BERBER STUDIES
ISSN 1618-1425
Volume 1
Edited by
Harry Stroomer University of Leiden / The Netherlands
David Sudlow
The Tamasheq of North-East Burkina Faso Notes on Grammar and Syntax including a Key Vocabulary
2nd, revised edition
RÜDIGER KÖPPE VERLAG · KÖLN
The series Berber Studies is a linguistic and text oriented series set up to enrich our knowledge of Berber languages and dialects in general. It is a forum for data-oriented studies of Berber languages, which may include lexical studies, grammatical descriptions, text collections, diachronic and comparative studies, language contact studies as well as studies on specific aspects of the structure of Berber languages. The series will appear at irregular intervals and will com- prise monographs and collections of papers.
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Acknowledgements...... vi Abbreviations and symbols ...... vii 111 INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION...... 1111 1.1 Background ...... 2 1.2 Using the grammar ...... 6 1.3 Using a dictionary ...... 8 1.4 Changes from the first edition...... 8 222 USEFUL PHRASES ...... 9999 2.1 Greetings and leavetakings...... 10 2.2 Language learning...... 11 2.3 Coming and going ...... 12 2.4 Interjections and common phrases...... 13 2.5 Days and times...... 15 2.6 Numbers...... 16 2.7 Personal questions ...... 17 2.8 The market ...... 18 2.9 There is / there are ...... 20 2.10 Location...... 20 2.11 Sample drills...... 21 333 GRAMMATICAL NOTES ...... 23232323 3.1 Pronunciation ...... 24 3.2 Writing systems...... 31 3.3 Nouns...... 34 3.4 The possessive preposition ...... 41 3.5 Remarks on syntax...... 42 3.6 The supporting pronoun ...... 45 3.7 Directional particles ( / ) ...... 47 3.8 Demonstrative pronouns ...... 49 3.9 Verbal system – introductory comments ...... 52 3.10 Introduction to aspects ...... 53 3.11 Questions ...... 56 3.12 Negatives ...... 60 3.13 Qualifiers...... 63 3.14 Participles...... 65 3.15 Pronouns...... 68 3.16 Orders, prohibitions and injunctions...... 74 3.17 Verbal nouns...... 76 3.18 Derived verbs ...... 79 3.19 Uses of the perfective...... 82 3.20 Uses of the stative ...... 84 3.21 Uses of the imperfective ...... 86 3.22 Uses of the cursive ...... 90 3.23 Uses of the preposition ( / )...... 93
iiiiii 3.24 Uses of the conjunction and the preposition ...... 95 3.25 Uses of the particles etc. based on ...... 98 3.26 Uses of the preposition / suffix ...... 100 3.27 Uses of the preposition / conjunction ...... 102 3.28 Uses of the preposition ...... 103 444 VERB GROUPSGROUPS...... 105105105105 4.1 Classification ...... 106 4.2 Group IA1...... 112 4.3 Group IA2...... 123 4.4 Group IA3...... 127 4.5 Group IA5...... 132 4.6 Group IA7 (Tamaghit)...... 136 4.7 Group IA8 (Tamaghit)...... 139 4.8 Group IA7 (Tudalt) ...... 141 4.9 Group IA10...... 144 4.10 Group II ...... 147 4.11 Group III...... 156 4.12 Group IV – qualitative verbs...... 168 4.13 Group V ...... 175 4.14 Group XII...... 192 4.15 Group XVII...... 202 4.16 Group XVIII ...... 206 4.17 Group IA1 causative (includes IA5 and group III) ...... 208 4.18 Group IA2 causative ...... 216 4.19 Group IA3 causative ...... 218 4.20 Group IA7 causative (Tamaghit) ...... 220 4.21 Group IA7 causative (Tudalt)...... 222 4.22 Group V causative ...... 224 4.23 Group XII / XVII causative...... 225 4.24 Group XVIII causative...... 227 4.25 Seventy very useful verbs...... 228 555 KEY VOCABULARY ...... 240240240240 5.1 Basic people words...... 242 5.2 Family...... 243 5.3 People groups...... 245 5.4 Other people words...... 247 5.5 Adjectival nouns...... 248 5.6 Domestic animals ...... 251 5.7 Wild animals...... 254 5.8 Parts of the body...... 259 5.9 Health and disease ...... 265 5.10 Food ...... 268 5.11 Food preparation and storage...... 271 5.12 Craftsmen and their products...... 273 5.13 Miscellaneous objects...... 277 5.14 Things in the street...... 279
iv 5.15 Clothing and jewellery ...... 280 5.16 Trees, plants and nature ...... 282 5.17 Materials ...... 290 5.18 Religion and the supernatural ...... 292 5.19 Money, trade and gifts...... 299 5.20 Games and sport ...... 300 5.21 Abstract terms ...... 301 5.22 Directions and descriptions...... 308 5.23 Words borrowed from French...... 310 5.24 Grammatical words...... 312 5.25 Time words...... 316 5.26 Indefinite terms...... 318 5.27 Idiomatic phrases ...... 320 5.28 Proverbs...... 327 666 APPENDIX I ––– OVERVIEW OF DIALECTS ...... 330330330330 6.1 Differences between Tamaghit ( ) and Tudalt ( ) ...... 330 6.2 Western Tawellemmet (Meneka dialect) ...... 331 6.3 (Eastern) Tawellemmet (Tahoua dialect)...... 333 6.4 Tayert (Agadez region dialect)...... 334 6.5 Tadghaq (Kidal dialect) ...... 335 6.6 Timbuktoo dialect ( ) also known as Tanǝslǝmt...... 338 777 APPENDIX II ––– SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 340340340340
v Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who have helped in various ways in the completion of this book. Karl-G. Prasse, emeritus professor of Berber languages and Arabic dialects at the University of Copenhagen, who proofread the first edition and made many valuable suggestions; Professor Graham Furniss of SOAS who first encouraged me to publish this material and Prof. Dr. Harry Stroomer of Leiden and Dr. Maarten Kossmann for their input. In Burkina, Ɣusman wa-n ănhăḍ wa-n Gorăn Gorăn, my language informant, Inazăb wa-n ămănokal wa-n Udalan, the Tuareg chief, Tǝdwăl, Ǝššǝmrer, Mănafi, Adas, Idwăl, Abdullahi and many others helped me to grasp the Tamasheq language. I acknowledge also the contributions of Maurice Glover who first introduced me to the Tamasheq, Bob Loader who helped with special fonts, Viv and Chris Newman for their hospitality and my wife Nikki for her patience and support.
vi Abbreviations and symbols The following abbreviations and symbols have been used:
vii WW Western Tawellemmet dialect (Meneka) Y Tayert dialect (Agadez) Za forms and meanings thus marked belong to the ‘za’ dialect of Oudalan (also called Tudalt)
Where a verb is shown in summary form the following pattern is used: Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun 3msg imperfective cursive neg. cursive 3msg perfective stative neg. perfective E.g.: iynay <> be new vn tinya 3msg (ad) iynay itiynay wǝr itiynay 3msg ăynay ăynây wăr ăynay
viii 111 Introduction 111.1...1111 Background
Scope and methodology This book is based on several years living and working among Tamasheq (also called Tuareg) people in N.E. Burkina Faso (Oudalan province). The data has been gathered in semi-formal language lessons with a language informant in Gorom Gorom and Markoye, and through hundreds of conversations in Tamasheq in Markoye, Gorom Gorom, Beyga, Darkoy, Zigeberi, Tin Akof and elsewhere. I have also been able to visit Tessit, Gao and Meneka in Mali and Niamey, Tahoua, Tchin Tabaraden and Agadez in Niger. This grammar presents a comprehensive overview of the workings of the Tamasheq language along with a full working vocabulary. Both the dialects (Tamaghit and Tudalt) spoken in Oudalan are covered, and the varieties of pronunciation and grammar that are found among different groups and individuals are given consideration. The Tamasheq people of Oudalan have migrated there in various waves from Mali over the last 250 years. Therefore, the Oudalan dialects also broadly represent the dialects spoken in Mali, especially in the Gourma area (under the bend of the Niger River). The data presented here would be a useful reference for anyone interested in the Tamasheq language of neighbouring regions. It most closely applies to the Gossi-Gao- Meneka-Filinge-Niamey-Bankalari-Gorom-Tessit region, but is extremely close to the Tamasheq of Timbuktu-Kidal too. The Tamasheq of Tahoua-Tchin Tabaraden is relatively close to Tudalt, and the Tamasheq of Agadez-Madaoua is reasonably similar. Only the Tamasheq of Hoggar-Ajjer is so different as to make this work of little interest for its study.
