A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

570 8 Verbal derivation

Consider now the nominals with strict stem-wide in (602). The type
in (602.a) is interesting, since the initial α is part of the stem, not a vocalic
prefix. It is therefore not affected by Prefix Reducation, as in daer amaehass 'in
the dispersion', and is carried over to the PI, as in amaehses-sen 'dispersions'.
'Blink' in (602.b) has a form not very different from that of Agent/Instrument
nominals with melody (§8.12.1, above), but those nominals (if based on
V-final stems) end in α rather than in e. The pattern in 'stretched tent' (602.c)
is rather isolated.

(602) Other Nominals with Strict Melody

nominal gloss related verb and gloss

a. aCasCasC (with invariant stem-initial a)

amashaes 'dispersion' -mvhvs- 'disperse'

άη-aswael '(a) stroll' -n-vwvl- 'stroll'

[the nasal here is an irregular, frozen Mediop prefix]

b. e-CaeCasCCe (from -CvCvCCu-)

e-saefaelle '(a) blink' -svfvllu- (-t) 'blink'

c. ae-CaCCaC (from -CvCCvC-)

ae-rayray 'stretched tent' -rvyrvy- 'stretch out'

In (603) I give a number of feminine nominals ending in ...e or ...a,
probably an archaic Feminine ending, also seen in some feminine VblN
patterns (541.a-e, 562.a-c,g, 566). Some of the forms in (603) function as
secondary VblN's.

(603) Feminine Nominals with Final ...e or ...a

nominal gloss related verb and gloss

a. t-a-CuCe (from -CvCvw-)

t-a-hure 'occupation' -hvrvw- 'produce'

b. t-a-CoCe (from -vCvC-)

t-a-hodeι ι 'oath' -vhvd- 'swear'

c. t-a-CCaCa (from -vPQvC-)

t-3-rbla 'eternity' (A-grm) -ντίνΐ- 'endure'

d. t-a-CaeCCa (from -vPQvC-), see also as VblN (§8.6.1.2)

t-a-raebra 'kicking' -vrbvr- 'kick'