dispersif

Dispersif, or dispersive, is a grammatical category described in some languages to encode the manner in which an action is distributed, spread, or repeated across multiple objects, participants, places, or occasions. Rather than portraying a single, unified event, a dispersive construction emphasizes distribution or iteration across several elements. The term is used in descriptive and typological grammar to capture this dispersed reading of an action.

Realization of dispersif varies across languages. It is typically marked on the verb, through affixes, reduplication, or periphrastic constructions, and it may interact with other aspectual distinctions such as imperfective, iterative, or distributive readings. In some grammars, dispersif is analyzed as a subtype of aspect; in others, it is described as a separate mood or voice that governs how the action is spread over multiple targets or occasions.

Cross-linguistic usage is limited but attested in a number of language families worldwide. The precise semantics of dispersif can differ: it might indicate distributing an action among several recipients, applying an activity across several locations, or repeating an action across multiple occasions while foregrounding distribution rather than total completion. Because it is described primarily in specific descriptive grammars, its status and labeling can vary between sources and theories.

Example readings often contrast with non-dispersive forms: a dispersive reading might convey that each object or participant receives attention or is acted upon individually, rather than addressing only a single instance of the action. As with many typological categories, dispersif provides a way to describe a particular distributed or iterative reading of verb meaning.