What is Tamasheq? Tamasheq is the language spoken by the Tamasheq people. There are Tamasheq speakers in large numbers in Mali, Niger, Algeria and Burkina Faso and lesser numbers in Libya and Mauritania. There are migrant Tamasheq speakers in Europe, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and other places. There are between one and two million Tamasheq speakers in total, divided between several main dialects and sub-dialects. This grammar focuses on the two Tamasheq dialects spoken in N.E.Burkina Faso, which are very similar to the Tamasheq dialects of Mali. The Tamasheq people are descendants of Berber populations (herders, traders and warriors) who crossed and settled in the Sahara from the tenth century, and of the black African peoples enslaved by them who adopted their language and customs. Thus although Tamasheq speakers are mainly found in sub-Saharan Africa, the language is not at all related to the neighbouring sub-Saharan African languages. Rather it is closely related to Kabyle, Tashelhit and the other Berber languages of the Maghreb.
Origins of the Tamasheq people The North African ancestors of the Tamasheq people were probably living in Libya at the time of the Arab conquest in the late seventh century. They would have had some contact with the Phoenicean, Greek and Roman colonies of the North African coast over the centuries. Evidence for contact between the Tamasheq and pre- Islamic North African Christianity is sparse but their use of the cross in traditional
2 craft and their use of the Greek word for angel are pointers. They seem to have resisted Islam for quite some time and, possibly, their movement into the Sahara was a consequence of this. They were given the name Tuareg (sg Targui) by the Arabs, which some believe to mean ‘forsaken by God’ because of their refusal of Islam, but which probably refers to ‘Targa’ the name of the area of Libya they inhabited. By the early Middle Ages they were to be at least nominally Muslim and were later to be instrumental in bringing the message of Islam into the Sahel. The Tamasheq had moved into the Sahara by the tenth century and certainly by the fourteenth or fifteenth were in Adrar and Ayr. The Adrar group split in the late seventeenth century, with the group that was to become the ‘Iwellemmeden’ moving south. It is known that the ‘kal ataram’ conquered Timbuktu in 1787. Not long after this the ‘kal denneg’ an offshoot of ‘Iwellemmeden’ moved out of the Ansongo / Meneka region towards Tahoua, and the Oudalan crossed to the West side of the River Niger (known as the Gourma). The divergence of the language into ‘sha’ and ‘za’ dialects must be dated after the split of the late seventeenth century, but otherwise very little is known about it.
History of the Tamasheq language Tamasheq is a Berber language, Berber being one of the branches of the Afro- Asiatic (also called Hamito-Semitic) family. Current scholarship suggests that the members of this language family derive from a common parent tongue spoken in the Sahara or Upper Nile region of Africa about 8-14,000 years ago (scholars propose differing views as to time and place). This separated into six major groups, Berber, Semitic, Egyptian, Chadic, Cushitic and Omotic. The spread of people speaking each of the branch languages took Afro-Asiatic into the horn of Africa, North Africa, the lake Chad region and the Middle East. Over time the languages developed in their own ways. The common theme of many of these languages is their consonantal root system; most words being derived from a three-consonant verbal root. The root is inflected by infixed vowels, prefixes and suffixes. This timescale, although disputed, suggests that Berber was already the language of the North African coast West of Egypt by 4,000BC. As different Berber groups settled in various mountainous and desert areas from Mauritania to Western Egypt their dialects diversified. Following the Arab invasions of the seventh century Berber has been in close contact with the Arabic language and has adopted many Arabic terms into its vocabulary. Tamasheq is the Berber language the least influenced by later contact with Arabic. An informal comparison with Tashelhit shows a very similar underlying grammatical structure and a 30-40% correspondence of vocabulary. Where they differ, it is frequently because Tashelhit has adopted an Arabic term. Tamasheq has split into three major dialects which the Tamasheq themselves refer to as ‘sha’, ‘za’ and ‘ha’, or Tamasheq, Tamajeq, and Tamahaq. The Tamahaq dialect is spoken in Algeria and Libya. The two main groups are those of Hoggar and of Ajjer. These dialects are not discussed in this grammar but have been studied more than the others. The reader is referred to the work of Prasse (1972, 1973) and the famous Dictionnaire Touareg-Francais of Charles de Foucauld. Tamajeq refers to the dialects spoken in Niger, as well as the dialect of Meneka, Mali of which Tudalt is an offshoot. The Niger dialects are Tayert ( ) of the region around Agadez and Tawellemmet ( ) of the region around Tahoua. The Meneka dialect is called
3 Western Tawellemmet ( ). I have designated the ‘za’ dialect of Oudalan Tudalt ( ). Tudalt has undergone a certain degree of recent assimilation to Tamaghit. The remaining dialects of Mali are both ‘sha’ dialects. There is a certain amount of difference between the dialect of Timbuktu and that of the Kidal–Gao–Oudalan corridor. The Timbuktu dialect is called Taneslemt ( ) and shows a greater degree of Arabic influence. The Kidal dialect is called Tadghaq ( ). I have used the term Tamaghit ( ) to describe the ‘sha’ dialect of Oudalan, which is very similar to Tadghaq. The differences are discussed in Appendix I. Tamasheq people in Oudalan tend to speak either the Tamaghit or the Tudalt dialect, but many (especially in towns) now speak a jumbled fusion of the two. There are also differences within the two dialects between different clans as to minor details of pronunciation and grammatical structure and especially as to choice between synonyms for various things. These vary so much between individual speakers depending on their life history that they have not been analysed in detail here, rather what is presented is a broad overview of how most people speak Tamasheq in the region. Examples are given of the extremes of Tamaghit and Tudalt pronunciation, whereas an individual speaker might combine elements of both in the same phrase or even in the same word.
Lifestyle We know little of the lifestyle of the ancestors of the Tamasheq in Libya. The move into the desert defined many elements of Tamasheq lifestyle and culture that are relevant today. The tent became the preferred dwelling, as mobility is important in a harsh environment. The turban – indispensable in the desert – became culturally indispensable as well. Camels became the most important domestic animal. A simplicity of lifestyle essential to desert living became the norm, with Arab tea being one of the few luxuries. In the oasis, hartanis were made to grow crops. As Islam became established, teachers and clans of teachers emerged. As household items, tools and weapons were needed, craftsmen joined the group, often from neighbouring peoples. As the Tamasheq crossed the desert into the Sahel, sheep and goats became important alongside the camel. Slaves were more easily procured in this more populated zone, and these retained their traditional farming skills, if not their original languages.
