X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Yukaghir languages


Uralic–Yukaghir languages

The Uralic–Yukaghir family has been accepted by the American Nostraticist Allan Bomhard (2008:176, citing Ruhlen 1987:64-65) but without presenting any argument for it.

Yukaghir languages

The most spectacular feature of TY and KY grammar is the split intransitive alignment system based on discourse-pragmatic features.

In absence of narrow focus, the system is organised on the nominative–accusative basis; when focused, direct objects and subjects of intransitive verbs are co-aligned (special focus case, special focus agreement).

The relationship of the Yukaghir languages with other language families is uncertain, though it has been suggested that they are distantly related to the Uralic languages, thus forming the putative Uralic–Yukaghir language family.



see also