An analysis of “causative” forms in Okinawan: A benefactive view

Abstract

Okinawan is said to have two causative forms: -(r)as and -(r)ashimi, with the former primarily expressing forcible causation and the latter, permission causation. However, this is just a tendency, not an absolute rule. This paper adopts Miyara’s (2015a) view that -(r)ashimi consists of two morphemes -(r)as and -imi but proposes that -imi functions ambiguously either as a causative morpheme or as a benefactive morpheme. This makes it possible to understand some complex interpretational facts observed in causative constructions in Okinawan. A theoretical analysis of the causative suffixes is also offered in the framework of Distributed Morphology.