A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

12.3 Interrogatives 651

As with prepositional-complement focalization, the preposition is

cliticized to the focalized constituent and is followed by other clitics, here the

Centrip. The Comit preposition is pronounced -\dsr- here before another clitic.

When 'who?' functions as possessor of another NP, it can remain in situ

(761.a). Alternatively, it can be "extracted" in instrumental form, with a

resumptive pronominal in the original site (761.b).

(761) a. rüre-s an mt-\dd osae-n

son-3SgPoss of who?-\Centrip arrive.PerfP-Partpl.MaSg

'The son of who(m) came?'

b. ml-\s-\ad 0-osa rure-s

who?-\Instr-\Centrip 3MaSgS-arrive.PerfP son-3SgPoss

'Whose son came (here)?'

One could also interpret cliticized Instr -\s in (761.b) as s 'that' (§13.7) at

the beginning of a subordinated clause. In any event, ml-\s can be separated

from the possessed noun by an intervening verb (762).

(762) mi-s-\kaEy i-daed edl-nnet

who?-Instr-\2SgO 3MaSgS-bite.PerfP dog-3SgPoss

'Whose dog bit you-Sg?' [K-d]

mi appears to have an intrinsic accent, as best seen in elicited

combinations like daer ml 'in who(m)?'.

12.3.3 'what?' (mo)

The syntax is the same as with ml 'who?'. Object function is illustrated in
(763.a-c), subject function in (763.d).

(763) a. ma t-arhe-d

what? 2S-want.Reslt-2SgS

'What do you-Sg want?'

b. mo mar t-ajrsw-aed d-i-hen

what? Fut 2S-find.ShImpf-2SgS there

'What will you-Sg find there?'

c. ma tdttae-m

what? eat.LoImpfP-2MaPl

'What are you-MaPl eating?'