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106 2. The Gujarati Constructions with Marvũ as a 'Vector'
Use of conjuct verbs and compound verbs is well-known as a remarkable characteristic of Indo-Aryan and Dravidian. It is s complex, multi-faceted subject and numerous studies pertaining to it, with varied theoretical stances, have appeared so far. The present attempt, quite modest and limited in its scope is primarily confined to give as a case-study an account of the current usage of one such Gujarati verb, viz; mar-/mar-. The source of the data presented is my personal usage which can be safely regarded by and large as representative of standard modern usage and based on the language sense of the average native speaker. 1. Guj. marvũ Intransitive. Primary meaning '10 die'. 11 The construcion. Absolutive of another verb followed by marvũ signifies the manner of dying as expressed by the first verb. e.g.
kapäi mo 'to die by being slaughtered' kacrāi m" 'being crushed' gũgmļāi m" being suffocated' dubi mo 'being drowned'
dājhi/baļi m being burnt'. 1.2 With reference to an inanimate or abstract noun as its subject
marvũ means 'to be lost', 'to be destroyed', 'to disappear'. In this usage usually the absolutive form of mar- is com bined with the vector verb javù to convey completeness of action. Examples : icchā mari gai “The desire was completely lost'. bhokh gai
‘The hunger was completely lost'. chod mari gayo * The plant withered'.
lohi mari gayù “the blood friezed and blackened'. 1.3 The construction, absolutive of another verb followed by
marvų signifies to be near-dead due to extremeness of the
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