Tense Aspect and Mood in Idi: some preliminary thoughts Rebecca

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Tense Aspect and Mood in Idi: some preliminary thoughts Rebecca Defina, Kate Lynn Lindsey and Laura Zester

a final project for the Field Methods course taught by Nicholas Evans and Wasang Baiio at the LSA 2011 in Boulder, Colorado

4th August, 2011

In this report we will describe the different tense, aspect and mood categories that we have

evidence for distinguishing based on different forms of the Idi verb. We will describe what we

can about the forms and semantics of each category. It should be noted that this is a very

preliminary report. The names and semantic properties of each category are intended to be

indicative only. We will describe the properties of each category that we have evidence for and

the properties that we suspect, as well. We also do not yet have a full inventory of all verb forms

for each category and so our analysis and generalisations of the formal properties are also very

preliminary. In particular we have focused on transitive verbs and know fairly little about the

forms of intransitive and ditransitive verbs, except that they vary somewhat from the transitive

forms. We hope that this initial investigation will be of assistance for further investigation of the

language.

Idi is a language spoken by less than 1000 speakers in southern Papua New Guinea. It belongs

to the Pahoturi family of the South-Central Papuan languages. Until July of 2011, the Idi

language was unwritten and undocumented. To the south of where Idi is spoken is the Agöb

language and to the west lies the Nen language, a member of the Morehead-Maro family. Idi

speakers are multilingual and may speak Tok Pisin, a creole spoken throughout Papua New

Guinea and the most widely used language in the country, English, which is taught in schools,

and/or other local Papuan languages.

All the data, examples, and analyses below were collected as part of a Field Methods course

taught by Nicholas Evans and Wasang Baiio at the 2011 LSA Linguistics Summer Institute at

the University of Colorado in Boulder. The data were collected through a combination of

structured questioning and working with recorded texts.

The list of TAM categories that we have found to be distinguished in Idi are:

Tense

1.1 Remote past

1.2 Simple Past

1.3 Immediate past

1.4 Future

Aspect

2.1 Past continuous/progressive/imperfect(ive)/pluractional

2.2 Present progressive/imperfect

2.3 Habitual

2.4 Past Habitual

Defina, Lindsey, Zester Tense, Aspect, Mood of Idi

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Mood

3.1 Imperative

Adverbs

gɭ and ŋasi are adverbs that modify the certainty or possibility of the event (I don‟t think we have

sufficient evidence to suggest different verb categories for these)

Infinite verbs

Infinite verbs in minor clauses can take non-core case suffixes to modify their aspect (and

maybe mood). The allative case gives a purposive reading. The locative case gives a

progressive interpretation. The ablative gives a perfective reading. These interpretations are all

logical assuming a space to time metaphorical mapping and their spatial uses with nouns.

Key to Abbreviations

1 „1st person‟,

2 „2nd person‟,

3 „3rd person‟,

X>Y „X actor on Y patient‟,

A „Actor‟,

DIR „direct case‟,

DU „dual‟,

EXC „exclusive‟,

IPST „immediate past‟,

IN „inanimate‟,

INC „inclusive‟,

NPL, „nonplural, either

singular or dual‟,

NPST „Nonpast‟,

NSG „nonsingular, either

dual or plural‟,

P „patient‟,

PST „past‟,

PL „plural‟,

SG „singular‟

1 Tense

1.1 Remote Past

In one of the texts that Wasang told us, the Willie Wagtail story, we encountered a contrast

between gwaŋgǝsǝn „this happened a long time ago‟ and waŋgǝsǝn „this happened‟. Wasang

said that the first form referred to something that happened a very long time ago whereas the

second referred to something that happened in the past but not as far back.

We tried to elicit more forms in this remote past category but only got forms in the simple past. It

looks like there is a distinction here and that the remote past is signalled by a g- prefix but it may

only be used in quite restricted contexts, for instance setting the initial time of a narrative.

1.2 Simple Past

This tense is used for events that occurred prior to today.

