298

or theme. This vowel loss, the mark of zero complement,

is not actually a suffix at all, but rather the result

of a phonological deletion rule, morphologically and syn-

tactically conditioned, and belongs in a discussion of

Aymara morphophonemics and syntax. It is being included

among the noun suffixes because it occurs only on noun

roots, stems, and themes and is thus a part of the Aymara

noun system. It is inflectional, closing a stem to further class change.
Noun roots, stems, and themes, singly or in

phrases, may serve aS zero complements. They usually

occur directly before the verb to which they correspond.

KunQ.s tag".i? ‘What's he looking for?' (La Paz)
what Took 3+3
for S§S

. uk.ja.11 JVluchch'u.wa.chi.xa.y ‘that, he robbed'
that rob NI (Sitajara)

. jani kuntrula.n@ puyri.wa.k.t.ti.x.
no control able 133
S

'I am unable to control . . .' (Sitajara)

WawM pirti.si.y.itu. 'She made me lose (my) children.’
child lose 3+] (Socca)

S

Kullaka.fAg wank.j.t'a. ‘I'm waiting for my sister.’
sister Ip await 123 (Morocomarca )