verbscomi

Verbscomi is a term used in theoretical linguistics to describe a class of verbal constructions in which a single verbal complex encodes both the core action and additional participant roles, especially comitative or instrumental arguments. The name blends "verb" with "comi" from comitative, signaling accompanying participants. The concept serves to analyze how languages distribute meaning between verb morphology, syntax, and adjacent clitics or auxiliaries.

Morphology and syntax: Verbscomi can be realized through affixes attached to the verb stem, clitics attached to a verb complex, or fused particles that accompany the verb. In some systems, a dedicated comitative marker attaches to the verb; in others, a multi-verb sequence encodes co-participation as a serial verb construction. The core verb often remains semantically light, while the conjoined elements supply instrumental or social context.

Typology and cross-linguistic patterns: Verbscomi is described as a gradient phenomenon with languages showing full, partial, or peripheral integration of comitative meaning. Subtypes include suffixal verbscomi, prefixed verbscomi, and serial-verbal variants, with variability in alignment, voice, and valency requirements. The phenomenon intersects with applicatives and instrumental constructions in cross-linguistic analyses.

Examples (hypothetical): In Language A, the suffix -mi on a verb marks co-participation with an accompanying participant; eat-mi means "eat together." In Language B, a separate verb element marks instrument and comitance, yielding forms like write-INS with a co-actor.

History and reception: The term was proposed in theoretical discussions in the mid-2010s and has since appeared in typological surveys as a way to frame how verbal complexes encode social or instrumental context. Critics caution against over-generalizing across unrelated languages.

See also: valency, applicatives, comitative, serial verb construction.