SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The verbal piece in Khasi is established by a consideration of various types of declarative sentence (Chapter II). It is shown that the most usual basic form consists of pronominal prefix plus verb. This fact, not previously recognised, simplifies the description of Khasi particularly as it relates to the "article". A type of piece which incorporates an "object" noun unaccompanied by preposition or "article" is also here established. In the next chapters various more complex structures are considered. These involve verb particles of various kinds (Chapter III); auxiliary verbs, including the so-called "passive" constructions, and other two-verb structures (Chapter IV). In Chapter III the attribution of a rigid tense system to Khasi is rejected. Chapter V treats verbal extension and derivation by means of preverbs and affixes. It includes a full discussion of the attributive preverb ba, which has among its functions that of nominalising a clause so that in some cases a verbal sentence is transformed into a nominal one. The second part of the chapter serves to delimit the formal scatter of Khasi verb stems. Chapter VI completes the treatment of the verbal piece by examining constructions involving adverbs, many of which are specially collocated with particular verbs. They have an important function in enlarging the expressive resources of the latter. Here particular emphasis is given to the so-called "phonaesthetic" adverbs, which have not been adequately treated elsewhere. In the final chapter, earlier treatments of the topic are discussed sind differences with that adopted here drawn out.