A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

7.2 Stem categories 311

in §7.3.1.3, below. For other verbs, including heavy V-final verbs, subject
suffixes are not within the scope of ablaut.
In (312.c), the verb is too heavy to be affected by e-pclf. In (312.d), the
PerfP does not end in ...CaeC-. Causative -aes-saer- 'depilate' looks as though it
ought to be amenable to e-pclf, but it is syncopated from -...s-vsvr- and
therefore counts as heavy rather than light.
In summary, the effect of e-pclf is to insert e replacing a short ae of the
PerfP, when this is the first postconsonantal V and is also the final V.
(313) shows that a clitic may intervene between Neg waer and the PerfN
verb.

(313) a. waer-\t£en i-jrew
Neg-\3MaP10 3MaSgS-get.PerfN
'Blood (disease) has not afflicted them?'

^-sni?

Sg-blood?

waer-\taet n-arha

Neg-\3FeSgO lPlS-want.PerfN

'We don't want it-Fe.' [K]

meddsn

men

waer

Neg

arhe-n

want. PerfN

saersam

charchem

'Men don't want (don't like) charchem (a dish).' [K]

7.2.3 Short imperfective system

The Shlmpf stem is closely related morphologically to the Imprt (used in

positive imperatives) stem. There is a short hortative form based on the Shlmpf

stem. I discuss the inflected Shlmpf and Imprt stems, and the short hortative

forms, in this section before turning to the long imperfective system.

Stative aspect with present time reference is normally expressed by the

Resit stem in the perfective system. Therefore "imperfective" is used here for a

more limited temporal/aspectual range than in other languages where

imperfective stems are required with present time reference.

7.2.3.1 Short Imperfective stem(Shlmpf)

In positive main clauses with no preverb, other forms (Resit, LoImpfP) are

used as translation equivalents of the English present tenses (simple present,

present progressive). The Shlmpf is used after a Future preverbal particle (e.g.

ad), with or without negation. It is used in an add-on construction in parallel

with a preceding imperfective clause (§13.4). It is used in subordinated

clauses beginning with minimal demonstrative a, for example purposive

clauses (§13.2.1). It is optionally used in the consequent clause of