1. Yebi ye-spl-ea.

1.INC.PL.A PST.IN.DU-throw-1.INC.PL>IN.DU

„We threw those two things‟


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2. Diben-a be-nɖǝg-ǝn qǝbiyege.

snake-DIR PST.3SG.P-bite-PST.3SG>SG Papuan.black.snake

„A snake bit him, a Papuan black snake.‟ (Willie wagtail story)

The forms of the verb are derived as follows:

Prefixes

Transitive Verbs with Human2 Objects

be- „3rd person singular object‟ ga- „1st or 2nd person singular object‟

ja- „nonsingular object‟

Transitive Verbs with Inanimate Objects

ye- „singular/dual object‟ je- „1st singular subject > singular object‟ ge- „plural object‟ Table 1 Past Prefixes

Object Human Objects Inanimate Objects

1 sg ga- ye-

1 exc du ja- ye-

1 excpl ge-

1 inc du ye-

1 incpl ge-

2 sg ga- ye-/ je-(1 sg subject)

2 du ja- ye-

2 pl ge-

3 sg be- ye-/je-(1 sg subject)

3 du ja- ye-

3 pl ge-

2Note that we have found different forms of the verb with human and inanimate objects. We do

not have enough evidence to say how nonhuman animates pattern. In fact when we tried to

probe this on the 2nd of August we got the same prefixes with human, nonhuman and inanimate

objects. This distinction definitely requires further investigation.


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Suffixes

Transitive Verbs with Human Objects

-ən „1st or 3rd singular > singular or dual‟

-egən „1st or 3rd singular > plural‟

-e „2nd person singular > singular or dual

-ega „2nd person singular > plural‟

-a „1st or 2nd person nonsingular subject3‟

-o „3rd person nonsingular subject‟

Table 2 simple past suffixes – human objects

subject ↓and human object→

1 sg 1 exc du

1 exc pl

1 inc du

1 incpl 2 sg/du 2 pl 3 sg/du 3 pl

1 sg -ən

-egən -ən

-egən

1 inc/exc du/pl

-a

2 sg -e -ega -e -ega -e -ega

2 du/pl -a

3 sg -ən

-egən -ən -egən -ən

-egən -ən

-egən

3 du/pl -o

3It is interesting to note that so far the 1st exclusive, inclusive and 2nd person dual and plural

forms all pattern together.


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Transitive Verbs with Inanimate Objects4

- n „1st and 3rd person singular > singular or dual‟

-ea1 „Any 2nd person, 1st inclusive (maybe also exclusive) > singular or dual‟

-eo „3rd nonsingular > singular or dual‟

-ima „1st nonsingular > nonsingular and 2nd nonsingular > plural‟

-imo „3rd person nonsingular > nonsingular‟

-en „1st singular > plural and 3rd singular > nonsingular‟

Note that this form changes the syllabification of the root so -spl- becomes -

spəlen rather than –splen

-ea2 „2nd singular > nonsingular‟

Note that this form changes the syllabification of the root so -spl- becomes -

spəlea rather than -splea

Table 3 simple past suffixes – inanimate objects

subject ↓and inanimate object →

3 sg 3 du 3 pl

1 sg - n -en

1 exc du/pl ? ? ?

1 inc du/pl -ea1 -ea1/-ima -ima

2 sg -ea1/ea2

-ea2

2 du/pl -ima

3 sg - n - n/-en -en

3 du/pl -eo

-eo/-imo -imo

1.3 Immediate Past

This tense refers to events that occurred earlier today.

3. Ŋən obom na-ko-n5 sisiri egtende.

1SG.A 3SG.P IPST.SG.P-cut-IPST.1SG>3SG now/today morning „I cut him this morning.‟

4Note that with inanimate objects we found that (with the exception of 1st person subject)

whenever the object was dual it could take either the corresponding singular or plural form. 5Note this could be a case of V+ǝn going to on or perhaps the ǝ is added in our other examples.

Because Cn appears to be an acceptable cluster we‟ll assume schwa deletion following a vowel

until we have conclusive evidence in either direction.


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4. Yebi ne-spl-ala.

1.INC.PL.A IPST.IN.SG-throw-1.INC.DU>SG

„We threw it (earlier today)‟

The forms of the verb are derived as follows.

