The umbrian perfect in -nç-/-ns̀-

Journal article

The origin of the Umbrian perfect suffix -nç-/-ns̀- has been variously explained, but none of the theories proposed so far is satisfactory at the same time from a philological, semantic, typological, and word-formational point of view. After a critical review, the present paper proposes a derivation from a periphrastic structure {(action) noun in the accusative + perfect of *fak- 'to make, do}, which was univerbated and underwent a series of regular sound changes in Umbrian. A number of close parallels in various Indo-European languages are pointed out, and it is suggested that the Umbrian periphrasis became so successful because its phonological shape at some point allowed a syntactic reanalysis as {part.pres.act. + perfect of *fak-}. © 2010 The Philological Society.

Authors: Willi, A

• Journal: Transactions of the Philological Society
• Volume: 108
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-14
• Publication date: 2010-03-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-968X.2009.01218.x
• EISSN: 1467-968X
• ISSN: 0079-1636
• Language: English