The class / caste system Tamasheq society is divided into several classes or castes. At the top are ‘the nobles’ who were the rulers and owners. They made their living by raiding and by exacting tribute from subordinate groups. Next come the ‘religious teachers’ also known as or These too did no manual work, but lived by the tithes and offerings of those they taught. Next in status are the ‘the herders / vassals’, owning their own herds of camels, sheep and goats and looking after those of the nobles and the religious class. These clans were subject to the nobles, not having the right to bear arms, and paid tribute to them, but could look to them for protection from other clans. Among each of the other groups lived ‘the craftsmen’, working metal, wood and leather. The mysteries of their profession were passed from father to son and mother to daughter. Finally ‘the slaves’, known as ‘Bellah’ in French (from the Songhay
4 term for them), raided from neighbouring peoples or inherited; these did all the heavy work, gathering wood and water, and growing crops. Each of these groups only married within itself. In reality this classification represents an idealised state of affairs and there is significant evidence of movements of status over time. There are many groups of independent for instance, some of whom are close to in social position.
The modern world There have been major changes to Tamasheq society in the last 100 years. The colonisation by the French brought the nobles for the first time into subjection to a foreign power. Independence divided the Tamasheq into several states, ruled by Arabs or black Africans. The abolition of slavery fundamentally changed the fabric of Tamasheq society. The great droughts of the 70’s and 80’s decimated the herds and flocks and for many spelt an end to the traditional lifestyle. Economic migration (both short- term and long-term), to Abidjan (all groups), Mecca (mainly, but not exclusively noble groups), other cities and artisanal gold mines such as Essakan near Markoye (mainly Bellah) has become a fact of life. This has brought about a great deal of social upheaval. The spread of AIDS is now a major issue in Tamasheq society.
History of Oudalan The Tamasheq first came into what is now Burkina Faso about 250 years ago. The first arrivals were two weak groups, the Iberzaz and the Kel Ewel who came to the area to escape from an group who had attacked in the Niger delta region and chased them beyond Hombori. These groups settled around Aribinda, and are now found in the West of Oudalan province around Deou. They have mixed somewhat with the sedentary Fulani of the area. The Oudalan allied with other noble clans (Alkasseybaten, Zinge, and Idamosan) themselves arrived towards the end of the XVIII th century. In 1827, they defeated the Fulani Empire of Liptako in their struggle for what is now the province of Oudalan, the province being named after the leading Tuareg clan. The chief installed his tent at Beyga, which is still the centre for the traditional Tuareg chiefdom. Since then several other Tamasheq clans have migrated into the region from Mali, mainly groups and groups who had fled harsh conditions in Mali to come under the more benign sovereignty of the Oudalan. These lived as independent farmers and herders but paid tribute to the Oudalan and could be called on to fight in times of war. These clans all speak the ‘Tamaghit’ dialect. There are now about 60,000 Tamasheq speakers in Oudalan province (25,000 elsewhere in Burkina). The majority of these (80-90%) speak the Tamaghit dialect. Most of the rest speak the Tudalt dialect also described in the following pages. The Alkasseybaten speak Tamaghit, but also their own language that seems to be an amalgam of Tamasheq and Songhay. It is very possible that they are related to the Dawsahak of Mali.
OudalaOudalann Today The province of Oudalan has a population of about 140,000, roughly half of which are Tamasheq. The rest are mainly Fulani or Songhay with a few Arabs, Hausa and Mossi. The French made Gorom Gorom the administrative capital and it remains the major town. Other towns include Markoye, traditionally the most important
5 market, and Tin Akof, originally a nomadic encampment near what is now the Mali border. The other languages of the region have an influence on the Tamasheq and there are a number of borrowed words.
Bilingualism Only a small percentage of Tamasheqs speak Tamasheq exclusively. The vast majority speaks at least one other language with varying degrees of proficiency. The other languages spoken vary a great deal between areas. In Algeria, Northern Mali and Northern Niger it is Arabic that dominates. Elsewhere in Niger, it is Hausa. Elsewhere in Mali it is Songhay. French is spoken by many who live in towns. In Oudalan Tamasheqs may speak Fulfulde, Songhay, Hausa, Arabic (from Quranic education or through links with Hassaniya clans), French (from school), Dioula (from Abidjan), Moore (from Ouaga), even English (from Ghana / Nigeria) depending on where they have lived within the province and outside. In the West of Oudalan Fulfulde is very widely spoken, whereas in Markoye many Tamasheqs speak Hausa. Religious clans often speak Arabic.
The Tamasheq language and Arabic Tamasheq has a complex relationship with Arabic. Berber and Semitic stem from a common parent tongue but separated at least 6,000 years ago. Tamasheq and Arabic came into contact again after the Islamic conquest of North Africa in the seventh century, and so have had more than a thousand years of recent contact. The primitive link is seen in the similarity of their phonetic systems and in the verbal system based on (usually three) root consonants, modified by vocalisation and auxiliary consonants. The preferred word order of ‘verb-subject-object’ is also part of their shared inheritance. However, Tamasheq differs from Arabic in many fundamental ways. The details of the verbal systems are very different. Tamasheq does not have a definite article and forms the genitive by use of a preposition ‘n’. Only a small number of words can be thought of as being cognate due to common ancient origin (e.g. ‘water’ cf Arabic ). The vast majority of Tamasheq words are based on a different root than the equivalent Arabic term – notably basic vocabulary words such as numbers and parts of the body. The large number of Tamasheq words that are related to Arabic terms are recent (last 1,000 years) borrowings. They fall into three main groups: 1) Religious vocabulary 2) Technology 3) Specialist and abstract terms. Often Tamasheq has created for itself an abstract or specialist term by taking a rather concrete Arabic term and using it in a restricted way. This is similar to the way English has borrowed technical vocabulary from Latin and Greek. There is no evidence of a slowing down of this tendency and the number of Arabic words in everyday use in Tamasheq is increasing. However, of all Berber languages, Tamasheq remains the least influenced. 111.1...2222 Using the grammar This grammar is aimed at two groups of people: a) Linguists, seeking an description of Tamasheq as spoken in NE Burkina which they can compare with descriptions of other dialects in other works.
6 b) Those aiming to learn Tamasheq in order to speak with Tamasheq people. This group includes anthropologists and development workers. For the first group Sections 3 and 4 are most important, as is Appendix I. Some of the simplifying terminology does a disservice to this group as it deviates from standard (and more precise linguistic terms). These simplifications make the work more accessible to the non-specialist, while the specialist can easily mentally substitute the technical terms. On the other hand, the grammatical material is not presented in a specifically pedagogical manner as this approach generally leads to an incomplete description (or a very long work) and would be much less useful to linguists. For language learners who are able to find a Tamasheq-speaking language helper, the grammar will be used in a different way. It is primarily a reference tool which will help you understand the expressions you come across in your language lessons and in day to day life and learn to use them confidently. For this group, Section 2 is of special interest initially, as it will help you to get started. It is recommended that this grammar be used in conjunction with some kind of structured system of language learning. The grammatical notes and especially the verb groups will help you to understand what you learn in your lessons and to construct drills. The verb lists in Section 4 group together verbs that conjugate in the same way to facilitate learning the patterns. Section 5 presents the vocabulary of everyday life according to context. It is very important to use what you learn. Practice and visiting are the keys to this. It is in spending time with Tamasheq people that you will practise what you know and become aware of what you want to learn. For effective communication, good pronunciation is vital. Accurate pronunciation (including ‘natural’ rhythm and stress) is more important than accurate grammar for effective communication. Cassette exercises – taping useful phrases and repeating them over and over – are a key to good pronunciation.
Semantic overlap English translations are given for many Tamasheq words and phrases. Care must be taken in using these. The English equivalents are only an approximation to the Tamasheq, especially where single words or short phrases are concerned. For many terms the semantic overlap is far from complete. The Tamasheq term may need to be translated by other English terms depending on the context in which it is used, and similarly may not be a suitable equivalent to the English term in its full width of usage. For the language learner time and practice in hearing Tamasheq used will help to establish the semantic range of each term. Special care should be taken with prepositions where Tamasheq and English function very differently. Qualifiers too work very differently in Tamasheq than the English system of adjectives and adverbs. Idiomatic translation one way or the other will often require a reordering of thought pattern to get the correct syntax. Similarly, with the verbal system it will often be necessary to think differently to express an English time-oriented verbal construction where context and auxiliary words express the quality of the action, to a Tamasheq quality-of-action orientated construction where time is indicated by context.
