Datapoint Michif/Passive constructions

Michif has passive forms. There are several passive suffixes, partly depending on the gender of the subject-patient. The meaning difference between the suffixes -ikawi- and -ikasho-, both used for animate passives, is not clear.

Intransitive verbs can be passivized as well, roughly as in 'there was dancing'. This is sometimes called an "indefinite actor" form.

Indefinite actor forms also exist for transitive verbs, as in waapameew 'he sees him', waapiw 'he sees', or namu waapiw 'he is blind'.

The expression of the oblique agent can take several forms. It may be unmarked or marked with a 'by' phrase, mostly with par 'by', sometimes with ushchi 'from'.

Michif also has an inverse system in which subject and object are marked in special ways, roughly depending on the topic of the discourse. Verbal inflection is different, and the non-topic ('obviative') can get a special marker -(a)wa.

The passive and inverse seem to interact in subtle ways.

Values

Other atypical passive construction Frequency: 50.0%

Example 75-151:
Wiya lii zaanfaan kiimiyikoow li zheuzha.
Wiya
3sg
lii
art.pl
zaanfaan
child
kii-miy-ikoo-w
pst-give-inv-3
li
def.art.m.sg
zheuzh-a.
judge-obv
She was given custody of the children by the judge. OR: It was her whom the judge gave the children.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 66

Example 75-224:
Kiiatimikow lii polis.
Kii-atim-iko-w
pst-overtake-inv-3.sbj.3.obj
lii
the.pl
polis.
police
The police overtook him. OR: He was overtaken by the police.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 211

Example 75-225:
Iteehtam chikakiyaashkimikut.
Iteeht-am
think.inan-3.sbj.3.obj
chi-kakiyaashkim-iku-t.
comp-deceive.with.speech-inv-3
She thought she had been lied to by the other. OR: She thought she had been lying to her. OR: She thought that the other had lied to her.

Source: Fleury 2007

Confidence:
Very certain

Typical passive construction Frequency: 50.0%

Example 75-220:
Namo wihkomikaashow.
Namo
neg
wihkom-ikaasho-w.
invite-pass-3
She had not been invited. OR: She is not invited.

Source: Fleury 2007

Example 75-221:
anima la maenzon eeoshikaateek kayaash dan langleteer
anima la maenzon ee-oshikaateek kayaash dan langleteer
that.inan def.art.f.sg comp-build.inan-pass.inan long.time.ago loc England
a big stone house that was built a long time ago in England

Source: Fleury 2007

Example 75-222:
Tahkinee niminaaniwan.
Tahkinee
always
nimi-naaniwan.
dance-pass
There is always dancing going on.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 65

Example 75-223:
Kiiatimikaashoow par lii polis.
Kii-atim-ikaashoo-w
pst-overtake-pass-3
par
by
lii
the.pl
polis.
police
He was overtaken by the police.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 211

Confidence:
Very certain