The Tagalog Prefix MA- as Peircian Firstness of Secondness

The Tagalog prefix ma- appears in different contexts with a seemingly different meaning in each; in context it can act as an adjective prefix, an object focus ability/involuntary action verb, an intransitive actor focus verb, or a transitive actor focus verb. However, all the instances of the ma- prefix in Tagalog are contextual variants of the same underlying, single concept that corresponds to firstness of secondness, a category that is one part of a semiotic system suggested by Charles S. Peirce. The two kinds of adjective that are formed by adding a ma- prefix are firstness of secondness. Ma-noun combinations are firsmess of secondness because they are defined as ‘the quality (firstness) of a noun (secondness)’. The ma- adjectives are firstness of secondness because they show a quality that is just off the central meaning of the root. The object focus abilitative/involuntary action verbs formed by adding a ma-prefix to a verb root are also firstness of secondness. The abilitative version of this verb is firstness of secondness because it contains firstness in the irrealis of the ability and intention that it entails. It also has secondness because it is always closely associated with the central action of a verb and the doing of that verb. Involuntary action ma- prefixed verbs are also firstness of secondness. They have firstness because they deal with intention; they have secondness because the verb implies that an action has occurred. The ma- prefixed intransitive actor focus ‘change of state’ verbs are also a kind of firstness of secondness. They have secondness because of the implication that there are two states involved, but they also have a firstness that comes from the fact that the two states belong to a single complex concept that encompasses both states. Transitive actor focus rna- verbs are also firstness of secondness. They are ‘change of state’ verbs in which the two states (secondness) of a single idea (firstness) are present. Despite differences in function, focus, and transitivity, there is a definite commonality between all ma- prefixed words that places them in the Peircean semiotic category firstness of secondness.

Thesis Author: Clarito, Laura L.B.

Year Completed: 2000

Committee Members: Alan Manning, Deryle Lonsdale

Thesis Chair: John S. Robertson