This is the pre-final version of a paper published in Bril, I. (ed.), Clause-hierarchy and clause-linking: syntax and pragmatics, John Benjamins, 2010, 105-142. Specialized converbs and adverbial subordination in Axaxdərə Akhvakh Denis CREISSELS Université Lumière (Lyon2) e-mail:
[email protected] Abstract Northern Akhvakh, like other Nakh-Daghestanian languages, has a large inventory of converbs specialized in the expression of various semantic types of adverbial subordination: locative, temporal, conditional, concessive, similative, gradual, and purposive. After outlining the general characteristics of Akhvakh morphosyntax, this paper describes the morphology and the uses of the individual converbs, and discusses the possibility to reconstruct their origin. Attention is drawn to the high proportion of etymologically transparent converb, which suggests that the particular type of morphosyntactic organization characteristic of Nakh-Daghestanian languages favors grammaticalization processes that do not modify the overall organization of the adverbial subordination system, but result in a constant and relatively rapid renewal of the inventories of specialized converbs. 1. Introduction Akhvakh (ašʷaʟī mic’ī , Russian axvaxskij jazyk) belongs to the Andic (sub-)branch of the Northeast Caucasian (or Nakh-Daghestanian) family.1 Like the other Andic languages, Akhvakh has no writing tradition.2 According to Magomedova & Abdulaeva 2007, Akhvakh has approximately 20 000 speakers. Four dialects are traditionally recognized. One of them is designated as Northern Akhvakh, whereas the other three are grouped under the label of Southern Akhvakh. Northern Akhvakh is spoken in four villages of the Axvaxskij Rajon in the western part of Daghestan (Tadmagitl’, Lologonitl’, Kudijab-Roso, and Izani), in recent settlements in the lowlands of Daghestan, and in Axaxdərə near Zaqatala (Azerbaijan), where I carried field work on Akhvakh.