So, there are a couple of examples of the use of the reversive that I think
aren't coherent under the definition of reversive (i.e. the "undoing" of an
action). However, it's also clear that there are some examples that fit it perfectly. I think there's two of them, beyond the finished/completed/stopped category noted by Marianne below. There's also some outliers that I think are interesting (but aren't quite as interesting as the whole system-complexity marking, unfortunately). Here are some of the choice examples: (A quick note here-- there are some verbs which might be analyzed as having the "pick" verb, -ku-, I will need to cross reference them with the other languages, I think. In some cases, the meaning might be more obvious, but I still think it will be worth the look. If it is, that's interesting in itself, I think.) The first category are verbs which are simply an undoing of the event or action described by the verb. "Undoing" fold/unfold (idiomiatically, answer) ne-.-rihwaya'ra(ku) wind/unwind give/extract (teeth, roots, intenstine, lye***interesting here because it is not the source) tuaw(ihsi) robe/unrobe bury/unbury (i)hsa'nhnak(u) tie/untie (i)htrhsi put on fire (cook)/take off fire kahn(ku) burden/unburden travel/correct travel yah-athahakuhsi fasten/loosen u'nari(ihsi) /unbar a gate ahkaraw(ihsi) put up/take down ahra(ku) put around/take down ahraw(ku) hook/unhook a'nu'nar(ihsi) have in mouth/remove from mouth nhT turn/turn back athrwa(ku) contribute, share/tear it down, unravel rur(ku) add/undo r(ku) transform [change-undid] (RC 15:1) be in water/take out of water -ucross/echo The dictionary only mentions the use of the "increase of intensity" of the event/action described by the word for "flay" in its entry. However, I found quite a few more that followed this pattern. I have some more in my notes at the nation house when I first encountered this, and I think the verb was having to do with destruction or demolition or something like that, which is the main thing that got me interested. It was the tear/undo pair combined with the planting/harvesting verb that got me thinking about maybe
something involving the the complexity of a given system acted on by the
verb (OVERTLY). However, it seems to be more along the lines of indicating that a "destructive verb" verb is doing something which is even more reductive to the undergoer of the action than the original verb implies-maybe to the point where, ironically, it's irreversable. "increase intensity" divide/disunite ne-.-kha(hsi) bent/more crooked ne-.-a'nukn(ku) seperate/schism ne-.-a'nekha(hsi) strip/remove mask atkhsuhi / atkhsuhrku flay/skin yr(ku) *rudes notes 511 that this "intensifies the meaning" */massacre (???) scratch/really scratch kwehthar(aku) tear/undo rae(ku) hang down/luxate ne-.-a'nahra(ku) I think my original analysis of a notion of systemic complexity does not necessarily apply in the sense that there's the reversive represents an overt marking of this category, but I think it is an underlying motivator between these two. I think it has something to do with the fact that the completion of the action represents a transformation which is a return to a natural, or unacted upon state of the undergoer (things are naturally unfolded, unknotted, unextracted, etc.) or a state which cannot be re-undone (division vs. complete disunity etc.). Just as a quick note here, Marianne did mention that in Mohawk, it is also used to indicate that a verb with it can mean "I finished, completed it". "w:katste I used it, wakatsth-hsi- I finished using it, wakatk:ronte I peddled it, sold it, wakatkehront:-ko- I finished selling". I have some commentary on the outliers, "Outliers" cross/expiate 'rihwaya'rakwaT 500 **this verb occurs three times with undo, with different senses - the matter has been gone over once, and will be gone over another time cross/vengeance - the person has been crossed metaphorically once, and is returning this action on the offender. planting/harvest - similar to the mohawk thing, the completion of the planting/harvesting process. this was a primary motivator of my initial analysis. if the
planting/harvesting is complete, a field is typically returned to a meadow (i.e.
an unfarmed clearing). peel/rub hair (RC 28:1) - the citation is wrong for the JNB Hewitt stories here, might make more sense in context. maybe taking off grease or something? cut off/overcome kwana(ku) - Not really sure about this one. recieve/**be at peace, be charmed 'tikhru'na(ku) - this is most likely "pick off", as in to have one's mind taken away. be in / keep to oneself a'raku - taking oneself away. hang down/follow ("") same example in the dictionary, very weird. hang/allow rihwaraku - no idea. So anyway, hope this isn't too much! Would be interesting to hear what Oneida does. Ny:w