Verbs for ’be’ and Copulas in Uralic Languages Cover Image

Seinsverben und Kopulae im Uralischen
Verbs for ’be’ and Copulas in Uralic Languages

Author(s): László Honti
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus
Keywords: Uralic languages; Indo-European languages; verbs for ’be’; copula; predicate; etymology; suppletion

Summary/Abstract: Like in Indo-European languages a lot of suppletion is observed in the morphology of ’be’ verbs in the Uralic languages. In both language families those verbs are the main option for a copula, but not the only one. In modern Uralic languages we also find the function fulfilled by a zero verb and a predicatized number marker or particle. The present study analyses the historical background of suppletion in the paradigms of the Uralic verbs for ’be’ and the functions of the finite verb forms derived from the different roots involved. For comparison, suppletion typical of the ’be’ verb paradigms in Indo-European languages and language groups is also discussed.

  • Issue Year: XLIX/2013
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 241-272
  • Page Count: 32
  • Language: German