The Origin of the Northern Tungusic Generalizing Particle *-gal ~ *-wal

Abstract

The paper presents a survey of the generalizing clitical particle documented in Northern Tungusic in the forms -wal, -mal, -gal, -wul, -ul, etc., which, in some languages, is also attested in the function of the disjunctive conjunction ‘either—or’. Focusing on the dialectological and diachronic explanation of the initial alternation of w and g in this particle, the paper brings forth arguments in favour of the hypothesis that these elements are ultimately connected with the verbal root gǝlǝǝ- ‘to want, to please, to look for’. The conclusion is of general typological interest, and well-known parallels for the proposed development can be found in, for instance, several European languages.