jeff_l
(Jeff_L)
#1
324 7 Verbal morphology
local formatives in (328.d) are limited to the LoImpfP, while those in (328.b-c)
occur throughout the long imperfective system.
(328) Long Imperfective Ablaut
symbol description
a. , , or vocalic melody (dialectally also )
b. T-c2 gemination of second stem C
T-t- prefix
c. χ-f lengthening of final V
d. χ-pcl lengthening of first postconsontal V
χ-pcl accent on first postconsonantal V
For each stem, the formatives in (328.b-c) are uniform throughout the long
imperfective system. In underived stems, the two consonantal increments in
(328.b) are in essentially complementary distribution, each stem having either
T-c2 or T, but (usually) not both. As a result, there is always a difference in
consonantism between stems of the long imperfective system and all other
inflected stems of the same verb. In one verb class, the two consonantal
increments T-c2 and Τ can co-occur (for some speakers). This is the same
-vCvC- class mentioned above, with LoImpfP stems like -(t-)awwdt- 'hits'.
Here, however, the -t- prefix is optional (i.e., dialectal, or in essentially free
alternation with zero). Because 3FeSg and 2nd person subject prefix t- is
deleted before a C, 'she hits' will always appear as [t3w:a't], which can be
interpreted either as /t-t-awwat/ or as /t-awwdt/, so the difference between
stem variants -awwat- and -t-awwot- is only audible for 1st person, 3MaSg,
and 3P1 subjects.
For causative verbs with Causative prefix-s- (and variants), the prefixal C
is not compatible with Τ (-t- prefix). For these derivatives, consonantism does
not distinguish long from short imperfectives. Fortunately, the two are
distinguished by vocalism (most reliably χ-f)·
The χ-f formative in (328.c) lengthens the V of the final stem syllable.
The formatives in (328.d) occur only in the LoImpfP, and are absent from
the LoImpfN and the Prohib. The LoImpfP is therefore particularly "marked"
morphologically, more so than any other inflectable verb stem, χ-pcl
lengthens the first postconsonantal V, and χ-pcl adds a marked accent to the
same V. For purposes of calculating "first postconsonantal V," the -t- prefix (if
present) counts as part of the environment, except in the type -(t-)9wwdt-
where the -t- is optional.
The two V-lengthening features, χ-f (328.c) and χ-pcl (328.d), avoid
clashing, i.e., they cannot be implemented in adjacent syllables (except in