7 111.1...3333 Using a dictionary Like Semitic languages (Arabic, Hebrew …) Tamasheq is based on root consonants. Dictionaries, such as the three editions of Prasse’s dictionary of Niger Tamajeq, list words under their root consonants rather than simply alphabetically. Thus ‘learn’ is listed under LMD along with all other words based on this root, e.g.: ǝlmǝd Learn sǝlmǝd Cause to learn / teach enăsselmǝd Teacher alămad Learning When looking for a word it is important to see the root consonants, stripping away the prefixes and suffixes and ignoring the vowels. Once the set has been found you can then look in it for the particular word. Note that verbs are always listed as the singular imperative. The best dictionary currently available is Prasse’s two volume 2003 edition. This covers the ‘za’ dialects. For Tamaghit it is less useful. However, it can still be used to good effect if certain rules of thumb are tried. A Tamaghit word with ‘š’ in it may be found listed with ‘z’ or ‘ž’ in its place. If the Tamaghit word had a ‘h’, this may be omitted in the Tudalt equivalent. The vocalisation may vary. Tamaghit ‘ǵ’ is equivalent to Tudalt ‘g’. With these rules, it will be found that equivalent terms to 90% of Tamaghit words are listed. About 60% of words are identical. For Tamaghit it is better to use Heath’s 2006 dictionary of Malian Tamasheq.
111.1...4444 Changes from the first edition The most striking change from the first edition of this grammar is that the ‘sha’ dialect of Oudalan is no longer referred to as Tadghaq ( ) but as Tamaghit ( ). While Tamaghit is very close to Tadghaq, there are sufficient differences to warrant making the distinction. These are dealt with in Appendix I. The other major change is the more detailed separation of Tamaghit and Tudalt. In many cases where there was only a small difference of pronunciation, the first edition gave only the Tamaghit form. Here both forms are given in all cases. It should, however, be borne in mind that Tamaghit and Tudalt as given here represent to some extent the ‘extremes’ of pronunciation in Oudalan and that many speakers (especially in towns) will use elements of both. A number of corrections have been made to the material presented in the first edition. The ‘short form of the cursive’, which exists in Tamaghit but not in Tudalt, has been more extensively noted. Some vocabulary has been removed as being uncommon or belonging to other dialects, while other terms common locally have been added. Various minor errors have been corrected and a section on common interjections and short set phrases has been added.
8 222 Useful Phrases
9 222.2...1111 Greetings and leavetakings Section 3.1 ‘pronunciation’ should be read before using these texts. Ideally, a native speaker should be consulted for the exact pronunciation.
Greetings When a man joins a group of men, he will begin with the Arabic greeting: ăssălam ăɣlekum ! (or sǝlam ăɣlekum !) To which the reply is: ăɣlekum ăssălam ! After that, he begins Tamasheq greetings. (With women, one begins with these.) Here are a few examples, there are many others: ma dăr tǝnsed ? How did you sleep? ma dǝr tǝnsed ? How did you sleep? ma dăr tolăhăd ? How are you? ma dǝr toled ? How are you? ma tăxlâkăd ? How are you? ma tǝxallăkăd ? How are you? man-ăwen-nak ? How are you doing? tăgoḍăyăm ? Are you (pl) thankful? tǝggoḍăyăm ? Are you (pl) thankful? ălɣăyal ma dăr olăh ? How is the family? ăytedăm-năwăn ma dǝr olăn ? How are your people? aratăn-năk ma dăr olăhăn ? How are your children? (to a man) bărarăn-năk ma dǝr olăn ? How are your children? (to a man) aratăn-năm ma dăr olăhăn ? How are your children? (to a woman) bărarăn-năm ma dăr olăn ? How are your children? (to a woman) kăyy d-ăsămeḍ ? You and the cold? (to a man) kăyy d-ălmăẓ ? You and the sunset? (to a man) kăy d-ǝlmǝẓ ? You and the sunset? (to a man) To all these, and any others, the reply is always: ălxer ɣas ! Peace only! / Fine! You may also hear: ălxer ɣas tǝbarăk aḷḷah Fine, thanks! ălxămdǝllillay Praise to God! nămôy e-Măssinăɣ We thank God!
Leavetakings bismilla In the name of God (This is said before doing any new thing.) ǝgleɣ I am leaving nǝkla bani (May) we pass the day in peace nǝkla (dăɣ) ălxer (May) we pass the day in peace nǝnsa bani (May) we pass the night in peace nǝnsa (dăɣ) ălxer (May) we pass the night in peace tăhulăd-in ălɣăyal Greet the family tǝhulăd-in ăytedăm-năwăn Greet the family
10 222.2...2222 Language learning The following phrases will be useful in beginning to talk to people.
Basic phrases lammădăɣ Tămašăq I’m learning Tamasheq lammădăɣ Tǝmažǝq I’m learning Tamajeq iket ǝssǝntăɣ I’ve just started iket ǝssǝntăɣ alămad-ǝnnes I’ve just started learning it iket ǝssǝntăɣ alămad-nes I’ve just started learning it ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq hullen I want to learn Tamasheq well ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq hullen I want to learn Tamajeq well măǵrăd sollan sollan Speak slowly măgrăd sollan sollan Speak slowly
Building vocabulary ma-môs awa ? What is it? (From: ma ămôs awa ?) ma-ymôs awa ? What is it? (From: ma imôs awa ?) m-isǝm-ǝnnes awa ? What is that called? (From: ma isǝm-ǝnnes awa ?) m-isǝm-nes awa ? What is that called? (From: ma isǝm-nes awa ?) m-isǝm-ǝnnes dăɣ Tămašăq ? What is it called in Tamasheq? m-isǝm-nes dăɣ Tǝmažǝq ? What is it called in Tamajeq? ma tǝǵed ? What are you doing? ma tǝged ? What are you doing? m-isǝm-ǝnnăk ? What is your name? m-isǝm-năk ? What is your name? ma tăšăɣalăd ? What work do you do? ma tašăɣalăd ? What work do you do?
