A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

112 3 Phonology

(83) Nominal Ablaut Plural ()

Sg PI

a. regular unsuffixed ablaut PI

d-s-fal

ae-dddis

t-a-s-aqqasan-t

t-a-faeqkaeyamu-t-t

t-a-s-aggaraygari-t-t

1-s-fal

i-dudas

t-i-s-aqqasan

t-i-faqkayuma

t-i-saggaraygaray

gloss

'roof material'

'small dune'

'chewstick'

'mussel shell'

'roller (bird)'

b. minor type with final geminate in PI

t-e-naede t-i-nadd 'fever'

c. ablaut includes PI suffix in domain

e-laekaet 1-lakt-an 'branch'

In (83.a) we see the range of outputs mentioned in (82.a), including
pentasyllable «HHHHL». The type (83.b) is arguably a pattern where the L
part of attaches to a deletable stem-final V and is therefore inaudible
(§4.1.2.24). (83.c) illustrates the case where ablaut, including the
melody, takes the combination of core stem plus PI (here MaPl) suffix in its
domain (§4.1.2.14).
The Η of here favors u over i for stem-medial full V. However,
when followed by w, the full V appears as i by dissimilation (§4.1.2.17, cf.
§3.4.10).

In (84) we see examples of the perfective verb.

(84) Perfective Verb ( Melody)

lexical form

a. surface <H L>

-(v)ju-

-vbsu-

-nutfvs-

-fuffvn)- (+ -t)

-zvlbvbbvy-

-jvrnvnnvwi> (+ -t)

PerfP

-ja- or -aja-

-absa-

-annutfaes-

-affuffaerae-t

-azzalbaebbaey-

gloss

'do'

'vomit'

'be folded' (Vndfs)

'scrub'

'be slippery'

-ajjarnsennaewae-t 'scrape off

[K-d: PerfP -ajjaraannaewae-t]

b. surface <L>

-tvruru- -aetrara- 'go down'