Coptic Pronominal Suffixes
Coptic suffix-pronouns have forms that vary with grammatical environment. The Sahidic evidence describes several such variants, while dialect H illustrates the development of a secondary pronominal suffix.[^1][^2][^5]
Also known as: Coptic suffix-pronouns
Sahidic forms
The Sahidic grammatical description identifies several suffix-pronouns with alternative forms, or allomorphs, associated with different grammatical environments.12
- First-person singular: The suffix-pronoun `-i-` has the allomorphs `-a-`, illustrated by `nn-a-` and `tr-a`, and `-t`. The latter occurs as the object of infinitives following a consonant or `/X/`, and with prepositions in similar environments.1
- Second-person singular feminine: The forms are `-Ø-` and `-re` after conjugation bases, and `-Ø-`, `-e-`, and `-te` as objects of infinitives.2
- Second-person plural: The suffix-pronoun has the allomorphs `-tn-` and `-tetn-`.2
- Third-person plural: The suffix-pronoun is nonsyllabic after `nne-`, `tre-`, and the possessive article `pe-`.3
Special objective forms
Sahidic also has a special objective pronoun paradigm characterized by the third-person plural forms `-ce` and `-cou`. This paradigm occurs mostly after another pronoun, including as the pronominal object of the possession verboid `ountaf`.4
Secondary suffix formation in dialect H
In dialect H, the loss of the initial consonant of the “accusative” preposition in its pronominal form is described as producing a form apparently understood, to some extent, as a secondary pronominal suffix.5
The examples given are `par/bnouh/ma@`, “my Savior,” and `saknouh/ma@`, “you will save me,” alongside `aknahm/t`, “you have saved me.” These examples belong to a discussion of morphosyntactic features observed in manuscript M 636, hand a.5
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
The first-person singular suffix-pronoun -i- has the allomorphs -a- (nn-a-, tr-a) and -t (as object of infinitives following a consonant or /X/ or prepositions in similar environments).
- 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
The second-person singular feminine suffix-pronoun consists of the allomorphs -Ø-/-re after conjugation bases -Ø-/-e-/-te as object of infinitives. The second-person plural suffix-pronoun consists of the allomorphs -tn- and -tetn-.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
The third-person plural suffix-pronoun is nonsyllabic after nne-, tre-, pe- (possessive article).
- 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 432)
A special objective pronoun-paradigm is characterized by the third-person plural term -ce/-cou. (This paradigm occurs mostly after another pronoun, e.g., as pronominal object of the possession verboid ountaf.)
- 5.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 8 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 153)
Several observations could still be made regarding the morphosyntactic and other idiosyncrasies of H, as can be noted in manuscript M 636, hand a. These idiosyncrasies have at yet been little studied to date. ... Other conditions might emerge through the falling away of the initial consonant of the “accusative” preposition in its pronominal form, which henceforth appears to be felt more or less as a secondary pronominal suffix, as in par/bnouh/ma@, my Savior, and saknouh/ma@, Thou wilt save me, alongside aknahm/t, Thou hast saved me.
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This article was drafted from the sources listed above with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor before publication.