Advanced as ǝmtăllăɣ sǝsseɣǝdăd-ahi If I make a mistake correct me as mătăllăɣ sǝssiɣǝdăd-i If I make a mistake correct me wǝr ǝsleɣ awa tǝnned I didn’t hear what you said wǝr ǝsleɣ hullen I didn’t hear well wǝr ǝfhemăɣ I didn’t / don’t understand wǝr ǝǵrehăɣ I didn’t / don’t understand wǝr ǝgreɣ I didn’t / don’t understand wǝr ǝǵrewăɣ făhăm I didn’t / don’t understand wǝr ǝgrewăɣ făhăm I didn’t / don’t understand lăɣăt-ahi ma tăǵǵăd s-awa Tell me what you do with that lăɣăt-i ma taggăd s-awa Tell me what you do with that lăɣăt-ahi ǝššǝɣǝl-ǝnnăk Explain to me your work lăɣăt-i ǝššǝɣǝl-năk Explain to me your work
11 222.2...3333 Coming and going These questions form a big part of daily life: mi tǝkkêd ? Where are you going? ǝkkêɣ hebu I’m going to market mi tǝkked dăɣ tifawt-i ? Where did you go this morning? mi tǝkked dăɣ tufat-a ? Where did you go this morning? ǝkkeɣ tiwgas I went to the fields ǝkkeɣ tiwǝgas I went to the fields mi dǝt-tǝfălăd? Where have you come from? ǝfălăɣ-id ehăn I’ve come from home ǝfălăɣ-dǝd ehăn I’ve come from home ǝfălăɣ-id Onlăter I come from England mǝnǵǝdu dǝt-tosed ? When did you come here? ǝmme dǝt-tosed ? When did you come here? ašăl wa-n hebu a dd-oseɣ I came on market day azǝl wa-n hebu a dd-oseɣ I came on market day Dăwda os-id meɣ ? Has Dawda come? Dăwda os-ăddǝd meɣ ? Has Dawda come? harwa ! Not yet! hărwa ! Not yet! wăr d-osa harwa He has not come yet wǝr d-osa hărwa He has not come yet os-îd He has already come os-âddǝd He has already come ašǝkka a-dd-as Tomorrow he will come ažăkka a-dd-asu Tomorrow he will come inšăḷḷah God willing inăftăɣăn-năwăn osăn-id meɣ ? Have your visitors come? inăftăɣăn-năwăn osăn-dǝd meɣ ? Have your visitors come? făw wăr d-osen harwa No, they haven’t come yet făw wǝr d-osen hărwa No, they haven’t come yet mǝnǵǝdu ma-dd-asăn When will they come? ǝmme za-dd-asin When will they come? wǝr ǝssenăɣ I don’t know ad ăkkăɣ Gorăn Gorăn I’m going to go to Gorom mǝnǵǝdu ma-dǝt-tăqqǝlăd ? When will you come back ǝmme za-dǝt-tǝqqǝlăd ? When will you come back ihâ miši ašǝkka Maybe tomorrow ihâ miži ažăkka Maybe tomorrow meɣ ašăl wann ǝlitni Or Monday meɣ azǝl wann ǝlitni Or Monday
12 222.2...4444 Interjections and common phrases iyya Yes ewăḷḷa Yes kăla kăla No făw / few No ăbo / băbo No băriš OK / alright (Expresses weak agreement.) inšaḷḷa God willing bismilla Welcome / begin … (lit. ‘In the name of God …’, said to welcome someone, to invite someone to begin eating, before starting anything new and before leaving.) amina Amen / may it be so (Said in response to blessings.) ălxer ăǵǵên Thank you ălxer ăggên Thank you tanǝmmert Thank you (This last is Tawellemmet and is understood but rarely used in Oudalan.) ăhûskăt That is good ihôṣṣăy That is good iknâ That is good wăr ăhuskăt That is not good wǝr ihoṣṣăy That is not good wǝr ikna That is not good ibrâr That is not good iǵâr That is not good tidǝt It is true / that is right tidǝt-ǝnnăk You are right tidǝt-năk You are right wăḷḷahi In God’s name (it is true) bahu That is not true bahu-nnăk You are wrong / lying ănš-ahi-d Forgive me surǝf-i-dǝd Forgive me ănš-ahi-dd ălxăqq-ǝnnăk Forgive me surǝf-i-dǝd ălxăq-năk Forgive me i măqqărăn You are forgiven (lit. ‘He is great’) ăḷḷahu ăkbar God is great (Said in response to hearing of a death, and other shocking events.) aywa So / well then iyyăw Come
13 iyyăw diha Come here iyyăw da Come here ɣăym Sit down ɣam Sit down šǝnkǝš-in Move up zǝnkǝz-in Move up alkăs da Here is a glass (of tea) ărmǝs-ti Take it abǝẓ-tăy Take it ăẓêd It is good (tastes nice) iẓôḍ it is good (tastes nice) ăkkûs It is (too) hot ikkûs It is (too) hot ǝyyǝwănăɣ I’m full iket ǝkšeɣ I’ve just eaten ǝndek-ki ăhalǝs-ǝnnăm ? Where is your husband? ǝndek-ke alǝs-năm ? Where is your husband? izgâr He has gone out / he is out igla He (just) left imâl-id He is just coming izây-dǝd He is just coming ǝgǝl Go away ăglu Go away săkn-ahi Show me săkn-i Show me ăyy-e Leave it alone soɣǝl-ti (edăgg-ǝnnes) Put it back (in it’s place) suɣǝl-tăy (edăg-nes) Put it back (in it’s place) awi-dd Bring (it) here zubbǝt Get down zăbbăt Get down eɣăf I can’t believe it iqqăn eɣăf-in I can’t believe it xăy Ouch xay Ah (of pleasure / relief) xa Humph eqq Rubbish
14 222.2...5555 Days and times
Days of the week Tamaghit Tudalt Monday ašăl wann ǝlitni azǝl wann ǝlitni Tuesday ašăl wann ăttălata azǝl wann ăttănata Wednesday ašăl wann ăllarba azǝl wann ănarba Thursday ašăl wann ălxămis azǝl wann ǝlxǝmis Friday ašăl wann ălžumaɣăt azǝl wann ǝlžămaɣăt Saturday ašăl wann ǝssǝbǝt azǝl wann ǝssǝbǝt Sunday ašăl wann ălxăd azǝl wann ălxăd
Months The names of the months (French or Islamic) are rarely used, but reference is often made to the moon, e.g.: ăyor wa dd-imâlăn ad ăkkăɣ Waɣa Next month I will go to Ouaga tallit ta tǝzâyăt ad ăkkăɣ Waɣa Next month I will go to Ouaga ăyor wa okâyăn ǝkkeɣ Nyăme Last month I went to Niamey tallit ta tokâyat ǝkkeɣ Nyăme Last month I went to Niamey as ăyor-i ămmut ad ăsakălăɣ At the end of this month I’ll travel as tallit-a tǝmmut ad ǝššikǝlăɣ At the end of this month I’ll travel (lit. ‘When this moon dies I will travel’)
Seasons ɣarat Harvest ǝs-ɣarat At harvest time tagrǝst Cold season ǝs-tǝgrǝst In cold season ăwelăn Hot season s-ăwelăn In hot season akăsa Wet season s-ăkăsa In rainy season
Other times ašăl-i ad ăkkăɣ hebu Today, I will go to market azǝl-a ad ăkkăɣ hebu Today, I will go to market ănḍǝšel, ǝkkeɣ Gorăn Gorăn Yesterday, I went to Gorom ǝnḍazǝl, ǝkkeɣ Gorăn Gorăn Yesterday, I went to Gorom ašǝkka, ad ăkkăɣ hebu Tomorrow, I will go to market ažăkka, ad ăkkăɣ hebu Tomorrow, I will go to market ašăl-ăndin The day before yesterday azǝl-ǝndin The day before yesterday
Weeks are expressed by counting markets, e.g.: dăɣ ǝssin hebutăn ad ăkkăɣ Waɣa In two weeks (markets) I’m going to Ouaga dăɣ ǝššin hebutăn ad ăkkăɣ Waɣa In two weeks (markets) I’m going to Ouaga