Prefixes Transitive Verbs with Human Objects

na- „singular object‟ ña- „dual or plural object‟


ne- „1st person inclusive dual > singular‟6

Suffixes Transitive Verbs with Human Objects

-ǝn „1st and 3rd person singular > singular and dual‟ -ǝgen „1st and 3rd person singular > plural‟ -la „nonsingular 1st person and all 2nd person subject, except singular > plural‟ -egele „2nd singular > plural‟ -lo „3rd person nonsingular subject‟


-ala „1st person inclusive dual > singular‟4

Table 4: Prefixes and suffixes for the immediate past, transitive verb with human objects

Subject

1 sg 1 exc/inc

du/pl

2 sg 2 du/pl 3 sg 3 du/pl

Prefix na- ña- na- ña- na- ña-

Suffix Object 1 sg -la -ǝn -lo

1 exc du

1 exc pl -egele -la -ǝgen

1 inc du -la -ǝn

1 inc pl -egele -la -ǝgen

2 sg/du -ǝn -la -ǝn

2 pl -ǝgen -ǝgen

3 sg/du -ǝn -la -ǝn

3 pl -ǝgen -egele -la -ǝgen

6 We only have this one form with an inanimate object nesplala „You and I threw it.‟ This

indicates that there is also a separate inanimate affix series, but it requires more research.


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1.4 Nonpast

This tense is normally used to refer to events that are yet to take place. It often (but not

necessarily) occurs with the adverb gɭ. The addition of gɭ indicates less certainty about the future

occurrence of the event (example 5).

5. a. Yebi be-spl-a.

1.INC.PL.A NPST.1>IN-throw-NPST.1.NSG>IN.SG

„Shall we throw it now?‟ (questioning only the time of the throw not whether or not we

will throw it)

b. Yebi gɭ be-spl-a. 1.INC.PL.A might NPST.1>IN-throw-NPST.1.NSG>IN.SG „Shall we throw it?‟ (questioning whether or not we will throw it)

6. Dəkta gɭ obom bea-ko-n.

doctor might 3DU.P NPST.NSG.P-cut-NPST.3SG>3NPL

„The doctor intends to cut them (two).‟

We have called it a nonpast tense rather than a future because we have recently seen that it

can also be used to refer to events that are currently occurring (particularly with inanimate

objects) (example 7). As well as simply describing current events it can be interpreted as a

question “Shall we do X now?” (example 8). More work is needed to determine the real

semantic range of this category.

7. a. Benene be-spl-én.

yours NPAST.IN.SG.P-throw-NPAST.3SG>IN.SG

„S/he will throw yours.‟

b. Bo be-spl-én.

3SG NPAST.IN.SG.P-throw-NPAST.3SG>IN.SG

„He throws it (now).‟

8. a. Bi be-spl-a.

1PL NPST.3SG.P-throw-NPAST.1PL>IN.SG

„We throw it now.‟

b. Bi be-spl-a. 1PL NPST.3SG.P-throw-NPAST.1PL>IN.SG „Shall we throw it now?‟


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The forms of the verb are derived as follows. Prefixes

Transitive Verbs with Human Objects ba- „3rd person and 2nd nonsingular > 1st singular or 2nd person singular > 1st‟

bea- „nonsingular object, except 3rd person on 2nd‟

bV7- „3rd person singular object, except when subject is 2nd singular‟

na- „3rd person > 2nd person singular or 2nd person singular > 1st person singular‟

a- „3rd person > 2nd person nonsingular‟

no- „2nd person singular > 3rd person singular‟

Transitive Verbs with Inanimate Objects8

be- „1st or 3rd person subject‟

ne- „2nd person subject‟

Table 5: Prefixes for the nonpast, transitive verb with human objects

Object

→

Subject

↓

1s 1exc du/pl 1 inc du/pl 2s 2du/pl 3sg 3du/pl

1sg ba- bea- bV- bea-

1 exc du/pl

1 inc

du/pl

2sg/du/pl ba- bea-

3sg/du/pl bea- na- a-

Suffixes Transitive Verbs with Human Objects9

-o „1st and 2nd person singular > nonplural‟

-ge „1st person singular > plural‟

-ye „1st person (inclusive & exclusive) plural subject‟

-yo „2nd person nonsingular subject or 3rd person nonsingular > singular‟

-on „3rd person singular > nonplural or 3rd person nonsingular > dual‟

-gen „3rd person > plural‟

7in which V harmonizes to match the first vowel in the root 8Note that we don‟t have all the forms in this paradigm, in particular we are missing 2nd and 3rd

nonsingular subjects, but the pattern so far looks like this. See the Appendix for a full paradigm. 9 Note that we are missing the 2sg subject forms


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-ø „1st and 2nd person singular > singular‟

-e „1st and 2nd person singular > plural‟

-a „1st inclusive dual10 > singular‟

-ema „1st inclusive plural > plural‟

-én „3rd singular subject‟

Table 6: Suffixes for the nonpast, transitive verb with human objects

Object

→

Subject

↓

1s 1exc

du

1exc

pl

1 inc

du

1 inc

pl

2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3 pl

1sg -o -ge -o -ge

1 exc

du

-ye

1exc pl

1 inc

du

-ye

1 inc pl

2sg -? -?

