Modality in K’iche’
In this unit, we will study conditional expressions in both positive and negative forms, exploring how they can lead to different types of consequences. We will also examine contrasting phrases.
A concept known as “modality” or “mood” allows speakers to express evaluations, attitudes, or stance toward events, rather than providing referential content. This includes moods like the imperative, hortative, potential, subjunctive, and optative, for example, which often refer to events that do not yet exist in reality but exist in the realms of imagination, possibility, or desire.
The irrealis mood, a part of modality, is used to discuss hypothetical or unreal events, indicating to the listener that these events are imagined. For example, in conditional statements such as “If you had done this, that would have happened,” we discuss an event that has not and may never happen, using irrealis to express its hypothetical nature.
Conversely, some conditional sentences reflect real-world scenarios, such as “If you do this, this will happen.” These conditionals do not fall under irrealis and are not marked as such in languages like K’iche’.
The main particles:
In K’iche’ modality is expressed using a combination of pre-verbal aspect markers and free particles.
TA: This particle appears after the verb and elevates the event into an imaginary, irrealis event. It is used along with other particles in conditional sentences.
LA’/WA’: The demonstrative pronoun (deictic) is the main indicator of irrelais events. It is often found in the consequence clause of irrealis-conditional clauses (If you had done this, this LA’ would/might/could happened). It indicates that the event mentioned ‘could/might’ happen.
WE: This particle introduces conditional clauses (if…); often the following verb takes ch-aspect marker.
B’A: Particle that expresses the hope for the fulfillment of a wish; appears after the verb in combination with TA (TA BA)
NE: Particle expresses possibility; appears after the verb in combination with TA (TA NE); or after WE to form WE NE: maybe
MA: In all non-indicative negation contexts, the negation marker is MA (instead of NA)
CONDITIONALS
In K’iche’ conditional clauses like these are reflections of the “real” world, and therefore are not marked with an irrealis marker. The main particle for conditionals is we; the verb generally takes the ch-aspect.
Positive Conditionals
If you do this, this will happen…
We chatchakunik, k’o awa.
If you go to work, you will have food.
We chab’ij, na katinch’ab’ej ta chik.
If you say it, I will not talk to you.
We chojb’e pa le nimaq’ij, keqil le ajxojolob’.
If we go to the fair, we will see dancers,
Negative Conditional
If you don’ do this, then this will (not) happen
wemna + subjunctive/dependent aspect verb
Wemna chpe le jab’ kakam le ab’ix.
If rain does not come, the milpa will die.
Wemna chaloq’ axiyal, na kinb’e ta awuk’.
If you don’t buy a coat, I will not go with you.
Wemna chatijoj awib’, na kach’ak ta le atijonik.
If you do not study, you will not learn the lesson (lit. win your lesson).
Wemna kujb’ek kab’ison le qatat.
If we don’t go, our father will be sad.
Wemna chinak’amo, kinb’an ayab’.
Wemna chpe le jab’ kakam le ab’ix.
Wemna chaloq’ axiyal, na kinb’e ta awuk’.
Wemna chatijoj awib’, na kach’ak ta le atijonik.
Wemna kujb’ek kab’ison qatat.
Contrastive conditionals
Even though this occurred, that happened
This mood is marked by the particles pi ne ta ne or are ta + x-E-aj, which again is found in pre-verbal position.
Pi ne ta ne
Pine ta ne maj nurajil, kimb’e wi.
Even though I don’t have money, I will go (anyway).
Pine ta ne kinitzapij pa che’ kintor wib’.
Even though they throw me in jail, I will get out (lit: I will open up).
Pine ta ne kape le qatat na kinxe’j ta wib’.
Even though my father come, I will not get scared.
Pine ta ne maj le ajkun, na kinkam ta wi.
Even though the doctor is not here, I will not die.
Pine ta ne kekamsax le tz’i’, na kek’is ta wi.
Pine ta ne kixxuki’ chinuwach na kinkuy ta imak.
Pine ta ne kinab’ochi’ij na kawaj ta wi.
Are ta is followed by a completive verb form of aj (to want) which is in agreement with the subject/agent of the clause.
Are ta xraj le tz’i’ xok pa le jul, par na xkowin taj rumal sib’alaj nim.
The dog wanted to enter the hole, but he couldn’t because it is too big.
