A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

3.4 Ablaut 131

Reciprocal prefix -nvm-, which itself is always followed by a vowel, is
always conducive to Stem-Initial Syncope, so the η is never geminated by
CrGemination. Example: -nvm-vdvd- 'bite each other', PerfP -aenm-aedaid-,
Shlmpf -anm-adad-.
Mediopassive (or for heavy stems Reciprocal) prefix -m- (or allomorph
-n- if the stem has a labial C) occurs in a wider range of syllabic environments,
and is subject to Stem-Initial Syncope or to C,-Gemination as syllabic
conditions dictate, as with underived C-initial stems. An example with Stem-
Initial Syncope is -n-vs-vdubvn- 'cause each other to get married', PerfP
-aen-s-aedabaen-, Shlmpf -an-s-aduban-. One with C,-Gemination is -m-vksu-
'be (all) eaten', PerfP -amm-aksa-, Shlmpf -aemm-aeks (from
/-aemm-aeksA-/). Finally, just as with underived -CuCvC-, mediopassive
-m-uCvC- and -m-uCu- fail to undergo CrGemination. Examples: -m-iri> 'be
open', PerfP -aem-era-, Shlmpf -aem-ar ; -m-ilvy- 'be cut', PerfP -aem-elaey-,
Shlmpf -aem-alaey-. Therefore the Mediopassive prefix (whether in
mediopassive or reciprocal function) behaves just like the initial C of an
underived stem. Only Causative -s- has atypical behavior.

3.4.8.3 Dialectal idiosyncracies in verb and VblN onsets

For A-grm (and, I am told, some other dialects of the Gourma from Gao east to
Ansongo, and a smaller number of dialects north of the river in the same
general area), the onset phonology of the onset of underived and causative
perfectives is rather different. In (105), I show the T-ka patterns for underived
verbs and the distinctive A-grm counterparts. The T-ka forms are
representative, in syllabic structure, of all dialects studied except A-grm. Note
particularly the differences in (105.c).

(105) Dialectal Variation in Onsets of Underived Verbs

T-ka A-grm

a. 'be proved a liar' (-buggu- + -t)

PerfP -abbuggae-t

Imprt bugga-t

Shlmpf -abbugga-t

VblN ά-baggu

-abbuggas-t

bugga-t

-abbugga-t

ά-baggu

b. 'be arrogant' (-bvrvj-)

PerfP -abbaraej-

Imprt baeraej

Shlmpf -aebbaeraej-

VblN a-baraj

-abbarasg-

baeraeg

-aebbasrag-

a-barag