Feature 23. Adverbial subordination and "converbs"

found in question(s): 56, 57, 83

Definition and illustration

For the purpose of this database, a converb can be defined as "an often non-finite morphological form of verbs (especially suffixes) that is used for adverbial subordination or for clause chaining and often expresses additional functions (e.g., switch reference)" (Hölzl accepted). Both functions typically associated with this type of dependent verb form are addressed in this database: adverbial (adsentential) subordination in question 56 (e.g., 1) and the clause chaining function in question 57 (e.g., 2).

(1) Kazakh (Mongolia)

(2) Oromo

Both functions can be but are not necessarily collapsed into one system of converbs (e.g., in several Tungusic languages).

Question 83 addresses the order of subordinator (including converb suffixes) and clause (see feature 32).

Correlations

Ross (2025) found a (weak) bidirectional correlation between SOV and the presence of converbs (in either of the two functions).

An additional correlation of clause chaining with basic word order was proposed by Sarvasy & Aikhenvald (2024): "The clause with the independent verb is the last clause of the chain in languages with verb-final constituent order, or the first in languages with verb-initial or verb-medial constituent order."

References