Evidentiality in Uzbek and Kazakh

 
 
‘Yesterday at 3:00 I went to the store.’ 
The reference to time need not be made specific with reference to an exact point in the past; 
recently finished events usually employ the simple past in Kazakh if it is made clear that the 
event in question was completed within the specific timeframe denoted by the immediate past: 
(63) Älginde ğana bul kitap-tï oqï-p qal-dï-m. (Kaz) 
Just now this book-
ACC
read-
CVB PFV
-
PST
-1
SG
‘I’ve just now finished reading this book.’ 
This use of the simple past -DI in Kazakh should not be seen as exhibiting a 
RECENT
/
DISTANT
distinction, as in Uzbek. It is reference to the definite time denoted by the very recent past that 
requires the use of the simple past. Moreover, reference to historical events in Kazakh very often 
employs the simple past, regardless of the temporal definiteness of the event. 
(64) a. 
15 nawrïz 1493 Kolon Ispaniya-ğa qayt-a oral-dï. (Kaz) 
 
 
15 March 1493 Columbus Spain-
DAT
return-
CVB
return-
PST
.3 
‘On March 15, 1493, Columbus returned back to Spain.’ 
b. 
Kolon Ispaniya-ğa qayt-a oral-dï. (Kaz) 
 
 
Columbus Spain-
DAT
return-
CVB
return-
PST
.3 
‘Columbus returned back to Spain.’ 
In both of the above examples, the simple past is acceptable, and in fact preferred. This 
demonstrates that temporal 
DISTANCE
is not a factor in the 
PAST
/
PERFECT
distinction in Kazakh. 

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70 
It is perhaps easiest to find evidence of the 
DEFINITE
/
INDEFINITE
distinction in reference 
to negative events, that is, events in which the speaker did not participate. For example: 
(65) Men kino-ga bor-ma-di-m. (Uz) 
I movies-
DAT
go-
NEG
-
PST
-1
SG
‘I didn’t go to the movies.’ 
(Raun 1969, 50) 
(66) Men kino-ğa bar-ma-dï-m. (Kaz) 
I movies-
DAT
go-
NEG
-
PST
-1
SG
‘I didn’t go the movies.’ 
In employing the simple past in the above examples, the speaker makes it clear that there was a 
specific event (with a definite temporal frame) in which he or she did not participate. Examples 
(65-66) refer to a contextually specified event of movie-going in which the speaker was not 
involved. If, however, the past tense is changed to the perfect, the default interpretation is one in 
which the speaker has not been to the movies in some time, or indeed ever: 
(67) Men kino-ga bor-ma-gan-man. (Uz) 
 
I movies-
DAT 
go-
NEG
-
PRF
-1
SG
‘I haven’t been to the movies (lately).’ 
(68) Men kino-ğa bar-ma-ğan-mïn. (Kaz) 
I movies-
DAT
go-
NEG
-
PRF
-1
SG
‘I haven’t been to the movies (ever).’ 
In (67-68), no specific event is referenced, which is why the perfect is preferred here; what is 
meant is that given a period of time, there was no event of movie-going that the speaker