Tevékenyigébl

Tevékenyigébl is a theoretical term in linguistics used to denote a proposed subtype of verb morphology that foregrounds sustained agentive involvement in an event. Coined to illustrate how languages can encode ongoing activity by the subject, the term combines Hungarian roots tevékeny ('active') and ige ('verb'), with a hypothetical suffix -bl used to mark this category in a cross-linguistic framework.

Definition and scope: Tevékenyigébl verbs are characterized by markings that signal not only that an agent performs an action, but that the agent remains actively engaged throughout the event. This contrasts with punctual or achieved-action forms that center on the action's occurrence rather than the actor's continued participation. The concept is mainly theoretical and used in typological discussions and hypothetical grammars.

Typological implications and examples: In a hypothetical language, a tevékenyigébl verb might be used in continuous, agent-focused narratives. Example: "A munkás tevékenyigébl-építi a házat" meaning "The worker is actively building the house," where the marker emphasizes ongoing agency. The form is not widely attested in natural languages but serves to illustrate how agentivity can be morphologically encoded.

Reception and research: Scholars debate the utility of tevékenyigébl as a formal category, with some arguing it clarifies the interaction of aspect and agency, while others caution against overgeneralization across language families. Further work involves cross-language simulation and corpus-based testing of agentive morphology.