jeff_l
(Jeff_L)
#1
7.2 Stem categories 323
7.2.4 Alternative 1PI hortative construction using Imprt stem
In the regular hortative construction with suffix P)-et just described, the full
set of entities exhorted or permitted to undertake the activity is indexed in the
grammatical subject. For example, if there is one speaker and one addressee,
'let's go!' has 1P1 subject.
In the alternative construction to which we now turn, a 1P1 dative clitic is
added to an imperative. The overt subject of the imperative is Sg or PI
depending on the number of persons in question, excluding the speaker. This
imperative verb is followed by a 1 PI dative clitic, even if only two persons
(speaker and addressee) are present. The 1P1 dative can therefore be taken as
subsuming the 2nd person subject of the imperative. In this construction, 'let's
go!' for two persons (1st dual inclusive) is expressed as 'go!-Sg for us'. On the
other hand, 'let's go!' for three or more persons is expressed as 'go!-Pl for us',
the imperative being 2MaPl or 2FePl according to the sex of the addressees
(and any other included non-speaker referent). Data in (327) are valid for at
least T-ka and R dialects.
(327) Alternative Hortative Construction
a. aeks-aet-\a-naer
eat.Imprt-MaPl.Imprt-\Dat-lPl
'Let's-MaPl eat!' [2+ persons not all female, plus speaker]
b. sekk-\a-na£Y e-wet
go.Imprt-\Dat-lPl Sg-market
'Let's go to the marketplace!' [one person plus speaker]
c. seks-mset-\a-nasT
eat.Imprt-FePl.Imprt-\Dat-lPl
'Let's-FePl eat!' [2+ females plus speaker]
This construction may have more of an imperative flavor than the type
with suffix C)-et.
7.2.5 Long imperfective system
This system includes the LoImpfP, its negation the LoImpfN, and another stem
that I call Prohibitive]. Both the LoImpfN and the Prohib are used after Neg
particle waer. The Prohib stem is similar but (except for 3FeSg subject) not
identical in form to a stripped-down version of the LoImpfP stem, with ablaut
length formative χ-pcl erased, that is used in definite relative clauses (§3.5.3).
The long imperfective stems are built from the basic form of a given verb
stem by adding the ablaut melodies and local formatives listed in (328). The
