jeff_l
(Jeff_L)
#1
7.2 Stern categories 325
causative verbs). They are both audibly implemented in trisyllabic and longer
stems, but only one is audible in non-causative mono- or bisyllabic LoImpfP
stems. A trisyllabic LoImpfP is -t-abaeraj- 'boast' from stem -bvrvj-, with first
and third V's lengthened. A bisyllabic LoImpfP, from stem -vjjvs-, is -t-ajjass-
'enter' with only the first V lengthened (not #-t-ajjas-).
In -(t-)awwat- 'hits', if we treat the optional -t- as irrelevant to the other
ablaut features, the lengthened V could theoretically be due to either χ-f or
χ-pcl, since the "first postconsonantal V" and the "V of final stem syllable"
converge. In other verb classes, χ-f (if audible at all) appears in LoImpfP,
LoImpfN, and Prohib stems, whereas χ-pcl is confined to the LoImpfP. We
should therefore be able to determine which of χ-f or χ-pcl is operative in
-(t-)awwat-, by observing whether the second V remains a full V in the Prohib
and LoImpfN stems. In war 1-t-awwit 'he does not hit' and waer t-awwat
'don't-Sg hit!', we do in fact see a full i or a, so I conclude that χ-f instead of
χ-pcl is at work in -(t-)awwät-.
Each verb type has a characteristic long imperfective melody,
observable in the LoImpfP and Prohib. (329) is organized around the melody
of the LoImpfP (rightmost column), and also shows the Shlmpf for reference.
(329) Characteristic Long Imperfective Melodies
stem shape Shlmpf LoImpfP
stem-wide melody
a. light C-final stem with no full υ
-vPPvC- -aPPaC- -t-dPPaeC-
-vPQvC- -aPQaC- -PdQQaeC-
b. light V-final stem with initial short ν and no lexical u or i
-νΡυ- /-sePi-/ /-t-dPPA-/
-νΡΡυ- /-aePPi-/ /-t-dPPA-/
-VPQD- /-aePQi-/ /-PaQQA-/
[LoImpfP dialectally /-PaQQi-/, -PdQQa-, -PaQQu-]
c. -CiCvC- and -CiCu- (fluctuate with -CaCvC-, -CaCu-)
-CiCvC- -aeCaCaeC- -t-aCaCaC-
[Shlmpf sometimes -aCiCaC-]
-CiCu- -aeCaC- -t-aCaCa-
-PiCu- (+ -t) -aePPaCae-t -t-aCaCo-t
