The three agent demoting prefixes (ki-, m-u-, kur-) in Katripul Puyuma

This paper discusses the origins and possible grammaticalization pathways of three agent demoting prefixes in Katripul Puyuma, ki-, m-u- and kur-. All three morphemes can attach to both nominal and verbal stems. When they attach to nominal stems, they denote the meaning of ‘get’, ‘go’, and ‘reflexive’, respectively, and when they attach to verbal stems, they express situation types that are often associated with the middle domain (Kemmer 1993). Working from the perspective of grammaticalization, this paper traces the origins and possible development of the three named morphemes, with supporting evidence drawn from cognates of other Formosan languages.