Abstract:
In the Svan language, which is characterized by both archaism and
innovation, one of the noteworthy issues is the functions of the particle
-oγw/-ow (-mca) and its relation to the hypotactic construction.
According to the well-known viewpoint (Sh. Dzidziguri), the subordination
and subordinating connection with a conjunction between
the main and subordinate clauses reflects a relatively late stage of
language development. This theory is supported by the Svan language
data, as connection without a conjunction is still common in this
language even today (especially in the Lower Baldialect, which is the
least influenced by the literary language among the Svan dialects).
As is known, in the modern literary language, the particle -mca
appears mainly in phraseology, in fossilized forms, and in oral speech
(tumca “however’, isemc “may it’d…”, netamc “if only”...). From this standpoint, the situation in Svan is drastically different.
Obviously, the subjunctive mood forms of the verb (which substituted
the indicative mood verbs with the -mca particle in Georgian) are
also attested in Svan, but they are much less productive compared to
Georgian, and the forms with -mca (-oγw, -ow) particle are still used in
the screeves expressing the indicative mood.
The functions of the analytical particle can be summarized as
follows:
A. In a simple sentence, like Georgian, it expresses the content of
desire. That is why this type of phraseology (curse-blessing formulas, a
vocabulary of toasts...) always contains analytical forms.
B. It can substitute the particles of other’s speech;
C. In a compound subordinate clause, together with the Aorist II,
they can form a connection without conjunction.
In the author’s opinion, two circumstances contributed to the
preservation of this type of construction in Svan oral speech:
1. The presence of differences from Georgian inferential screeves in
the Svan language, which contain the understanding of conditionality
(suspiciousness, unconfirmed events) and no longer require relevant
conjunction (rom “that”, tu “if”, tuki “even if”...);
2. Active use of the constructions with -mca (-oγw, -ow) particle in
modern Svan speech.
Thus, one of the important syntactic functions of the -mca particle
can be considered to be the creation of a precondition for a
subordination without conjunction; this, in the author’s opinion, is
important from the standpoint of diachronic prospect, because it vividly
shows one of the development stages of the Kartvelian languages,
which is overshadowed in the literary language today.