2du -yo -yo

2pl

3sg -on -gen

-on -gen -on -gen -on -gen

3du -yo -on -yo -on -yo -on

Note that we have some examples in this tense that show that the human object affix series is used both with pronominal objects and full noun phrases (example 9).

9. a. Dəkta gɭ obom bo-ko-on. doctor might 3SG NPST.3SG.P-cut-NPST.3SG>SG/DU „The doctor will cut him.‟

b. Dəkta gɭ ʈiʈim-a bo-ko-on. doctor might girl-DIR NPST.3SG.P-cut-NPST.3SG>SG/DU

„The doctor will cut the girl.‟

10Note that it is very likely that the same form is used with the inclusive plural and the 1st person

exclusives as well but we don‟t have the examples to show it.


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2 Aspect

2.1 Past Progressive The past progressive form describes events that began some time in the past, continued over an extended period and then stopped.

10. Ŋən obom be-ko-n dən tetem.

1SG.A 3SG.P PST.3SG.P-cut-PST.1SG>3SG PROG yesterday „I was cutting him yesterday (process) for a long time.‟

11. Ged-e gopənan dən

child-DIR turned.PST PROG „The baby was continuously turning over.‟

12. Be bom ga-nɖǝg-ǝnd de.

2SG.A 1SG.P PST.1SG.P-bite.PST.PROG.? PROG

„You were biting me.‟

13. Ŋən bobom ga-nɖǝg-ǝnd dən.

1SG.A 2SG.P PST.2SG.P-bite-PST.PROG.? PROG

„I was biting you.‟

14. Bo obom be11-nɖǝg-ǝnd do.

3PL.A 3SG.P PST.3SG.P-bite-PST.PROG.? PROG „They were biting/gossiping about him.‟

15. Ŋən rogara zinbi bea-spəl-mən dən.

1SG.A thing one throw.PST. PROG

„I was throwing one thing.‟

We speculate that the forms of the verb are derived as follows: The main verb is inflected with the affixes described below. The prefixes behave quite similarly to the normal past, while the suffixes are moved to an auxiliary (de) that follows the verb. The suffix that we find on the verb appears to be a constant morpheme which signifies the progressive. The transformation from past to past progressive can be seen in Table 7, where red signifies the past prefix, blue signifies the root, green signifies the past suffix and black denotes the progressive morpheme.

11Note that this „be‟ has also been transcribed as „ba‟. The „be‟ follows the paradigm so we have

put it here as „be‟ but it is possible that there is also a different „ba‟ form.


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Table 7: Morphological transformation of the verb from Past to Past-Progressive

Translation Past Past-Progressive Translation

„you bit me‟ a. be bom ganɖǝge g. be bom ganɖǝgǝnd de „you were biting me‟

„you (DU/PL) bit me‟

b. be (komblebe/ʈaebibi) bom ganɖǝga

h. be (komblebe/ʈaebibi) bom ganɖǝgǝnd da

„you (DU/PL) were biting me‟

„I bit you‟ c. ŋən babom ganɖǝgən i. ŋən babom ganɖǝgǝnd dən „I was biting you‟

„I bit you (two)‟

d. ŋən bibim komblebe janɖǝgən

j. ŋən bibim komblebe janɖǝgǝnd dən „I was biting you (two)‟

„I bit you (pl)‟ e. ŋən bibim ʈaebibi janɖǝgegən

k. ŋən bibim ʈaebibi janɖǝgǝnd gən „I was biting you (pl)‟

„they (all) bit him‟

f. bo ʈaebibi obom benɖǝgo

l. bo ʈaebibi obom benɖǝgǝnd do „they (all) were biting him‟

Having elicited the above verb forms, we predict the following verb pattern for the past progressive, detailed below. There are a few irregularities that illuminate the absolute necessity for future research into the exact morphology of this form. In sentences 10, 11 and 15, the progressive morpheme is transcribed as -n, -an and -ən. This could be a problem in transcription, where the final -d, predicted in our pattern is in fact part of the initial d- in the auxiliary. Sentence l. in Table 7 may be a counterexample to this phenomena, and suggest that the absence of -d in sentences 10, 11, and 15 was an error. An alternate explanation would suggest a variation in progressive morphemes according to verb. We find another irregularity in sentence l. in Table 7 with „gən‟, as the initial d- has disappeared. Further research is necessary to determine whether the „d-‟ is an underlying auxiliary, or simply a place holder when no other consonant is present. Prefixes

