Meiteilon and Nyishi Reciprocals in Comparison

The author extends the cross-linguistic facts of Meiteilon and Nyishi, describing the variations in their reciprocal constructions following Nedjalkov (Reciprocal Constructions, John Benjamins, 2007). This chapter addresses issues related to the argument structure and valence of canonical and discontinuous reciprocals. It is noted that the prototypical properties of reciprocals are attested in both languages. Out of the four strategies (as per the dependent scale by König and Kokutani, Linguistics, 44(2), 271–302, 2006), Nyishi and Meiteilon use a default derivational strategy involving verbal suffixes. The chapter also examines the distribution of reciprocals with various predicates, showing that symmetric, non-symmetric, and asymmetric prototypical reciprocal constructions exhibit structural unaccusativity. In the cases of co-occurrence of nominal and verbal reciprocal markers in Meiteilon and Nyishi, nominal reciprocals are barred with symmetric verbs. The nominal reciprocal markers occupy an adjunct position with non-symmetric and asymmetric predicates in both languages. Distributive nominal markers attach for distributivity, while collective nominal reciprocals attach to express collectivity with non-symmetric predicates. Asymmetric verbs and intransitives behave similarly by placing nominals in the oblique form to derive distributive interpretations. Reciprocalization can occur with ditransitive verbs as well as possessive and causative constructions. Nominal reciprocals may occur optionally with ditransitives, with the possessed argument appearing with nominal reciprocals. In causative structures, the causative argument is triggered by a causative suffix. Finally, the author summarizes the binding facts of reciprocals in both languages, showing that non-local or long-distance binding is barred with verbal reciprocals.