verboriflessiva

Verboriflessiva is a term used in linguistic typology to describe a class of verbs in which reflexivity is encoded directly in the verb morphology, rather than by a separate reflexive pronoun or clitic. The concept is largely theoretical and appears in discussions of how languages encode reflexive or self-directed actions.

In languages with verboriflessiva-style systems, the reflexive meaning is built into the verb form through inflection, an affix, or a stem change, rather than by pairing the verb with a pronoun such as myself or se. This stands in contrast to standard reflexive constructions in many languages, where reflexivity is expressed via clitics or pronouns.

Possible mechanisms include affixal reflexivization (suffixes or prefixes attached to the verb), internal vowel or consonant changes that indicate reflexivity, or suppletive verb forms. Some discussions distinguish monothematic reflexivization from more complex, multi-element marking.

Status and use: The term is not a widely established category in mainstream linguistics. It is used mainly in theoretical discussions, in the study of verb morphology, and in constructed languages to illustrate how reflexivity could be embedded in the verb itself. It relates to, but is not identical to, the middle voice, reciprocal forms, or general valency adjustment.

Examples are typically hypothetical; no natural language is universally accepted as verboriflessiva as a formal class. The concept serves as a framework for comparing how different languages realize reflexive meaning and how much morphology is required to do so.