5 Adjectives in Mam 133roots where the basic meaning seems to be more like the noun or positional, we are
left with approximately fifty adjective roots.
2.2. SYNTAX
Most adjectives can function as either the head of a stative (non-verbal predi-
cate), the complement of an existential predicate, or can directly modify a noun.
Some adjectives, in particular the positional adjectives and adjectives derived with
-V^V^n, only function as the heads of statives. The head of a stative precedes its
subject and is marked with Set B (absolutive) affixes to agree with the subject:
(27) Matiij-0-ta nimaal xaq.
head subject
big-I>3sg-3sg EMPH great rock
"The rock is big.'
(28) Wa'l-qa xjaal.
head subject
standing-I>3pl person
"The people are standing.' (positional adjective)
(29) Sikynaj qiina.
head
tired Bisg
'I am tired.'
When a positional adjective or an adjective in -V^V^n is the head of a stative
with adverbial functions, it triggers split ergativity on an aspectless verb in the fol-
lowing clause (which in Mam involves marking all of the direct arguments with
Set A (ergative) affixes):
(30) Bbnkl-0 t-kub' tx'yaan t-witz tx'otx'.
stative verb subject locative
placed:fat.thing-B3sg A3sg-go.down dog A3sg-RN:on ground
"The dog is on the ground as a fat thing is placed.' (The fat dog is on the
ground.)
(31) Malalaan-0-tzan t-xi' tzee
stative verb subject
swelling-B3sg-well A3sg-go tree
'Swelling went the tree.' (The tree swelled up.)
Existential predicates are formed on a base of (a)t- with suffixed Set B person
markers. These can take an adjectival complement:
(32) Puur kyee'yex yiin t-od.
very excellent ATT EXiST-Bipl
'We are quite well.'