Complicating adverbials in the Orok sentence: structure and semantics

Complicating adverbials are represented in the Orok language by non-predicative possessive constructions, verbal nouns of “complex semantics.” As a universal semantic category for expressing attributive relations between names, possessiveness has specific expression mechanisms in each language. In the Tungus-Manchu languages, possessiveness is formalized by attributive possessive constructions. Traditionally, semantic relations between the components of a possessive construction are implemented at the level of a two-term structure, with the first component being the name-possessor and the second component being the object of possession (exclusively a noun), formed by a markerrelator (possessive suffix). Depending on the grammatical class of the first component (the possessor), possessive constructions are characterized as substantive and pronominative, the latter derepresented by personal and reflexive ones occupying the position of an adverbial in the sentence and regarded as “complicating” in terms of semantics. The verbal nouns of “complex semantics” are traditionally referred to as verb forms: “simultaneous form,” “conditional-temporal form,” “purpose form,” “conditionally concessive form,” and “failed action form.” These verbal nouns occupy the syntactic positions of the adverbials of time, purpose, condition, concession, or unachieved purpose in the sentence as part of a possessive construction. The semantic equivalents of these adverbials in Russian are phrases of possessive pronouns with prepositional-case forms of a noun, or clauses of the corresponding categories in complex sentences, attached by subordinating conjunctions or allied words. This work describes the inventory of complicating adverbials manifested in possessive constructions with verbal nouns of special ancient paradigms in terms of structure and semantics.