A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

580 9 Verb phrases and other predications

9.1.8 Double datives

Verbs like ditransitive 'give' and 'show', as well as intransitive dative-object
verbs like 'slaughter, cut the throat of (-vrrvs-), can add an extra dative in
benefactive or purposive sense. In (618), the two datives are both expressed as
clitics, with the first (inner) clitic representing the normal dative complement.

(618) 3Yraes-asY-\a-s-\ha-saen
slaughter.PerfP-1 SgS-\Dat-3Sg-\Dat-3MaPl
Ί slaughtered it (e.g. ram) for them.'

9.2 Copular predications ('be', 'become')

The verbs that can function as 'be' equational copulas ('X is a blacksmith'),
or as 'become' inchoative verbs, are -aemos- 'be' (PerfP) and -vqqvl- 'be'
(also 'wait' and 'go back' in other contexts). The complement is a noun (or
NP).
In positive Stative copular 'be' function, these two verbs occur in the Resit
stems -aemos- and -sqqal-. Examples are in (619).

(619) a. e-sed ά aqqal-aer (= aemos-asr)
Sg-donkey Focus be.Reslt-lSgS
Ά donkey [Focus] is what I am.'

b. t-aqqdl t-a-kli-t-t

3FeSgS-be.Reslt Fe-Sg-slave-Fe-FeSg

'She is a Bella.'

In 'become' (i.e. inchoative) sense with past time reference, the regular
PerfP is used: -aemos-, -aqqael- (620.a-b). A future counterpart is (620.c).

(620) a 0-2emos d-wen

3MaSgS-be.PerfP Dem-Dist

[a 1-knae-n

[Dem 3MaSgs-do.much-Partpl.MaSg

aellaeror-aet [as "0-ssekkaetew-asn]]

trouble-FeSg [Instr Pl-child-MaPl]]

'That has become what what disturbed the children very

much.'

b. 1-qqael (= 0-aemos) a-masnokal

3MsSgS-be.PerfP Sg-chief

'He became chief.'