A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

3.1 Segments 27

Because of the variation between [d:] and [t:] as geminated counterpart of

d, we must accept that d and t are partially independent of each other as

phonemes. Moreover, there are a number of borrowings with ungeminated t,

e.g. VblN a-talla? 'making a profit' (<Arabic). I will therefore transcribe with

d or t based on pronunciation. In extracting consonantal "roots" for dictionary

alphabetization purposes, I use the conventions summarized in (20).

(20) "Root" Consonant Extraction Conventions for d and t

d a) for word-families that have at least one form with phonetic

[d], Example: Vdf 'seize, hold' because of VblN udaf.

b) for word-families where the relevant consonant occurs

only in [tX] clusters (where X is a voiceless obstruent),

so at least arguably the [t] is a /d/ devoiced by a CC-

cluster voicing assimilation rule.

t c) for word-families with [t] in at least one form where it is

ungeminated, and either prevocalic or before a voiced

consonant. Example: tabael 'table',

d) for word-families with invariant geminated [t:] with no

direct evidence for/d/. Example: t-aettael 'roasted meat'.

3.1.1.5 Alternations of s and ζ and of s and zz

The popular subdivisions of Tuareg (Tamashek, Tamajak, Tamahak) are

named after the predominant reflex of *z. Within the Tamashek dialects

studied, there are some interesting synchronic variations of s with ζ (this

section), and others of s with ζ (§3.1.1.6, below). As noted in §3.1, s is

pronounced hy in some Kidal-area dialects.

In (21), I list the stems known to me that vary subdialectally (sometimes

with more or less free variation within a subdialect) between forms with s and

forms with z, across most or all stems in the word-family.

(21) Dialectal s/z Alternations

a. Vshr and Vzhr 'be massive, well-fed'

b. Vsj and Vzj 'chase away'

c. Vsjr and Vzjr 'long, tall' (also Vsjr)

For 'be massive' we get e.g. MaSg participle ("adjective") suhaer-aen or
zuhasr-asn. For 'chase away' we get e.g. PerfP -asaej- varying with -szaej-. For
'long, tall' we get e.g. MaSg participle saejre-n varying with zaejre-n. In these
word-families, the s variant is the more common overall. For 'long, tall' I have