combustible and the passive form of the verb is used, this Agent can be omitted (ellipted) without danger of misunderstanding: kwolam taj-wa-s WW 636b nein Haus wurde abgebrannt kwälä nukh-pälemla-w-s, pusn kwän- taj-wê-s WW 429a sein Haus ist in Brand geraten, alles ist abgebrannt wäni kwän- taj-we-s WW 637a der Wald ist abgrebrannt The grammatical Subject may, of course, always be ellipted; the présence of the specialized, marked Agent makes clear that something combustible has been affected by fire: Nyelvtudományi Közlemények 94. 1994-1995.
