aplicativ

Aplicativ, or applicative, is a grammatical device that enlarges a verb’s valency by introducing an additional argument to the action. It commonly shifts the emphasis toward a new participant such as a beneficiary, instrument, locative, or directional complement, and can change which element is treated as the direct object.

In languages that employ applicatives, the new argument is typically marked on the verb by a bound morpheme (prefix, suffix, or infix) or by a periphrastic construction. The result often transforms a base verb’s transitivity: a previously intransitive or simple transitive verb may acquire a new object or beneficiary, while the status of the original patient or target of the action can shift to a different syntactic role. The precise impact on word order and argument structure varies by language.

Typologically, applicatives are widespread and have been described in diverse language families, including Bantu languages, some Austronesian languages, and various others. Common applicative functions include benefactive (adding a beneficiary), instrumental (adding an instrument), locative (adding a location), and directional or goal-oriented meanings. The exact semantic reading depends on the language and the specific applicative morpheme or construction used.

The applicative is part of the broader set of valency-changing processes, often interacting with causatives and voice systems. It is a central topic in linguistic typology and morphosyntax, illustrating how languages encode complex argument structures through morphological or periphrastic means. The term is widely used in linguistic descriptions, with “aplicativ” serving as a Romanian or regional form of the same concept.