Copular Clauses in Manipuri

Abstract

The present paper attempts to describe the syntax and semantics of copular clauses in
Manipuri. The primary goal of this paper is to identify different types of copular constructions which
are very frequently used in Manipuri. It examines for a single underlying semantics of the copula in
equative, predicational and specificational sentences in Manipuri. There are notions that the strategies
in which two pre-verbal referents are bridged by the different forms of copulative verbs. In Manipuri,
the copula -ni functions as a link between the two referents they occurred before the verb. Furthermore,
this paper shows that the two NPs in an equative sentence are semantically arguments of the copula
and this copula expresses an identity relation between their respective NPs. An equative sentence in
Manipuri falls into the categories such as Identification and Class Inclusion. Lastly, predicational and
specificational sentences are discussed with the semantic descriptions that specificational sentences are
related to predicational sentences and can be syntactically analyzed as predicate inversions.