Are ta xiwaj xixb’ixanik par na utz ta le iqul.
You all wanted to sing but your voices are not very good.
Are ta xkaj le winaq xewa’ik, par maj chi re rikil.
The people wanted to eat, but there was no longer any food.
Ri tz’ikin are ta xraj xuk’is tzij puwi’ ri ali, chema ma k’u xkam ta ri ali, xa ne xaq xew ri tz’ikin xkamik (rey de los reyes: 50)
Ri ala sib’alaj xsach uk’u’x aretaq xuto chi chpam ri nimalaj ul kachach wi ri ranab’, karaj ta chik resam ri ranab’ loq; chema ma kakowin ta k’ut kaqaj b’i chpam ma sib’alaj k’ax xuq nim xulanik. (rey de los Reyes:52)
Contrastive Condicional + Negation
Even though this didn’t happen, that happened.
Pinemna
Pinemna kab’e le watz, kimb’e wi in pa ka’yib’al.
Even though my brother may not go, I will go (anyway) to the market.
Kinya wa’ we ch’ich’, pinemna utz.
I will give away this machete, though it may not be good
Conditional/Irrealis
If you had done this, that would have happened.
The condition is introduced by we ta. The possible consequence or result in the following clause is marked by ta + (deictic pronoun) la’. Notice that the verb forms are in the completive aspect.
We ta xatb’e wuk’ pa le tinamit, xaloq’ ta la’ le ujastaq le ak’ajol
If you had gone with me to town, you could have bought your son’s clothes.
We ta xatb’e wuk’ pa le tinamit, xaloq’ ta wa’ we jastaq
If you had gone with me to town, you could have bought these clothes.
Conditional/Irrealis + Negation
If you had (not) done this…., you would (not) have….
The negation is formed with the particles ma ta.
If the conditional clause is negated (if you had not), the negation particle ma ta appears after we ta to from: we ta ma ta : If you had not….
We ta ma ta xatb’e pa le tinamit ma ta xaloq’ la’ le ujastaq le ak’ajol.
Had you not gone to town, you wouldn’t have bought your son’s clothes.
We ta ma ta xinawilo ma ta kinya b’e la’ chawech.
Had you not visited me, I wouldn’t have given you permission.
We ta ma ta xinpetik, in k’o ta wa’ chwa wo’ch.
Had I not come, I would be home.
We ta ma ta xpe alaq, k’o ta alaq la’ chwa ja.
Had you all (formal) not come, you all would be home.
In a negated consequence clause, ma ta moves to the position in front of the verb or negated element, the deictic particle remains after the verb/negated element.
We ta xakunaj le atat ma ta xkam la’.
Had you cured your dad, we wouldn’t have died.
We ta xanimaj jas le xinb’ij chawech, ma ta je la’ la’ xab’ano.
Had you listened to me, you would not be like that.
In cases in which the consequence clause include the negation of k’o (=maj), the negation marker ma combines with maj, only leaving behind ta:
We ta ma ta aq’ab’ kab’ek, maj ta utem la’ kuriq pa le nimach’ich’.
Had he/she not gone early, he/she would not have found a seat on the bus.
Other Irrealis /Mood-Clauses
Wished/ Wishful thinking or hypothetical thinking is expressed by ta in combination with another particles. (When ta appears alone after a verb, it is generally understood be regular negation, where pre-verbal na has dropped off)
WE TA:
if only…
These particles appear before the verb
We ta kape le jab’ kamik.
If only rain would come today.
We ta je la’ kab’an pa le tinamit.
If only this way were done in town.
We ta kaya jub’eq nurajil, kinloq’ jun nuch’opim po’t.
If only they give me a bit of money, I would buy an embroidered huipil.
WE TA NE :
If not…
These particles appear before the verb
We ta ne in xinb’anowik, are le a Te’k xb’anowik.
If it not I who did it, it was Diego who did it.
We ta ne at xatloq’owik…
If it was you who bought it…
We ta ne a’re xetijow le rikil, are le komon xetijowik.
If not them who ate the food, it was those from the hamlets.
MA TA:
If only not…/ that there be not….
These particles appear before the verb.
Ma ta xab’insaj le ch’ich’. Xaq xew xayojo.
