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In:Diachronic and Typological Perspectives on Anticausativization
Edited by Guglielmo Inglese, Giulia Mazzola and Eugenio Goria
[Typological Studies in Language 138] 2026
► pp. 418–447

Chapter 13
Causal-noncausal alternations in P’urhepecha

 | Leiden University
 | Florida Atlantic University
 | Leiden University | University of Antwerp
 | Leiden University
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
In this chapter we present the causal and noncausal coding patterns for 31 verb pairs in P’urhepecha (isolate, western Mexico). We observe a strong preference for an equipollent coding type through contrasting suffixes, and a secondary preference for a suffix-marked causative type. The variety of suffixes used is striking; while -kurhi functions as the most common noncausal marker, causal meaning is mainly split between the three voice/valency suffixes -ra, -ta and -ku. The suffix -ka also surfaces in three verb pairs, as do spatial locative and direction suffixes with phoneme-level transitivity alternations. Explanations from previous literature cannot adequately account for these patterns. The presence of such variation suggests that P’urhepecha has undergone a series of diachronic processes of grammaticalisation and replacement.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Structure of the P’urhepecha verb
  • 3.Causal-noncausal alternations in P’urhepecha
    • 3.1Method
    • 3.2Findings
      • 3.2.1Anticausative coding type
      • 3.2.2Causative coding type
      • 3.2.3Equipollent coding type
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Variation in marking
    • 4.2Suffix ambiguity
    • 4.3From sound to meaning
    • 4.4Methodological reflection
  • 5.Conclusion and avenues for further research
  • Author queries
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
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