ABSTRACT

Genitive Case Marking in the Subject: Some Evidences from Assamese.

Gahin Ch. Das.
Email: gahindas@yahoo.in

Typologically, Assamese is a Nominative-Accusative SOV language and its prototypical

subject takes the nominative marker. Verbs agree with the subject in person only. But in

various expressions we find a different kind of NP in the subject slot which is in the genitive

case. The verb may be either in the finite or nonfinite form and it does not agree with the

subject.

1. mor bhuk lagise

1-SG-GEN hunger feels

I am feeling hungry

2. mor zor uthise

1-SG-GEN fever is-rising

I am coming down with fever

3. mor (tomaloi) bhoe lage

1-SG-GEN you fear feels

I feel scared (of you).

This paper reports some evidences of Subject NP from Assamese which are in the

genitive case and discusses its semantic, syntactic and behavioral properties in relation to its

different predicate types.

Reference:

1. Goswami, G.C. 1983. “Structure of Assamese” Guwahati, Assam, Gauhati

Univ.

2. Kakati, Banikanta. 1941. “Assamese: Its Formation and Development”

Guwahati, Assam, Lawyers’

Book Stall.

3. Nath, Diganta Kr. 2003. “Case in English and Assamese” . M. Phil.

Dissertation, CIEFL, Hyderabad,

India

4. Verma, Manindra K. (ed.) 1976. “The Notion of Subject in South Asian

Languages”, South Asian

Studies, University of Wiscons Publication

Series. Madison.

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