You shouldn’t have driven the car. You just broke it down.
Ma ta xinyaj le ali. Numak xyawajik.
I would not have scolded the girl. It was my fault she got sick.
Ma ta k’o jun kakanaj kanoq, qonojel kojb’ek.
May no one stay, we are all going.
Ma ta kab’e le nuxb’al pa le tinamit.
May my sister (of a woman) not go to town.
Ruk’ ronojel wanima,
kixinsik’ij, kixinwab’a’,
are chi qonojel kojk’oji’
pa we tijob’äl
chech we junab’,
ma ta k’o jun chel kanöq,
ma ta k’o je wa’ je ri’
chqariqo, chqak’ulmaj
(UTZALAJ ULEM :Poemas de Ixtahuacan)
TA B’A:
Affirmed wish (may…)
This particle can appear before or after the verb.
Are ta b’a ri qaqajaw kixtewechi’nik.
May our lord bless you.
Chpe ta b’a le loq’alaj jab’.
May the blessed rain come.
Chqil ta b’a qib’ chwe’q.
May we see each other tomorrow.
Oj ta b’a chojch’akanik.
May we win.
Katjunamataj ruk’ le
ch’umil kchupchutik.
Ki’kotemal ta b’a awech
chkixo’l le a’wal.
(JE’LALAJ NUNAN Poemas de Ixtahuaca)
TA B’A NA:
May you still/then (affirmed wish with a slight contrast)
These particles appear after the verb/predicate/referent
Chink’asi’ ta b’a na chixo’l.
May I still live among you.
Chkita ta b’a na le qatzij.
May they still hear our words.
MA TA B’A:
Negated affirmed wish (May not..)
These particles appear before the verb.
Ma ta b’a chiriq k’ax pa le b’e.
May they not find hardships on the road.
Ma ta b’a chik’ex le ina’oj.
May you all not change your minds.
Ma ta b’a’chub’an
keb’ ik’u’x chwij,
chinkochij ta b’a na
ri itob’anik, ri iloq’ob’al
(K’AMOWINANIK Poemas de Ixtahuacan)
ARE TA B’A:
May s/he do this/be this (antipassive construction):
These particles appear before the verb
Are ta b’a le qaqajaw chatto’wik.
May it be our Lord who helps you.
Are ta b’a ri nunan kach’akanik.
May it be my mother who wins.
Are ta b’a ri Tiköl Kaj Ulew chatloq’chajin pa ri ak’aslemal.
(UTZALAJ NUNAN Poemas de Ixtahuacan)
Are ta b’a ri Tikäl Kaj Ulew kattewechi’nik, ki’kotemal ta b’a awech , xe’ raqan uq’ab’.
(LOQ’OLAJ NAN)
TA NE:
Past desire
These particles appear after the verb.
Ri tat nan ojer na xkaj taj cher ri ali xkoji’ ta ne pa ri tijob’al.
Our fathers and mothers back in the day did not want girls to be in school.
XAQ TA NE:
If only I could (unfulfilled desire)
These particles appear before the verb.
Xaq ta ne kimb’e iwuk’.
If only I could’ve gone with you all.
Xaq ta ne in la’!
If only it were like that!
MA TA NE:
Regret
These particles appear before the verb.
Ma ta ne xwaj le k’uhjnem ruk’ le a Te’k.
I wouldn’t have accepted marrying Diego.
Ma ta ne xatb’e ruk’.
I wouldn’t have gone with him.
Ma ta ne xqaya kan le ak’al.
We wouldn’t have left the kid.
RAJAWAXIK TA NE LA’:
You should do/should have done something (jussive)
These particles appear before the verb.
Rajawaxik ta ne la’ katchakun wuk’.
You should work with me.
Rajawaxik ta ne la’ ximb’e pa le k’ayb’al.
I should’ve gone to the market.
Rajawaxik ta ne la’ kato’ le atat.
You should help your father.
WE NE KOWINIK TA LA’:
You could have maybe done it
These particles appear before the verb.
We ne xatkowin ta la’ xatb’e ruk’ le al Talin.
Maybe you could’ve gone with Catarina.
We ne xkowin ta la’ xuchap le wakax.
Maybe you could’ve grabbed the bull.
We ne xatkowin ta la’ xaloq’o
Maybe you could’ve bought it.