15 222.2...6666 Numbers Numbers up to nineteen vary with gender in Tamasheq: masculine feminine ǝyyăn ǝyyăt One ǝssin sănatăt Two ǝššin sănatăt Two kăraḍ kăraḍăt Three ǝkkoẓ ǝkkoẓăt Four sǝmmos sǝmmosăt Five săḍis săḍisăt Six sǝḍis sǝḍisăt Six ǝssa ǝssayăt Seven ǝttam ǝttamăt Eight tăẓa tăẓayăt Nine măraw mărawăt Ten E.g. măraw meddăn ǝd-tăẓa Nineteen men mărawăt taraben d-ǝkkoẓăt Fourteen arab women sănatăt tǝmărwen Twenty sănatăt tǝmǝrwen Twenty (lit. ‘Two tens’) kăraḍăt tǝmărwen ǝd sǝmmos Thirty-five kăraḍăt tǝmǝrwen ǝd sǝmmos Thirty-five temeḍe One hundred sănatăt tǝmaḍ Two hundred efăḍ One thousand kăraḍ afḍăn Three thousand Up to ten the number usually follows the noun, e.g.: imnas ǝkkoẓ Four camels The number ten can precede the noun with any units following, e.g. măraw ǝmnas d-ǝttam Eighteen camels imnas măraw d-ǝttam Eighteen camels Numbers over twenty are expressed using ‘n’ and the g noun, with any part below twenty following, e.g.: kăraḍăt tǝmărwen n-ǝmnǝs Thirty camels (lit. ‘Three tens of camel’) kăraḍăt tǝmaḍ ǝd Three hundred and sǝmmosăt tǝmărwen n-ǝmnas d-ǝssa fifty-seven camels kăraḍăt tǝmaḍ ǝd Three hundred and sǝmmosăt tǝmǝrwen n-ǝmnas d-ǝssa fifty-seven camels sǝmmosăt tǝmaḍ n-ǝmnǝs Five hundred ǝd măraw d-ǝyyăn and eleven camels (lit. ‘Five hundreds of camel and ten and one’)
16 222.2...7777 Personal questions m-isǝm-ǝnnăk ? What is your name? (to a man) m-isǝm-ǝnnăm ? What is your name? (to a woman) m-isǝm-ǝnnes ? What is his / her / it’s name? isǝm-in Dăwda My name is David isǝm ǝn-ta Măryama The name of that one is Maryama m-isǝm-năk ? What is your name? (to a man) m-isǝm-năm ? What is your name? (to a woman) m-isǝm-nes ? What is his / her / it’s name? isǝm-in Dăwda My name is David isǝm ǝn-ta Măryama The name of that one is Maryama (In Tudalt the Tawellemmet form may also be heard.) man-iket elăn-nes ? How old is he / she / it? man-iket elan-nes ? How old is he / she / it? ila kăraḍ elăn He is three ila kăraḍ elan He is three (lit. ‘He has three years’) tădôbănăd meɣ ? Are you married / engaged? iyya, ădôbănăɣ Yes, I am married făw, wăr ădobănăɣ harwa No, I am not yet married tǝzlâfăd meɣ ? Are you married / engaged? iyya, ǝzlâfăɣ Yes, I am married făw, wǝr ǝzlefăɣ hărwa No, I am not yet married man-iket aratăn-năk ? How many children do you have? man-iket bărarăn-năk ? How many children do you have? ǝlêɣ ǝkkoẓ I have four (It is not good to ask a woman this, as it is tantamount to asking how many have died – you can see the living ones.) m-isǝm-ǝnnes tawset-năwăn ? What is your clan called? m-isǝm-nes tawšet-năwăn ? What is your clan called? ǝndek diha tǝzzăɣăd ? Where do you live? ǝndek da tǝzzăɣăd ? Where do you live? ǝzzăɣăɣ siha I live over there ǝzzăɣăɣ sa I live over there (It is correct to indicate with one’s chin not to point.) ti-k ǝd ma-k ǝddârăn meɣ? Are your father and mother alive? (In Tudalt is occasionally replaced by .) abba ăba-ti My father has died abba-nin ăba-tăy My father has died (lit. ‘Father, it lacks him’) anna tǝddâr harwa My mother is still alive anna-nin tǝddâr hărwa My mother is still alive ǝndek diha tǝzzăɣ ? Where does she live? ǝndek da tǝzzăɣ ? Where does she live?
17 tǝhâ Onlăter She is in England ma-mos ǝššǝɣǝl-ǝnnăk ? What is your work? ma-ymos ǝššǝɣǝl-năk ? What is your work? tamăḍint a tăǵǵăɣ I’m a shepherd tamǝḍint a taggăɣ I’m a shepherd (lit. ‘Shepherding, that I do’) tăhôǵăd dăɣ Mărkoy meɣ ? Have you been in Markoye long? tǝhôgăd dăɣ Mărkoy meɣ ? Have you been in Markoye long? ǝweɣ diha-dăɣ I was born here ǝhǝwăɣ da-dăɣ I was born here ǝǵeɣ kăraḍ orăn I have been here three months ǝgeɣ kăraḍăt tǝlil I have been here three months ad tăhaǵăd diha meɣ ? Are you going to stay here long? ad tihagăd da meɣ ? Are you going to stay here long? wǝr ǝssenăɣ ! I don’t know!
222.2...8888 The market tosed-id făl hebu meɣ ? Have you come for the market? ma tǝwwăyăd-id ǝs-hebu ? What have you brought to market? tisǝd-id hebu kul meɣ ? Do you come every week? tosed-dǝd făl hebu meɣ ? Have you come for the market? ma tewăyăd-dǝd ǝs-hebu ? What have you brought to market? tasăd-dǝd hebu kul meɣ ? Do you come every week? ma tărhed ? What do you want? ărhêɣ ad šănšăɣ ătay d-ăssukăr I want to buy tea and sugar ma tǝred ? What do you want? ǝrêɣ ad ăzzănzăɣ ătay d-ǝssukǝr I want to buy tea and sugar ma-s tămmăɣăd ? What are you looking for? ǝmmâɣăɣ e-tafăɣăt I’m looking for rice ma (tǝ)gammăyăd ? What are you looking for? ǝgmâyăɣ tafăɣăt I’m looking for rice ma šănšed ? What are you buying / selling? šanšeɣ-in enăle I’m selling millet ma zanzăd? What are you buying / selling? zanzăɣ-in enăle I’m selling millet šănš-e ! Buy it! kăla kăla wăr t-ărheɣ ! No I don’t want it wăr hiy-igreẓ I don’t like it zănz-e ! Buy it! kăla kăla wǝr t-ǝreɣ ! No I don’t want it wǝr diy-igreẓ I don’t like it (lit. ‘It doesn’t please me’) Prices are always given in multiples of 5 CFA, which is the smallest coin in general use in the local currency, e.g.:
18 awa man-iket ? How much is that? katǝbi ǝyyăn One 5 CFA piece sănatăt tǝmărwen (ǝn-katǝbităn) Twenty (5 CFA pieces) i.e. 100 CFA sănatăt tǝmǝrwen (ǝn-katǝbităn) Twenty (5 CFA pieces) i.e. 100 CFA măraw 50 CFA efăḍ 5,000 CFA kăraḍ 15,000 CFA ( is implied) sănatăt 100 CFA or 1,000 CFA (The value depends on whether or is implied.) kăraḍăt tǝmaḍ ǝd sănatăt (tǝmărwen) 1,600 CFA Repetition indicates price per item, e.g.: man-iket man-iket ? How much are they each? katǝbi katǝbi awa They are 5 CFA each sǝmmos sǝmmos 25 CFA each kăraḍăt kăraḍăt 150 (or 1,500) CFA each ălbarăka No thanks! ǝfnăẓ aẓrǝf-ǝnnes Reduce the amount! ǝfnǝẓ aẓrǝf-nes Reduce the amount! ăṣṣôhăt hullen ! It is very expensive (hard)! iṣṣôhăt hullen ! It is very expensive (hard)! ăẓẓûwwăt ! It is expensive! iẓẓîwăt ! It is expensive! igdâh ! Enough! igdâ ! Enough! wǝr iwweḍ That’s not enough wǝr eweḍ That’s not enough (lit. ‘It doesn’t arrive’) siwăḍ aẓrǝf Add money! šiwǝḍ aẓrǝf Add money! ălxer ăǵǵên ! Thanks very much ălxer ǝggên ! Thanks very much iyya Yes făw / few No kăla kăla No ăkf-ahi sǝmmos ! Give me 25 CFA! ăkf-i sǝmmos ! Give me 25 CFA! ănš-ahi ! Forgive me! surǝf-i-dǝd ! Forgive me! wǝr ǝleɣ aẓrǝf I have no money wǝr ǝleɣ ǝmbǝtša I have no change wǝr ǝleɣ tšenǵi I have no change
