Associated Motion: A Common Marking on Verbs

Associated motion is a marking that occurs on verbs, encoding motion on the verb. It is found in approximately one-third of languages globally and is especially common in Amazonia and Australia. Associated motion typically adds the sense of 'come' and 'go' to verbs, indicating motion toward or away from the speaker or the center of action. The marking can be achieved through prefixes or suffixes, and it may also be used as directional markers on verbs of motion. The system has various dimensions, such as prior versus subsequent motion or simultaneous motion, and can exhibit semantic complexity by encoding specific directions or purposes. Notably, associated motion can also fuse with aspect or tense markers. While the terminology and forms may vary across languages, associated motion is a widespread and interesting phenomenon that opens possibilities for conlang design.