Is <Voluntative+-(i)di> in Cypriot Turkish contact-induced? References to Common Turkic

Abstract

The present paper purports to reflect the mood/modality formation in Cypriot Turkish focusing on the morphologic formation Voluntative +-(i)di which consists of the markers-(y)AyIm 1. Person singular or -sIn 3. Person singular and of the copula -(i)di. In previous research on Cypriot Turkish syntactical properties this compound is considered to be a Cypriot Greek influenced phenomenon and therefore, specified as having a non-turkic origin. This generally accepted position in the research on Cypriot Turkish needs a scrutiny. I argue therefore, against its non-turkic nature and analyse this morphologic compound referring to the fact that the formation Vol+-(i)di is already attested at early development stages of Turkic and is well evidenced in older Turkic sources. My argument is further based on pioneering studies in this field by Starostov, Kononov as well as on other studies, entries in different grammars and dictionaries, and, further, on the fact that similar morphologic formations occur also in (colloquial) Turkish and Turkmen. The methodological principal of the study that makes it possible to read Cypriot Turkish Vol+-(i)di constructions is founded on the approach ‘from meaning to form’ employed by Bondarko (1984, St. Petersburg School of Functional Grammar). The present study contributes to ongoing investigations, which concern themselves with both grammatical markers and lexical units in the mood/modality concepts in Turkic languages in general and, in particular, continues to research category interactions in Turkic, such as volitional mood+tense copula(?)/nominal split(?) that seems to be a paradox if viewed from the angle of their incompatibility.