Verb

Definition

A verb is a word that can serve as a predicate. (Van Eijk & Hess, 1986, p. 320) Nouns and verbs may not exist as distinct lexical categories (Jacobs, 2011, p. 42). A Salish verb typically consists of the following elements: i) a root. ii) some form of aspectual marking iii) zero or more lexical suffixes and (iv) a transitivizing or intransitive suffix. Of the four, only the root is essential. (Davis & Matthewson, 2009, p. 1099).

Examples

Examples in the Halkomelem Context of Bare Verbs with Roots Only — t̓ák̓w, qʷə́ł & k̓ʷáqʷ (Suttles, 2003, p. 173)
Examples in the Skwxwu7mesh Context of Verb t’ukw’ — to come/go home (Jacobs, 2011, p. 41)

References

Davis, H., & Matthewson, L. (2009). Issues in Salish syntax and semantics. Language and Linguistics Compass, 3, 1097-1166.

Jacobs, P. W. (2011). Control in Skwxwu7mesh. [Doctoral dissertation, The University of British Columbia].

Suttles, W. (2004). Musqueum reference grammar. UBC Press. SFU Student Access.

Van Eijk, J. P., & Hess, T. (1986). Noun and verb in Salish. Lingua, 69, 319-331.