The Grammatical and Modal Functions of the Verb Unon in Laz

Abstract Book of the 4th International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities in the 21st Century

Year: 2025

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The Grammatical and Modal Functions of the Verb Unon in Laz

Nato Akhalaia

ABSTRACT:

In Georgian, the form unda functions both as an independent verb expressing desire, with person and number agreement (e.g., me minda vašli “I want an apple”, šen ginda mušaoba “you want to work”, mas unda vašli/mušaoba “s/he wants an apple/to work”), and as a modal element indicating obligation, which appears only in the generalized third-person form regardless of the subject (e.g., me unda vimušao “I must work”, šen unda imušao “you must work”, man unda imušaos “s/he must work”). Laz, a related Kartvelian language, employs the morphophonetic form unon, derived from Old Georgian una, exhibiting similar dual functionality. Grammatically, unon inflects for person and number and coordinates with both subject and direct object, expressing desire for an object or for an action (e.g., man minon uškiri “I want an apple”, sin ginon oxtimu “you want to go”). In Laz, the form unon is also used with a modal function. However, unlike Georgian, the modal element is person-marked – in other words, each person has its own specific form. The third person is often represented in a reduced yon form. The modal component follows a verb in the Subjunctive Mood (Series II) and, together with it, conveys the semantics of an obligatory action (e.g., man vida minon “I must go”, sin ida ginon “You must go”, iya/emuk idasinon/idasyon “s/he must go”). The analysis of the empirical data demonstrates that unon in Laz reflects a Common Kartvelian linguistic pattern that encodes both volition (i.e., wishes) and deontic modality (i.e., obligations) in equal measure.

Keywords: Kartvelian Languages, Laz Language, Modav Verbs, Volition and Obligation, Unon