Editing Reflexive verb (section)

=== Kuuk Thaayorre ===
As with [[Guugu Yimithirr language|Guugu Yimithirr]], [[Kuuk Thaayorre language|Kuuk Thaayorre]], a [[Paman languages|Paman language]], has some ambiguity between reflexive and reciprocal morphemes and constructions. Ostensibly, there are two suffixes ''/-e/'' and ''/-rr/'' for reflexivity and reciprocality respectively; however, in practice it is less clear cut. Take for example the presence of the reciprocal suffix in what should seem like a simple reflexive example.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gaby|first=Alice|date=2008|title=Distinguishing Reciprocals from Reflexives in Kuuk Thaayorre|journal=Trends in Linguistics|pages=259}}</ref>

{{Interlinear|indent=3
|pam thono tup ko’o-rr-r nhanganul watp
|man one.NOM [ideophone] spear-RECP-PST.PFV 3SG.REFL dead
|One man speared himself dead, whack!}}

Or the reverse wherein an apparent reciprocal assertion has reflexive morphology:

{{Interlinear|indent=3
|pul runc-e-r
|2DU-NOM/ERG collide-REFL-NOM.PFV
|They two collided with one other.}}

In actuality, the broader function of the reciprocal verb is to emphasize the agentivity of the grammatical subject(s), sometimes to directly counteract expectations of an external agent--as in the first example above. The combination of the reciprocal verb with the reflexive pronoun highlights the notion that the subject acted highly '''agentively''' (as in a mutual/symmetric reciprocal event) but was also the '''undergoer''' of their own action (as in a reflexive event where agentivity is backgrounded e.g. "I soiled myself"). 

Conversely, the reflexive verb can have precisely this function of backgrounding the agentivity of the subject and bringing the focus to the effect that was wrought upon the undergoer(s) as in the second example above.