19 222.2...9999 There is / there are This construction is formed by the verb ‘to exist / be present’ + the direct object pronoun, e.g.: ill-ê ǝmnǝs There is a camel wăr t-illa There isn’t one wăr t-illa ǝmnǝs dăɣ ăɣalla There isn’t a camel in the yard tǝll-ê tămăṭṭ ? Are you married? (lit. ‘Is there a woman?’) wăr ti-tǝlla There isn’t one wăr ti-tǝlla tămăṭṭ dăɣ torǝft There isn’t a woman in the car tǝll-ê tǝnṭuṭ ? Are you married? (lit. ‘Is there a woman?’) wǝr te-tǝlla There isn’t one wǝr te-tǝlla tǝnṭuṭ dăɣ torǝft There isn’t a woman in the car ǝllân-ti san ? Is there meat? ( is plural) wăr t-ǝllen ašăl-i There is none today. ǝllân-tăy san Is there meat? ( is plural) wǝr t-ǝllen azǝl-a There is none today. ǝllânăt-ti wan dăɣ hebu ? Are there cows in the market? ǝllânăt-ti There are! wăr t-ǝllenăt There aren’t any ǝllânăt-tăy šitan dăɣ hebu ? Are there cows in the market? ǝllânăt-tăy There are! wǝr t-ǝllenăt There aren’t any Note the difference between ‘it exists / is present’ and ‘he owns’, e.g.: Adamu illâ diha Adamu is there Adamu illâ da Adamu is there Adamu ilâ tas Adamu has a cow Adamu ilâ tast Adamu has a cow
222.2...10101010 Location Several different verbs are used when describing location, e.g.: Măryama tǝllâ diha meɣ ? Is Mary there? făw, wăr tǝlla diha No, she is not there Măryama tǝllâ da meɣ ? Is Mary there? făw, wǝr tǝlla da No, she is not there Măryama tǝhâ ehăn Mary is in the house ǝlkǝttab iwâr (făl) ṭabǝl The book is on the table ǝlkǝttab illâ daw ṭabǝl The book is under the table tanda tǝllâ dat ăhăn The lean-to is in front of the house tanda tohâẓ ehăn The lean-to is close to the house tanda tǝhôẓ ehăn The lean-to is close to the house
20 222.2...11111111 Sample drills Drills are the substitution of words within a phrase to produce a new one. By practising changing Tamasheq phrases you will become familiar with the patterns of the language. The simplest level is to change the noun that is the object of a verb, e.g.: ǝkkêɣ hebu I am going to market ǝkkêɣ anu I am going to the well ǝkkêɣ ehăn I am going home ǝkkêɣ ɣor ǝmidi-nin I am going to my friend’s ǝkkêɣ ɣur ǝmidi-nin I am going to my friend’s ǝkkêɣ siha I am going over there ǝkkêɣ sa I am going over there ărhêɣ aman I want water ărhêɣ enăle I want millet ărhêɣ ătay I want tea ǝrêɣ aman I want water ǝrêɣ enăle I want millet ǝrêɣ ătay I want tea You can then try more complex phrases, e.g.: ărhêɣ ad šănšăɣ ătay I want to buy tea ărhêɣ ad šănšăɣ ătay ǝn-măraw I want to buy 50 CFA of tea d-ăssukăr ǝn-măraw and 50 CFA of sugar ărhêɣ ad ăkkăɣ hebu I want to go to market ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I want to learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ ad ăzzănzăɣ ătay I want to buy tea ǝrêɣ ad ăzzănzăɣ ătay ǝn-măraw I want to buy 50 CFAof tea d-ǝssukǝr ǝn-măraw and 50 CFA of sugar ǝrêɣ ad ăkkăɣ hebu I want to go to market ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I want to learn Tamajeq Try using the verb ‘bring here’ with different objects, e.g.: awi-dd aman Bring water (here)! awi-dd aẓrǝf Bring money! awi-dd tetăte Bring food! awi-dd teṭṭe Bring food! The next level is to change the person of the verb, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs ǝyyăn I saw a man tǝnhăyăd ăhalǝs ǝyyăn You (sg) saw a man inhăy ăhalǝs ǝyyăn He saw a man tǝnhăy ăhalǝs ǝyyăn She saw a man nǝnhăy ăhalǝs ǝyyăn We saw a man tǝnhăyăm ăhalǝs ǝyyăn You (mpl) saw a man tǝnhăymăt ăhalǝs ǝyyăn You (fpl) saw a man ǝnhăyăn ăhalǝs ǝyyăn They (m) saw a man ǝnhăynăt ăhalǝs ǝyyăn They (f) saw a man ǝnăyăɣ alǝs ǝyyăn I saw a man tǝnăyăd alǝs ǝyyăn you saw a man
21 inăy alǝs ǝyyăn He saw a man tǝnăy alǝs ǝyyăn She saw a man nǝnăy alǝs ǝyyăn We saw a man tǝnăyăm alǝs ǝyyăn You (mpl) saw a man tǝnăymăt alǝs ǝyyăn You (fpl) saw a man ǝnăyăn alǝs ǝyyăn They (m) saw a man ǝnăynăt alǝs ǝyyăn They (f) saw a man ǝktăbăɣ tăkarḍe I wrote a letter tǝktăbăd tăkarḍe You wrote a letter ǝlmădăɣ ismawăn ăynaynen I learned new words tǝlmădăd ismawăn ăynaynen You learned new words ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs I saw a camel inhăy amnǝs He saw a camel tǝnhăy amnǝs She saw a camel ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs I saw (or rode!) a camel inăy amnǝs He saw (or rode!) a camel tǝnăy amnǝs She saw (or rode!) a camel Next try negatives, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ tas I saw a cow wǝr ǝnheyăɣ tas I didn’t see a cow ǝnăyăɣ tast I saw a cow wǝr ǝneyăɣ tast I didn’t see a cow Try answering questions, e.g.: tǝktăbăd tăkarḍe meɣ ? Have you written the letter? iyya, ǝktăbăɣ tăkarḍe Yes, I wrote the letter făw, wǝr ǝktebăɣ tăkarḍe No, I haven’t written a letter Don’t rush into using pronouns, but as you progress use them, e.g.: iyya, ǝktăbăq-qăt Yes, I have written it făw, wăr tăt-ǝktebăɣ No, I haven’t written it Move on to using different aspects, e.g.: mǝnǵǝdu m-a-dd-as ? When will he come? a-dd-as ašǝkka He will come tomorrow wăr ma-dd-as He will not come ǝmme za-dd-asu ? When will he come? a-dd-asu ažăkka He will come tomorrow wǝr za-dd-asu He will not come ǝmba-dd-asu He will not come (The last form is considered ‘ugly’ Tamajeq by some.) Then try changing between aspects, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ Măryama I saw Mary ašăl kul hannăyăɣ Măryama Every day I see Mary ǝnăyăɣ Măryama I saw Mary azǝl kul hannăyăɣ Măryama Every day I see Mary Practise verbs from each verb group to get used to how the different ones work.
22 333 Grammatical notes
23 333.3...1111 Pronunciation Tamasheq phonology has affinities with Arabic. As such, it is generally considered difficult for native speakers of European or Sub-Saharan African languages. However, there are only a limited number of unfamiliar sounds, and with practice anyone can master them. The language learner should not be intimidated by these notes, rather take them as a reference to compare with what you hear and write down. In the descriptions that follow it is assumed that the reader is familiar with the sounds of English and French. IPA symbols are given in square brackets.
