Causative!

[Täzari]

Hello everybody!

I would like to know from you how does the causative structure work in your conlang(s). Here I present the structure for Lözusöteli.

The causative depends on a verbal modifier for its formation. This modifier is -ukam- that is added between the verbal root and the personal ending.

Example:
Bikki er pëksu - "I run to the sea"
['bik:i er 'pɜksu]

A causative counterpart of this sentence would be:

Bikkukami pai belad er pëksu - "I make my dog run to the sea"
[bi'k:ukami 'pai 'belad 'er 'pɜksu]

Bikk-ukam-i pai bel-ad er pëk-su
run.pres-CAUS-1ps pers.pron.1ps.GEN dog-ACCs prep. sea-PRE2s

The caused argument's case changes according to the valency of the verb. As you probably already know, the causative construction is a strategy to increase the valency of the verb.
So an intransitive verb (like bikkaka "to run") becomes a transitive when -ukam- is used and in this case the caused argument is expressed in the accusative (belad ACCs of bel "dog").
A transitive verb becomes a ditransitive verb whose caused argument is expressed in the dative:

Mazukami ebkäd pai belki - "I make my dog drink water"
[ma'dʒukami 'efkɛd 'pai 'belki]

Maz-ukam-i ebku-ad pai bel-ki (u+a -> ä)
drink.pres-CAUS-1ps water-ACCs pers.pron.1ps.GEN dog-DATs

Finally, ditransitive verbs become four places verbs, in this case too the caused argument is expressed in the dative case:

Ræbukami pai epæbo kætsiþenden pöþko - "I make my friend say the answer to the teacher"
[raɪ'bukami 'pai e'paibo kaɪ'tsiθenden 'pøθko]

Ræb-ukam-i pai epæb-o kætsiþ-en-den pöþk-o
say.pres-CAUS-1ps pers.pron.1ps.GEN friend-DATs answer-ACCs-art.ACCs teacher-DATs

In this case two nouns are expressed in the DAT but this is due merely to the basic argument structure of the verb ræka "to say". When this happens, which one of the two nouns is the caused argument is understandable from the context and from its being the closer one to the verb.

-ukam- is considered as a modifier expressing a coercitive meaning. When we want to express a causative that means we let someone do something we use the modifier -let- (called "permissive"). Its construction follows the aforementioned rules.

Utzækletiśa tad pelgakaladit - "I'll let you go out if you finish to eat"
[u'tsaikleti'ɕa 'tad pelga'kaladit]

Utzæk-let-i-śa tad pelgak-alad-it
go.out.fut-PER-1ps-pers.pron.2ps.ACC conj. eat.fut-TERM-2ps

[Dormouse559]

My a priori conlang uses an adverbial phrase to express the causer. It directly translates as "from [causer]'s hand". I may or may not develop other strategies, though.

ʻAwniwi bişşu.
[ˈʔɑ̃ũ̯newi ˈbeʃːu]
ʻaw-diwi bişşu
PFV-run cat
The cat ran.

ʻAwniwi bişşu hawru ʻanta.
[ˈʔɑ̃ũ̯newi ˈbeʃːu ˈhɑu̯ru ˈʔɑ̃ntɑ]
ʻaw-diwi bişşu haw-r ʻa<ttu>la
PFV-run cat 1SG-GEN hand<ABL>
I made the cat run.

[taylorS]

Future English uses a verbal affix derived from "make".

Memèjwonem. "I made him run"
me-mèj-won-em
1SG.NOM-CAUSE.PST.PFV-run-3SG.M.ACC

[Lao Kou]

Géarthnuns treats the causative as a voice, tacking the suffix -n onto the verbal auxiliary:

Chö ngarebs la frozh.
DEF dog-NOM AUX.PRES drink
The dog drinks.

Sí lan chö ngarebsöt frozh.
1SG-NOM AUX.PRES.CAUS DEF dog-ACC drink
I make/have the dog drink.

Two objects are separated by the particle "höi":

Chö ngarebs la sü mníaksüt frozh.
DEF dog-NOM AUX.PRES INDEF water-ACC drink
The dog drinks water.

Sí lan chö ngarebsöt höi sü mníaksüt frozh.
1SG-NOM AUX.PRES.CAUS DEF dog-ACC PTCL INDEF water-ACC drink
I make/have the dog drink water.

Coercitive volume can be turned up or down with the use of adverbs.