Abstract :
In the Sino-Tibetan family, reflexivity is either not expressed in the verb,
as in Chinese or Tibetan, or expressed by means of a “middle” marker, as
in Dulong or Kiranti languages. Among the morphologically rich
languages of this family, only Rgyalrong languages have distinct and
unambiguous reflexive and reciprocal markers on the verb. This paper
shows that the reflexive prefix in Rgyalrong languages has two possible
origins. It could come from a fusion of the third person singular marker
and the root meaning “self” or, alternatively, come from the free third person
pronoun. Both hypotheses are compatible with our understanding of
Rgyalrong historical phonology.
