Passive constructions of the Burushaski language; An

analysis of the Nagar Dialect, Master of arts(Linguistics),

November2019
Mubasher Hussain
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction
1.1 The problem statement
1.2 Rationale and importance
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Research questions
2 Literature Review
3 Research methodology
3.1 Discourse Analysis Method
3.2 Research Area
3.3 Population of the study
3.4 Sample of the study
4 Data Analysis
5 Outcomes
References
 INTRODUCTION
Burushaski is a language spoken approximately 87 thousands native speakers (Lewis 2009) in the
Northern Areas of Pakistan: in Yasin,Hunza,and Nagar valleys. There is a sizeable population of
speakers in the central Gilgit and also in some areas of Srinagar.
Passive constructions in Burushaski are described in Bashir (1985) Morin and Tiffou (1988) as well
as by a native speaker of Burushaski who I have worked with on the subject. I explore the passive
as describe by Bashir, Morin and Tiffou.
Didactical differences between Nagar and Hunza Burushaski may play an important role in the
realization of passive forms and is also discussed in this research.
1.1 Problem statement
By its very definition, a passive construction should be syntactically speaking ,not found in ergative
absolutive languages (Mallison & Blake,1981). Absolutive languages already treat the patient as a
subject in unmarked constitutions (Comrie,1988) and thus passive forms are difficult to analyze.
In this research the researcher formulates the problems and under:
Burushaski is also considered as an ergative language.
Passive voice errors made by the burushaski speakers.
Causes of errors made by the Burushaski speakers.
Burushaski unique marking system can help explain why it is felt that there are passives in the
language .Because the verb suffix patterns in agreement with nominative tendencies in Burushaski
constructions , movement from object to subject is indeed marked an agreement change of the
verb.
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1.2 Rationale and Importance of the study

This research proposal is written to explore the passive constructions of the
Burushaski language. The study is important because it helps in the realization of
passive forms in the different dialects of Burushaski.
1.3 Objectives
To investigate the passive forms of Burushaski.
what kind of passive errors made by burushaski speaker.
To study the dialectical differences between Nagar and Hunza Burushaski

in the realization of passive forms.

Comparison of Burushaski and English in the terms of passive forms.
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1.4 Research Questions

How passive forms are attached with Burushaski?

What are the dialectical differences between Nagar and Hunza Burushaski in the
realization of passive forms?

How English passive forms are different from Burushaski passive forms?
 Literature Reviews
The possibility of passive constructions in Burushaski has been written about by
Bashir and Tiffou, with the two similar but ultimately different claims, Bashir claims
that passives in Brushaski are purely semantic, with no actual syntactic passives
(Bashir,1985) Morin and Tiffou claim a syntactic passive (Morin & Tiffou,1988).I first
go over what has been claimed by Bashir and her notions of a semantic passive in
Burushaski and then I review the work by Morin and Tiffou.
2.1 Bashir
The interesting aspect of calling a construction semantically passive is that there
comes from this a lack of distinction between being semantically passive or simply
an intransitive statement where the subject is undergoing change .In Burushaski a
subject-patient is always double marked on the verb when the patient is animate.
Take for example intransitive sentences such as 1 to 3 below where the absolute
subject is the patient of change and receives prefix agreement as well as suffix
agreement.
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mu waal umo je a war am

She was lost I am tired
in mo yay I bo
She is sleeping
The prefix is agrees with the affected animate agreement. In the case
of fist example the prefix agrees with the subject she /mu/ while the
suffix is in agreement with the subject of the subject of the sentence.
The semantic of the sentence are that the woman was in a sate of
being lost
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2.2 Morin and Tiffou

Morin and Tiffou (1988) explore construction where the oblique agent is
expressly stated in the sentence , more commonly in the form of
pronoun ABL
je e cum daro et imi mu waal umo
obj ABL work do past lost past
Work was done (by me) She was lost (by me)

Um cum a s gal imi um cum je heryaan a may a ba

ABL heart break past ABL surprised become

My heart is broken (by you) I am being surprised by you

Notice that the verb remain same and the meaning only changes.
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Wren and Martin (1983) says, Voice is that form of a verb which shows
whether what is denoted by the verb does something done it, By
looking at this definition, it can be stated that there are two types of
voices in English verb that denote whatever the subject does something
or receives something done by something else , Wren and Martin (1983)
states , when the verb shows that the person denoted by the subject
does something we say the verb is in the active voice , when the verb
shows that something is done to the person denoted by the subject ,we
say the verb is in passive form
 Research Methodology
Through the proposal I reference three texts which were gathered by
Dr. Munshi through field work conducted in the Northern Areas of
Pakistan. The texts are of different oral stories from the area and their
names are baadil Jamal, chine maghuyu, and mattum ke burum.

3.1 Discourse Analysis Method

Discourse analysis method is a research method for studying
written or spoken language in relation to its social context. It is used
to understand how language is used in daily life.
Level of communication What is analyzed
Grammar The way that sentences are
constructed in a passive form
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3.2 Research area
Data will be collected from the Karakorum International University.
3.2 Population of the study
Native speakers of Burushaski in MA English department will be population of the study.
3.4 Sample of the study
To collect the data the members will be selected on the basis of quota sampling. A researcher will select the Brusho
students from each semester on the basis of strength in the class
1st semester 6 students
2nd semester 6 students
3rd semester 12 students
4th semester 12 students
To select 18 members out of 32, a researcher will select half members from each semester
 Data analysis method
Open ended surveys and questionnaires will be asked to collect
the data.
Text messages and Emails will also be used in data analysis.

Outcomes
This research will help researchers who want to research on
Burushaski language.
This research will also guide the Brusho speakers.
 References
Bashir, E. (19850.Toward a passive of the burushaski.in A. R. Zide, D. Magier, & E. Schiller
(ED.). Conference on participantroles:South Asia and adjacent areas (pp. 1-
32).Bloomington: Indian University linguistic Club

Munshi, S. (2012, June 3).A grammatical sketch of Burushaski. Retrieved from Burushaski
language documentation project

Shibatani, M. (1988). Passives and related construction.Amsterdam:john Benjamins.

Morin, Y.-C,& Tiffou, E. (1988). Passive in Burushaski. In M. Shibatani (ED.), passive and
related constructions (pp. 493-524).Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Comrie, B. (1989). Passive and voice. In M. Shibatani (ED), Passive and voice (pp, 9-23).
Amsterdam: John Benjamins

Lewis, M.P. (ED). Ethnologue: Languages of the world(16 th edition.).dallas, Texas:SIL

International. Retreived from