Abstract
English Abstract This study deals with the classification of Mayrinax Atayal verbs, the semantics and morphosyntax of focus markers and other verbal prefixes. Although a number of previous studies have dealt with verb classification and affixes in Atayal, these studies appear to have overlooked some aspects of inherent features of verbs. The framework of Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) used in this study offers a unique view on lexical decomposition and provides us with a comprehensive analysis of verb classification. The RRG-based Aktionsart tests manifest inherent semantic and temporal properties of each verb class in terms of four features: staticity, dynamicity, telicity, and punctuality. Mayrinax Atayal verbs are classified into five classes: (i)Activity, (ii)State, (iii)Achievement, (iv)Accomplishment, and (v) Semelfactive. The so-called ‘focus’ affixes m-, -un, -an, and si- have distinct meanings in the five classes of verbs and can manifest inherent semantic properties of each verb class. These affixes with different verb classes will yield various derivational interpretations; however, not every affix will appear in all verb classes. For example, the affix m- is not found in individual-level states. Moreover, there are some co-occurrenc restrictions between these affixes and the five verb classes. First, when activities refer to a definite goal, a specific, or quantified object, they will become active accomplishments, usually occurring in -un or -an clauses. Second, stage-level psych predicates are usually expressed in -un, -an, or si- clauses. Third, except semelfactive, all other verb classes can take the causative prefix pa- to derive causative predicates, and the derived forms usually occur in -un clauses. Results from RRG Aktionsart tests suggest that the so-called ‘focus’ affixes, such as m-, -un, -an, and si-, have multiple functions: valency increasing, focus markers, TAM information carriers, and verb classification differentiators. Among these affixes, the affix si- yields the most diverse derivational interpretations: instrument, benefactive, malefactive, transported theme, reason, and valence-increasing. In addition to the so-called ‘focus’ affixes, there are more prefixes that can be used to derive verbs, e.g. ma-/pa-, matag(a)-, mas-, maka-, ta-/ti-, maki-, mag(a)-. Using RRG logical structure analysis, it is noted that there are three types of verbal derivational processes: (i) deriving an activity predicate from a nominal root, (ii) deriving a state predicate from an activity root, and (iii) deriving an accomplishment from a state root. Therefore, we can tell that these prefixes function not only as verbal derivational affixes but also as verb class differentiators.