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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. 448–487

Chapter 14
Anticausative alternation in Budugh simple verbs

 | Ecole Pratique des Hautes EtudesParis
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Abstract
Budugh, a highly endangered language of Azerbaijan, has causal-noncausal verb pairs, which can be analytic and equipollent, or synthetic and directed (causative or anticausative). We present here the synthetic anticausative derivation, available only in the imperfective aspect, and the corresponding labile perfective forms, their formation and usage, as well as semantic shifts associated with this valence change. Semantically regular alternating verbs are verbs of transformation or of controlled movement. More irregular are those belonging to derivational networks employing different spatial preverbs, and the possibility of anticausative derivation appears clearly linked to the overall meaning of the verb rather than to its root. Trends are identified that shed light on the history of the verbal lexicon diachronically, through internal or external comparison.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Detransitive derivation in Budugh and Kryz
    • 2.1Alternating and non-alternating transitive verbs
    • 2.2Morphological verb classes and the anticausative derivation
  • 3.Canonical anticausative alternations
    • 3.1Transformation verbs
      • 3.1.1‘Cook’
      • 3.1.2‘Light’ / ‘glow’
      • 3.1.3‘Tear’ and ‘break’
    • 3.2Verbs of controlled motion
      • 3.2.1‘Drag’
      • 3.2.2‘Insert’
      • 3.2.3‘Strain’
      • 3.2.4‘Hang’
      • 3.2.5‘Catch’
  • 4.Non-canonical anticausative-forming verbs
    • 4.1Detransitivizing ‘cut’ and its derivates
    • 4.2Detransitivizing ‘pour’ and its derivates
    • 4.3Detransitivizing ‘throw’ and its derivates
    • 4.4Detransitive derivates of ‘beat’
  • 5.Historical alternations
    • 5.1Internal comparison: Linking ‘sweep’ and ‘slide’ verbs
    • 5.2Linking deponent verbs across sister languages
    • 5.3From controlled motion to hindrance: Linking ‘pour’ and ‘stay’
  • 6.Conclusions
  • Author queries
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (16)
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