A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

7.3 Verb classes and irregular verbs 421

b. short imperfective system

Shlmpf /-asjjaeyhA-/

Imprt jaeyh (T-ka), jayh (Im Κ R T-md)

c. long imperfective system

LoImpfP -t-ajaeyha-

LoImpfN -t-ajayhi-, -t-ajihi- (indistinguishable)

Prohib -t-aejaeyha-, -t-eejaha-

d. nominalization

VblN a-jih

Agent e-m-aejjeyh ('witness')

As with 'sit' (§7.3.2.9, above), a stem representation -juyhu- with medial

long V will work for Im Κ Τ T-md, while T-ka requires -jvyhu- with medial

short V (the difference is based on the short imperfectives). The final /A/ is

deleted in most positions but is counted in Default Accentuation: 3MaSg Fut

ad 0-aejjaeyh 'he will testify' (surface penultimate accent corresponding to

underlying antepenult).

For A-grm, I recorded PerfP -aggiha-, Shlmpf -aeggah- or -aeggahu-,

Imprt gah or gahu), VblN a-gihi. The A-grm stem is therefore -gihu-.

There is also a related noun t-d-juhe, PI t-i-jühaw-en. (A-grm has Sg

t-se-guhe). This is not a productive ablaut derivation and its phonology is

debatable (one could imagine /aw/ as an alternative to /u/ for the medial V of

t-a-juhe). However, on the face of it, this noun points to a y-less representation

for 'testify' similar to that seen in A-grm. On the other hand, agentive

e-m-aejjeyh belongs to a fairly productive ablaut formation and points to a

Vjyh sequence.

7.3.2.11 ExistentialAocational 'be' (Vl)

The defective verb -νΐΐυ- occurs only in the perfective system. In positive

utterances, Resit -alia- is normal, although PerfP -alia- is attested after Past

preverbal particle kaeld, see (424.g), below. In negatives, the stem appears as

(PerfN) -alia-. It may be translated 'exist', 'be present', or 'be here'. The

emphasis is on existence, or on presence as opposed to absence (in a

presupposed location such as 'here'). The locational element in translation ('be

here') is best considered a pragmatic implicature, and -νΐΐυ- is not used in

expressions like 'be in (a box, a city)' where the locational is part of the

argument frame. Unmarked time reference is to the present, or to a timeless

(gnomic) status, unless Past particle kaeld precedes the verb. These temporal

and aspectual features are mostly shared with 'be in' and 'have' (see just

below). For additional information on the morphosyntax of this verb see §9.3.