A Grammar of Tamashek (Tuareg of Mali)

13.1 Adverbial clauses 665

13.1.1.2 Locative preposition plus VblN for 'when ...'

Since VblN's are so productive in Tamashek, it is possible to replace many

finite adverbial clauses with locative or instrumental PP's including a VblN.

(790) a. dar "a-s-sqq

in Sg-Caus-be.cooked.VblN

'while cooking'

b. aswwsey-aev e-haed

bring.PerfP-lSgS Sg-night

[daer [dggay η ae-sahser]]

[in [bring.VblN Poss Sg-song]]

Ί spent ("brought") the night singing ("bringing song").'

13.1.1.3 'as long as ...' (with -vkkvs-)

Another construction meaning 'as long as [an activity lasts]' begins with Dem

ά and a definite relative clause beginning with MaSg demonstrative w-ά

(791.a). Alternatively, we get just ά with no further demonstrative (791.b). The

verb is -vkkvs- 'take out' (in the sense 'spend [time]'), PerfP (791.a) or Resit

(791.b-c). The 'as long as' clause may precede or follow the paired main

clause.

(791) a. i-wwihael-\a-hi

3MaSgS-pester,Reslt--0-lSg

[a w-a akkaes-aer]

[Dem Ma-Dem.Sg take.out.PerfP-lSgS]

s-dqqe-Y

Caus-be.cooked.LoImpfP- lSgS

'he pesters me as long as I am cooking.'

b. u-mar i-zzay

Neg-Fut 3MaSgS-recover.ShImpf

[ά i-kkses]

[Dem 3MaSgS-take.out.Reslt]

war i-ja "i-safr-an

Neg 3MaSgS-do.PerfN 3MaSgS-medication-MaPl

'He won't recover, as long as he hasn't taken his medicine.'