Perusinfinitiivia

Perusinfinitiivia is a term used in theoretical linguistics and constructed-language discussions to denote a proposed base form of a verb from which certain non-finite derivations are built. It is not an established category in natural-language grammars and is primarily encountered in speculative or descriptive accounts of morpho-syntactic systems.

Etymology and coinage

The word is a portmanteau-like construction combining a root element suggested by the word perus, meaning base or fundamental in Finnish, with a playful take on infinitive forms, rendered as infinitivia. The combination signals a non-finite, base-oriented stem that researchers hypothesize could function separately from standard infinitive forms in a given framework. The term is not widely standardized and appears mainly in informal or exploratory writings about language structure.

Proposed function

In theories that employ perusinfinitiivia, the form is envisioned as a stable lexical stem that remains constant across multiple non-finite constructions. Derived forms—such as participles, verbal nouns, or certain non-finite moods—would be built by attaching affixes or using straightforward morphophonological rules to the perusinfinitiivia base. The idea is to separate the notion of a base verb without tense or mood from the inflected or infinitive forms used in actual clauses.

Relation to other forms

Perusinfinitiivia is distinct from the conventional infinitive or dictionary form in these proposals. It is treated as a non-finite base that underlies a family of derived forms, rather than a directly usable verb form in clauses. Its exact status, morphology, and cross-linguistic applicability remain topics of theoretical debate and are not attested in established grammars of natural languages.

Notes

Because perusinfinitiivia is a speculative construct, practical examples are typically provided within hypothetical languages or conlangs to illustrate possible morpho-syntactic roles.