Transitive Verbs with Human Objects see 1.2 Simple Past and Table 1


bea- first person singular and dual exclusive and 3rd person singular ga- ge-

Suffixes with auxiliary de

Transitive Verbs with Human Objects dən „1st or 3rd singular > singular or dual‟ gən „1st or 3rd singular > plural‟ de „2nd person singular > singular or dual ga „2nd person singular > plural‟ da „1st or 2nd person nonsingular subject ‟ do „3rd person nonsingular subject‟


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Table 8 past progressive suffixes – human objects

subject ↓and human object→

1 sg 1 exc du

1 exc pl

1 inc du

1 incpl 2 sg/du 2 pl 3 sg/du 3 pl

1 sg dən gən dən gən

1 inc/exc du/pl

da

2 sg de ga de ga

2 du/pl da da

3 sg dən gən dən gən dən gən dən gən

3 du/pl do

2.2 Present progressive The Present progressive (or imperfective) describes actions which are in the process of happening, happen over a longer period of time or happen repeatedly in the present.

16. Nik bom sisiri koko nala.

Nick 1S. now cut.INF PRES.PROG „Nick is cutting me.‟

17. Bo oboobo ɖənɖəg wala.

3S.A REFL bite.INF PRES.PROG „S/he is biting herself (repeatedly).‟

However, during elicitation we have encountered the “problem” that whenever intending to elicit the present tense of verbs we received (what we called) the progressive form. That means we are not exactly sure about in which situations this form is used or how the present tense is distinguished from it. This aspect is formed as follows: The infinite form of the verb is followed by the inflected form of the auxiliary nala/y ra. As seen sentence 17, the auxiliary may change forms in other contexts, such as the reflexive. We elicited the present progressive aspect with the verb ɖənɖəg „to bite‟, which precedes the auxiliaries. The forms of the auxiliary for the present progressive are summarized in table 9 below.


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Table 9: Present progressive forms of the auxiliary nala/y ra subject ↓and human object→ 1s

1 exc du 1 exc pl

1 inc du

1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl

1s nala era eregin y ra era regin

1 exc du nalala erala erala y rala erala erala

1 exc pl nalala erala erala y rala erala erala

1 inc du y rala erala erala

1 inc pl y rala erala erala

2s nalele erele eragea yerele erele eragea

2du nalala erala erala yerala erala erala

2pl nalala erala erala yerala erala yerala12

3sg nala era eregin era eregin nala era eregin y ra era regin

3du nalalo eralo eralo eralo eralo nalalo eralo eralo yeralo eralo eralo

3pl nalalo eralo eralo eralo eralo nalalo eralo eralo yeralo eralo eralo

2.3 Habitual The habitual aspect is used to describe events that happen on a regular basis such as habits or customs.

18. Ŋən etre wataŋ dand yebdo bleme.

I yams eat AUX day plenty „I eat yams every day.‟

19. Be etre watne naŋama yebdo bleme.

You yams eat AUX day plenty

„You eat yams every day.‟

The form seems to be constructed by combining the singular or plural action form of the

infinitive with the present forms of the auxiliaries naŋam or da.

[Table of forms will follow] 2.4 Past Habitual This form describes events that happened on a regular basis in the past. We haven‟t been able to elicit enough forms to make out a pattern but from the information we have got the past habitual aspect seems to be formed with the past progressive and the particles “gdiʈe” and “bleme” meaning „used to‟ and „always‟.

20. Bo gdiʈe bleme etre watme bi dand. 3S used.to always yam eat.PL ? PST.PROG. „He used to always eat yams.‟

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We would predict this form to be erala. This may have been a mistake in elicitation.


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21. Be gdiʈe bleme etre watme bi dagmu. 2PL.incl used.to always yam eat.PL ? PST.PROG.

„We used to always eat yams.‟

22. Be idi gdiʈe bleme wata gǝtneŋdie 2S what used.to always eat PST.PROG. „What have you been used to eating always?‟

[Table of forms will follow]

3 Mood 3.1 Imperative [We will describe what we know about its uses and how it‟s often rude and the alternatives for it.] [We will describe its forms.] [A paradigm of the imperative can be found in the appendices.] 3.2 Adverbs gɭ and ŋasi [any others?]

