Datapoint Sri Lanka Portuguese/Passive constructions

The productivity of this construction needs to be investigated in order to establish its status as a true passive. The verb + du form may be better analyzed as an adjective. Such forms appear prenominally. Intransitive verbs appear in this pseudo-passive construction (as in Example 6).

Values

Typical passive construction

Example 41-6:
ɔkalɔɔra keesasu tɛɛmpupa pesaam nikara fikaa parsiidu
ɔklɔɔra
then
keesa-su
case-gen
tɛɛmpu-pa
time-dat
pesaam
person
nikara
neg.hab
fikaa
become
parsii-du
appear-adjz
So for the case date the person doesn't appear.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4970

Example 41-145:
isti kaaza jafikaa maraadu miɲa paay vɔɔnda
isti
this
kaaza
house
jaa-fikaa
pst-become
maraa-du
build-adjz
miɲa
1sg.gen
paay
father
vɔɔnda
by
This house was built by my father.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 4290

Example 41-146:
pooy faya tɛɛmpu taam nukufikaa fayeedu
pooy
habil
faya
do
tɛɛmpu
time
taam
also
nuku-fikaa
neg-become
fayee-du
do-adjz
The time that we COULD do it [build a house], it was not done.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 5146

Example 41-147:
etus jakafikaa trukaadu avara. kɔtɔɔlikus jakafikaa
etus
3pl.hon
jaa-kaa-fikaa
pst-pfv-become
trukaa-du
change-adjz
avara.
now
kɔtɔɔliku-s
catholic-pl
jaa-kaa-fikaa
pst-pfv-become
They have been converted now. They have all become Catholics.

Source: Smith 1974-5: 3569

Confidence:
Intermediate