As we saw in the previous unit, the direction of actions can be denoted in K’iche’. Verbs can also take on particles that let us know when a verb has a particular direction or movement.

K’iche’ verbs often include inserted parts that add a sense of ‘movement’ to the verb action, as in English  go (there) to (do), or come (here) to (do). This is called incorporated movement.

The two insertions used  (-e’– and –ul-) are derived from the intransitive verbs ul (coming here) and b’e (going there). In Standard K’iche’ –e’- appears as –b’e’.

Verbs that include “movement” use the suffixes as for imperatives.

 

Intransitive verbs with “movement”: In intransitive verbs with incorporated movement stress moves from last syllable to penultimate in non-phrase position:

Non-final: kine’xojówa

Phrase final: kine’xojow-oq

 

Transitive verbs with “movement”: Non-CVC transitive verbs do not show a change in the stem, when movement is incorporated.

CVC transitive verbs with movement use the same stem as the imperative. A glottal stop is added after the final vowel when in phrase final position:                            

–V	–V’
Non-final: ke’nwil-a	Phrase final: ke’nwil-a’
CoC  > o	CoC  > o’
CuC  > u	CuC  > u’
Ca/e/iC  >  a	Ca/e/iC  >  a’

 

Order of elements: The directional/movement particles are inserted between aspect marker and verb stem. The order of elements (there are exceptions):

Intransitive verbs:

TAM – Set B – MOV – Verb stem – phrase final suffix Kate’b’inoq k       –   at    –      e’     –      b’in – oq You are going to go walk

Transitive verbs:

TAM  – Set B – MOV – Set A – Verb stem Kojulkitzukuj. k      –      oj    –    ul    –    ki    –   tzukuj They are coming to look for us.

TAM – Set b – MOV – Set A – Verb stem – Ending –  Phrase final suffix Ke’nk’utu’ k      –     ø     –     e’     –     in     –     k’ut     –     u     –     ‘ I will go and show/teach it.

Exceptions appear especially for MOV –e’-, because the insertion leads to vowel clusters. In these cases the  order of Pronoun and MOV may be switched, weak vowels may be dropped, or –e’– is reduced to an inserted glottal (‘), a process we have already seen elsewhere:

*k-in-e’-uxlanoq Kinu‘xlanoq I am going to rest.

Vowel disappears: (weak –i from –inw- disappears)

*k-at-e’-(i)nw –il-a’ k-at-e’-nw-il-a’ I am going to see you. *k-ix-e’-inw-ila’ Kixe’nwila’. I go see you all.

 

Inserted glottal

*k-e’-uxlana la Ku’xlana la You (formal) go to rest

*k-in-e’-aw-ila’ Kina’wila You go see me.