4 Auxiliaries 4.1 yera

subject Present

1s ŋən yara

1 exc du bi yerale

1 exc pl bi yerela

1 inc du yəbi yerale

1 inc pl yəbi yerela

2s be yerele

2du be yerela

2pl be yerela

3sg bo yara

3du bo yaralo

3pl bo yera


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4.2 wala

subject Present Past

1s ŋən wala wagən

1 exc du bi waŋama/walala gwaga

1 exc pl bi waŋama gwagma

1 inc du yəbi waŋama/walala gwaga

1 inc pl yəbi waŋama gwagma

2s be walale gwege

2du be walala gwaga

2pl be waŋama gwagma

3sg bo wala gwaggen

3du bo walalo gwago

3pl bo waŋamo/waŋe gwagmo

4.3 naŋam

subject Present Past

1s ŋən naŋam

1 exc du bi naŋame

1 exc pl bi

1 inc du yəbi

1 inc pl yəbi

2s be naŋama gətneŋdie

2du be naŋame

2pl be

3sg bo naŋam gətneŋin

3du bo naŋamo

3pl bo naŋamo

5 Minor clauses: infinite verbs and nominal case

[We will give some examples to show how these work and mention the metaphorical mapping here.]

6 Summary and comments for future work [There is much to write here, and it will be sent in the next draft.]


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7. Appendices

Contents 1. Simple Past tense paradigm of ‘to bite’ ................................................................................................................................................................... 17

2. Simple Past tense paradigm of ‘to throw’ ............................................................................................................................................................... 18

3. Immediate Past paradigm of ‘to bite’ ...................................................................................................................................................................... 19

4. Past Progressive paradigm of ‘to bite’ ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20

5. Nonpast paradigm of ‘to bite’ .................................................................................................................................................................................. 20

6. Nonpast paradigm of ‘to cut/operate’ ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21

7. Present progressive paradigm of ‘to bite’ ............................................................................................................................................................... 22

8. Imperative paradigm of ‘to cut/operate’ ................................................................................................................................................................. 23


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1. Simple Past tense paradigm of ‘to bite’ TO BITE Object 1s 1 exc du 1 exc pl 1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl

Subject bom bim bim yəbim yəbim babom bibim bibim obom ubim ubim

1s ŋən ganɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgegǝn benɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgegǝn

1 exc du bi ganɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

1 exc pl bi ganɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

1 inc du yəbi benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

1 inc pl yəbi benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

2s be ganɖǝge janɖǝga1 janɖǝgega benɖǝga

2 janɖǝga

3 janɖǝgega

2du be ganɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

2pl be ganɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga benɖǝga janɖǝga janɖǝga

3sg bo ganɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn4 janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgegǝn ganɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgegǝn benɖǝgǝn janɖǝgǝn janɖǝgegǝn

3du bo ganɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo ganɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo benɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo

3pl bo ganɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo ganɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo benɖǝgo janɖǝgo janɖǝgo

*can be followed by titim

1 Pattern would predict janɖəge

2 Pattern would predict benɖəge

3 Pattern would predict janɖəge

4 Pattern would predict janɖəgegən


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2. Simple Past tense paradigm of ‘to throw’ TO THROW Object 3sg 3du 3pl

Subject one thing two things

many things

1s ŋən ye pl n je pl n ge pəlen

1 exc du bi

1 exc pl bi

1 inc du yəbi yesplea ye plea/ge pəlima ge pəlima

1 inc pl yəbi yesplea ye plea/ge pəlima ge pəlima

2s be yesplea ye plea/ge pəlea ge pəlea

2du be

2pl be yesplea ye plea/ge pəlea ge pəlima

3sg bo ye pl n ye pl n/ge pəlen ge pəlen

3du bo yespleo ye pleo/ge pəlimo ge pəlimo

3pl bo yespleo ye pleo/ge pəlimo ge pəlimo

3 pauc bo


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3. Immediate Past Paradigm of ‘to bite’ TO BITE object 1s 1 exc du 1 exc pl 1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl

subject bom bim bim yəbim yəbim babum bibim bibim obom ubim ubim

1s ŋən nanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn nanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn

