A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

4.1 Noun morphology 219

sections also have several examples of Sg e corresponding to PI u. However,
when the e is stem-initial, it normally corresponds to i (not u) in the PI. This is
seen in (193.a), while (193.b) shows an isolated case of the same e/i alternation
in stem-medial position.

(193) Sg e = PI i in Stem

singular plural gloss

a. stem-initial e/i alternation

t-eddaem-t t-iddam 'drop'

t-eddes-t t-iddas 'move (in game)'

t-ejjam-t t-ljjam 'trip to well'

t-egget-t t-lggad 'jump'

t-eqqit-t t-lqqad 'cauterizing mark'

t-eqqes-t t-lqqas 'applause'

t-ekkel-t t-ikkal 'footprint, track'

b. stem-medial e/i alternation

t-e-seji-t-t t-l-sija 'bed'

A more systematic case where we get i rather than u in an unsuffixed

ablaut plural is when the full vowel affected by the high melody is followed by

w. I know of no exceptions to this dissimilation. The known examples are in

(194).

(194) «i α» Instead of «u α» Before w

singular plural gloss

ae-bawan

e-rewad

t-e-rewi-t-t

ae-srawil

t-a-s-ass-awi-t-t

t-ae-xawi-t-t

t-ae-yawsn-t

i-biwan

i-riwad

t-l-riwa

i-srlwal

t-i-s-ass-iway

t-Vxiwa

t-i-ylwan

'monitor lizard'

'turban'

'cord'

'pants' (<Ar.)

'package' (A-grm)

'padding'

'(river) ford'

4.1.1.18 melody realized as «α» (monosyllabic stems)

I now turn to monosyllabic stems, which have only one open vocalic position
excluding the PI prefix -i-. Given a forced reduction of to one syllable,
the obligatory L is realized while the Η has no effect. Specifically, L combines