7.3 Verb classes and irregular verbs 419VblN points more specifically to -mili>. Many -CiCvC- and -CiCu- verbs
switch to
LoImpfP -mal- (from /-malA-/) is not inconsistent with basic form -milu-.
7.3.2.9 'sit'(^rm, ^rym)
(421) 'say'
a. perfective system (ay and i indistinguishable)
PerfP -aqqima- (-sqqsyma-)
Resit -aqqima- (-aqqayma-)
PerfN -sqqima- (aqqayma-)b. short imperfective system
Shlmpf -sqqam (/-aeqqamA-/ or /-aeqqami-/)
-seqqaym (/-asqqaymi-/)
Imprt qam (ram) (A-grm T-ka)
Yaym (Gao Κ R T-md)c. long imperfective system
LoImpfP -t-QYasyma- (Im Κ R Τ), -t-cnrama- (A-grm)
LoImpfN -t-3Y9ymi-, -t-arimi- (ay and i indistinguishable)
Prohib -t-aerasyma-, -t-aerama-d. nominalization
VblN α-Yim, t-a-Yimi-t-tThere are two key issues for the analysis of this paradigm. One is whether
to attribute a y to the basic stem representation (consonantism Vvm or Vrym).
The other is whether the medial V is short or full. If full, it must be i rather
than u since all dialects have i in the perfectives and VblN. Possible
representations are -Yimi)-, -Yiymu-, and a -Yvymu- (the fourth possibility,
#-Yvmi>, will not work.)
The perfectives, the LoImpfP, and the VblN have phonetic medial [i],
which could be represented structurally as /ay/, /i/, or /iy/. These forms
therefore contribute to the mystery rather than resolving it. Each dialect reveals
its analysis of the stem in the imperfectives. For A-grm, the stem is -Yimu-
with no sign of a semivowel (Imprt vam, LoImpfP -t-avama-). For several
dialects (Gao Im Κ R T-md), the stem is -Yiymu-, with the full V based on the
Shlmpf (Imprt Yaym). The long imperfectives have a short medial V
(LoImpfP -t-aYaeyma-, etc.), but this can be attributed to Medial V-Shortening
(§3.4.9), compare e.g. LoImpfP -t-imassu- from stem -mussu- 'go' (§7.3.2.7).
For T-ka, we get an inconsistent paradigm, with Imprt qam pointing to -Yimu-
(or -qirru>) but with LoImpfP -t-aYasyma- pointing to -Yiymu-.