A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

13.9 Conditionals 697

In (967), both antecedent and consequent are long imperfectives

(LoImpfP and LoImpfN, respectively), since the reference is to standard

operating procedure without limitation to a narrow time frame.

(867) ajud i-ggat "'a-janna,

if 3MaSgS-hit(Vwt).LoImpfP Sg-rain,

waer ns-zsjjar

Neg lPl-exit.LoImpfN

'If (=when) it rains, we don't go out.'

A less common hypothetical conditional particle is kunta, kud, or kü. I

recorded kunta 'if for T-ka, kud 'if or 'even if for A-grm, R, and T-ka, and

kü 'even if for K-d. In A-grm, kud can also be used with a noun, as in 'even

tomorrow'. (For Niger Tamajak, "kud" is glossed 'si' or 'meme si', i.e.

'(even) if, LTF2:144.). A K-d example in the sense 'even if...' is (868).

(868) ku-Μϊί t-akfe-d dtay,

even-\lSgO 2S-give.Reslt-2SgS tea,

waer-\t e aesw-aer

Neg-\3MaSgO Fut drink.Shlmpf-lSgS

'Even if you-Sg give me some tea, I won't drink it.' [K-d]

The particle wasla, which can mean 'even' with a following noun (in some

dialects), is also widely used in the sense 'even if or 'although' with a

following clause; perhaps this is a reduction of waela kud 'even if, which is

also attested.

(869) a. waela i-kdnn t-e-taete

even 3MaSgs-do.much.LoImpfP Fe-Sg-eat.VblN

war l-dsggsl

Neg 3MaSgS-be.tall.LoImpfN (Vdwl)

'Even if (although) he eats a lot, he doesn't get tall(er).' [R]

b. waela i-ksa daer ad 0-aslh

even 3MaSgS-eat.Reslt too Fut 3MaSgS-weep.ShImpf

'Even if he has eaten, he will cry.' [T-ka]

Hypothetical conditionals may also have antecedent clauses beginning in
a-\fael or just fael. This is very common in K-area dialects, where it can spread
into temporal adverbial 'when ...' usage with future time reference (869.d), but
it has also been recorded in this sense in T-ka (§13.2.2).