The multiple functions of the reflexive pronoun in Tujia

Abstract

This paper investigates the functions of the reflexive pronoun ko 53 to 21/to 21 in Tujia, a Tibeto-Burman (TB) language. Apart from being used as a verb object, the reflexive pronoun in Tujia can be used as an intensifier, indicating “self, non-other”, but it can also be used to create “passive” or “causative” meaning. It is argued that both meanings created by the reflexive pronoun can be accounted for under a decomposition approach. Verbal reflexives isomorphic with anti-causative or passive morphemes have been reported for European languages, while a reflexive pronoun with causative meaning is quite rare. The present paper therefore contributes not only to the typology in this area but also to the expression of causative and passive in Tibeto-Burman languages.