388 7 Verbal morphologywould point to a basic lexical shape like PvQvC-, becoming PvQuC- (or
geminated PvQQuC-) after association of χ-f. The alternative is to take the
perfective as a separate, lexicalized stem, not directly connected (by regular
ablaut processes) to the corresponding imperfectives, or related to the
imperfectives by a partly templatic ablaut process (mapping the more variable
perfective stem onto a relatively rigid imperfective template).
Another notable feature is that perfectives of these C-initial adjectival
verbs avoid subject pronominal prefixes, not just 2nd person or 3FeSg t-
(whose absence before a C-initial stem is expected anyway), but also 3MaSg
i-, which would be easy to pronounced before a C. Both 3FeSg and 3MaSg
subjects are therefore expressed by the bare perfective stem. Perfectives with
the remaining nonzero subject prefix, 1P1 η-, are problematic; some informants
accept them (grudgingly), others favor a paraphrase with a 'be' verb and a
nominalized participle (§7.4.2). I therefore omit the usual initial hyphen in the
citation form of the perfective. Adjectival verbs like these always allow subject
suffixes (lSg, 2Sg, and all non-lst person plural categories), so the only real
neutralization with adjectival perfectives is 3MaSg with 3FeSg (neutralized to
an unmarked form interpreted as having 3Sg subject).
Avoidance of subject prefixes is noted even with a few V-initial perfective
stems if they are strongly adjectival in nature. See §7.3.2.2 for 3MaSg PerfP
ajjat 'it became many', though this verb does allow audible prefixes for other
categories. 'Be yellow' has participles like aeraev-aet without 3FeSg t-
(§7.3.1.4).
For most of these adjectival verbs, the closest approximation to a "VblN"
is really a feminine Abstractive nominal, such as t-aePPseCaeC-t or t-a-CCaCe
(§8.6.5).
I begin with cases of L perfective melody in (385). I use the term
"melody" loosely here, since it may be that the perfective stems are fully
spelled-out in the lexicon, rather than being created compositionally by ablaut.
The imperatives in (385) are all based on -!C(C)aC-, so the focus should be on
the PerfP column.
(385) Adjectival Perfective with
gloss PerfP Imprt LoImpfP VblN/Abstra. «ae α» vocalic sequence, no Γ-m
'be grey' bsehaw- Ibhaw -t-lbhaw- t-asbbaehasw-t
'be licit' hselal- Ihlal -t-ihlal- —
'be illicit' haeram- Ihram -t-ihram- —
[LoImpfP also -t-ahasram-]
'be black' ksewal- Ikwal -t-lkwal- t-askkaewasl-t
'be bad' laebas- llbas -t-llbas- t-aellsebaes-t
'be wide' haeraw- Ihraw -t-lhraw- t-ahharu-t-t