1 exc du bi nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

1 exc pl bi nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

1 inc du yəbi nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

1 inc pl yəbi nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

2s be nanɖǝgle ñanɖǝgle ñanɖǝgegele nanɖǝgle ñanɖǝgle ñanɖǝgegele

2du be nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

2pl be nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla nanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla ñanɖǝgla

3sg bo nanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn nanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn nanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgǝn ñanɖǝgegǝn

3du bo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo

3pl bo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo nanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo ñanɖǝglo


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4. Past Progressive Paradigm of ‘to bite’ TO BITE Object 1s 1 exc du 1 exc pl 1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl


1s ŋən ganɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

banɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

1 exc du bi

ganɖəgənd da

janɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgend da

banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

1 exc pl bi ganɖəgənd da

janɖəgənd da

janɖəgənd da

banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

1 inc du yəbi banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

1 inc pl yəbi banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

2s be ganɖǝgǝnd de

janɖǝgǝnd de

janɖǝgənd ga

banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd ga

2du be ganɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgǝnd da

banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

2pl be ganɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgǝnd da

banɖǝgǝnd da

janɖǝgənd da

janɖǝgənd da

3sg bo ganɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

janɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

ganɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

banɖǝgǝnd dən

janɖǝgənd dən

janɖǝgənd gǝn

3du bo ganɖəgənd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

ganɖəgənd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

banɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgənd do

janɖǝgənd do

3pl bo ganɖəgənd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

ganɖəgənd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgǝnd do

banɖǝgǝnd do

janɖǝgənd do

janɖǝgənd do

*highlighted cells have been produced according to the pattern, not elicitation.

5. Nonpast paradigm of ‘to bite’

TO BITE Object 1s 1 exc du 1 exc pl

1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl


1s ŋən gɭ banɖəgo gɭ bənɖəgo gɭ beanɖəgege


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6. Nonpast paradigm of ‘to cut/operate’ TO CUT (operate) Object 1s

1 exc du 1 exc pl

1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl men

Subject bom bim bim yəbim yəbim babom bibim bibim obom obim obim la

1s ŋən bako beako beakoge boko beako beakoge

1 exc du bi bakoye beakoye beakoye bokoye beakoye beakoye

1 exc pl bi bokoye beakoye beakoye bokoye beakoye beakoye

1 inc du yəbi

1 inc pl yəbi

2s be nako noko

2du be

2pl be bakoyo beakoyo bokoyo beakoyo beakoyo

3sg bo bakon beakon beakogen beakogen nakon ñakon ñakogen bokon beakon beakogen bokonen

3du bo

3pl bo bakoyo beakon beakogen beakogen nakoyo ñakon ñakogen bokoyo beakon beakogen bokonen


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7. Present progressive paradigm of ‘to bite’ TO BITE Object 1s

1 exc du 1 exc pl

1 inc du 1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl


1s ŋən ɖənɖəg nala

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñe egin

ɖənɖəg y a

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñ egin

1 exc du bi

ɖənɖəg nalala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg y ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

1 exc pl bi

ɖənɖəg nalala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg y ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

1 inc du yəbi

ɖənɖəg y ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

1 inc pl yəbi ɖənɖəg y ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

2s be ɖənɖəg nalele

ɖənɖəg ñe ele

ɖənɖəg ñe agea

ɖənɖəg yerele

ɖənɖəg ñe ele

ɖənɖəg ñe agea

2du be ɖənɖəg nalala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg yerala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

2pl be ɖənɖəg nalala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg yerala

ɖənɖəg ñe ala

ɖənɖəg yerala

3sg bo ɖənɖəg nala

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñe egin

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñe egin

ɖənɖəg nala

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñe egin

ɖənɖəg y a

ɖənɖəg ñe a

ɖənɖəg ñ egin

3du bo ɖənɖəg nalalo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg nalalo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg yeralo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

3pl bo ɖənɖəg nalalo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg nalalo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg yeralo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo

ɖənɖəg ñe alo


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8. Imperative paradigm of ‘to cut/operate’ TO CUT (operate Object 1s

1 exc du 1 exc pl

1 inc du

1 inc pl 2s 2du 2pl 3sg 3du 3pl


2s be nako ñakoge ñakoge noko ñako ñakoge/nokone

2du be

2pl be nakon ñakon ñakon nokon ñakon ñakon

Tense Aspect and Mood in Idi: some preliminary thoughts Rebecca

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