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Document Details : Title: On the Stative Ending tj/ tj/ t in Middle Egyptian Author(s): DEPUYDT, L. Journal: Orientalia Lovaniensia Periodica Volume: 26 Date: 1995 Pages: 21-28 DOI: 10.2143/OLP.26.0.583520 Abstract : This paper is a discussion of a novel theory proposing the existence of two distinct verb forms where there is traditionally thought to be only one. In Old and Middle Egyptian, verbs can be conjugated — that is, inflected according to person, gender, and number, or person and number — in two ways: in the suffix conjugation, by means of suffix personal pronouns (j, k, ṯ, and so on), and in the stative conjugation, by means of the endings peculiar to that conjugation (kw, tj, w, and so on). It is clear that there is more than one suffix conjugation, marked not only by various affixes attached to the stem, but presumably also distinguished by different vowel patterns within the sḏm.f formation. But the stative conjugation, variously called Old Perfective, Pseudo-participle, Qualitative, or Stative, is traditionally interpreted as a monolith. Yet it is not fully homogenous. For example, transitive verbs are usually passive, but there are also active instances, rare in Middle Egyptian, but regular in Old Egyptian. This lack of homogeneity has set the stage for attempts at positively identifying more than a single form within the stative conjugation. There are, however, no readily recognizable empirical indications of such morphological multiplicity. But in recent years, serious efforts have been undertaken to construe what are traditionally considered variations of spelling as evidence of two distinct forms. |
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