The vowels Tamasheq has only two short vowel sounds: ă [æ] as in English ‘cat’ ǝ [ǝ] as in French ‘je’ Tamasheq has five long vowel phonemes giving seven long vowel sounds: a [a] as in English ‘hard’ or ‘father’ e [e] as in French ‘né’ e + emphatic [ɛ] as in French ‘père’ i [i] as in French ‘ni’ o [o] as in French ‘eau’ o + emphatic [ɔ] as in English ‘odd’ or French ‘corps’ u [u] as in French ‘tout’ In the stative aspect of the verb, a vowel can be heavily stressed. It is longer than a standard long vowel and heavily accented. These are written: â, î, ê, û, ô (even ǝ̂ although this is rare).
Semi vowels These are much the same as the English semi-vowels: w [w] as in English ‘win’ or ‘we’ y [j] as in English ‘you’
Vowel + semi vowels These combinations are worth noting: ǝw = u [u] as in French ‘tout’ ăw [æʊ] almost as English ‘low’ but shorter aw [aʊ] as in English ‘now’ ew [ew] the two sounds follow as in French ‘néo-’ iw [iw] the two sounds follow as in English ‘seaward’ ow [ow] as in English ‘know’ or ‘low’ uw [u or uw] similar to English ‘food’ ǝy = i [i] as in French ‘ni’ ăy [æi] similar to English ‘day’ ay [ai] as in English ‘eye’ ey [ej] the sounds follow as in French ‘déisme’ iy [ij] the sounds follow as in English ‘piano’ or ‘need’ oy [oj] as in English ‘boy’ uy [uj] similar to English ‘boy’ but less open
24 In Tawellemmet, final ‘o’ and ‘e’ become ‘-ăw’ and ‘-ăy’ pronounced almost as in English ‘low’ and ‘day’ respectively (i.e. as diphthongs). In Tamaghit and Tudalt equivalent words will be spelled with final ‘-o’ and ‘-e’ and pronounced as a pure vowel, although in Tudalt the Tawellemmet pronunciation may also be heard, e.g.: takute, cf : takutăy
Consonants b [b] as in English ‘bat’ d [d] as in English ‘day’ ḍ [dˁ] emphatic ‘d’ f [f] as in English ‘fed’ g [ɡ] as in English ‘get’ ɣ [ɣ] as in Parisian French ‘rue’ h [h] as in English ‘hat’ ǵ [ɡʲ] palatalised ‘g’, similar to English ‘due’ (‘ǵ’ is absent in Tudalt, ‘g’ takes its place) k [k] as in English ‘kit’ l [l] as in English ‘leg’ ḷ [lˁ] emphatic ‘l’ (only in a few words borrowed from Arabic) m [m] as in English ‘mat’ n [n] as in English ‘net’ ŋ [ŋ] (rare) like English ‘bang’ without pronouncing ‘g’ q [q] a ‘k’ further back in the throat as in Arabic ‘qaf’ r [r] rolled ‘r’ as in Scots ‘red’ or West African French ‘rue’ s [s] as in English ‘sat’ š [ʃ ] as in English ‘ship’ ṣ [sˁ] emphatic ‘s’ (only in words borrowed from Arabic) t [t] as in English ‘tap’ ṭ [tˁ] emphatic ‘t’ x [x] as in Scots ‘loch’ or German ‘Bach’ z [z] as in English ‘zoo’ ž [ʒ] as in English ‘vision’ or French ‘je’ (rare in Tamaghit) ẓ [zˁ] emphatic ‘z’
Emphatic sounds The sounds ḍ, ḷ, ṣ, ṭ, ẓ are emphatic. They are produced by tightening the muscles of the pharynx as the sound is produced. these five sounds, the sounds ɣ, h, q, r, x, ŋ are considered emphatic in Tamasheq. Their main effect is the opening of any vowel which immediately precedes them. The effect is much stronger in Tamaghit than in Tudalt, i.e.: ‘ǝ’ becomes ‘ă’ (but only in Tamaghit) ‘e’ or ‘i’ become ‘e’, pronounced ‘è’ as in French ‘père’ (although ‘i’ may be less open) ‘o’ or ‘u’ become ‘o’, pronounced as in English ‘ought’ (although ‘u’ may be less open)
25 Glottal stop The glottal stop exists in Tamasheq but is unwritten. Unlike in Arabic, the glottal stop is not an independent phoneme and it cannot appear in the middle of a word. There are two situations where it occurs in Tamasheq: a) When a word beginning with a vowel is not preceded by a word with which it can make a liaison. Speakers of English tend to do this as well so for Anglophones no effort is needed. Those whose first language is not English may need to take care with this, e.g.: ikka hebu There is a glottal stop before the ‘i’. Musa os-id There is a glottal stop between ‘a’ and ‘o’. edăgg ǝyyăn There is a glottal stop before the ‘e’ but the ‘ǝ’ forms a liaison with the second ‘g’ and so there is no glottal stop before the ‘ǝ’. b) A final long ‘a’ ending a phrase is made very short, cut off abruptly by a glottal stop, e.g.: kăla kăla ! (pronounced: ) No! / no way! / never! iknâ (pronounced: ) It is good / sorted out
Syllables Only three types of syllable exist in Tamasheq: a) Open CV b) Closed CVC c) Closed with extra consonant CVCC (only in special circumstances) Notes: i) The first consonant may be an unwritten glottal stop, e.g. ‘bowl’ is CV-CVC. ii) In Tudalt the extra consonant can only be ‘t’ at the end of feminine nouns, e.g. ‘small bowl’, which is CV-CVCC. iii) In Tamaghit it can be a ‘t’ as in Tudalt or, only in the case of Group IA7 verbs, any consonant except ‘l’ or ‘n’, e.g. ‘lie down’ which is CVCC. iv) Tamasheq words in a phrase frequently form liaisons so as to form the correct syllable structure (avoiding too many glottal stops).
Further sounds The following exist in Arabic words and are used in Maraboutic dialects in Mali and Niger. I have not heard them used in Burkina. The roman script symbols are those used by DNAFLA, the Malian government literacy agency. ḥ [ħ] pharyngeal ‘h’ as in (most Tamasheq use ‘x’ instead) ç [ʕ] pharyngeal voiced counterpart as in (most Tamasheq use ‘ɣ’ instead)
Doubled Consonants In Tamasheq, consonants may be single or doubled (geminated). The doubled consonant is longer, pronounced at the end of one sylable and the beginning of the next. This is very important and can convey a total difference in meaning, e.g.: idăl (i.e. ’i-dăl) He begged iddăl (i.e. ’id-dăl) He played
26 Note that normally, double ‘ɣ’ becomes: ‘qq’ Note that normally, double ‘ḍ’ becomes: ‘ṭṭ’ Note that normally, double ‘w’ becomes: ‘gg’ (never ‘ǵǵ’) E.g.: iwăt He hit itǝggat (from ) He hits eḍǝs Sleep iṭṭâs (from ) He is sleeping oɣǝl Returning iqqăl He returned Normally ‘q’ and ‘ṭ’ only occur doubled, although there are a few exceptions.
Merging of consonants When two consonants come together in a word or a phrase, they may partially assimilate. When a voiced consonant is followed by a voiceless one it also becomes voiceless, e.g.: eḍkăr becomes eṭkăr eɣšăd becomes exšăd eɣtăs becomes extăs ad tǝnǝyăd becomes at tǝnǝyăd Certain other sounds also merge with ‘t’ or ‘k’ when these follow them because they are considered hard to say together, e.g.: -ɣt becomes -qq -ɣk becomes -qq -kt becomes -kk -ǵt becomes -kk -gt becomes -kk This is especially noticeable at feminine endings (the effect of the doubling is lost at the end of a word, at least in Tudalt, unless followed by a vowel), e.g.: tămašăɣt becomes tămašăqq Tamasheq tǝmažǝɣt becomes tǝmažǝq Tamajeq tamăẓẓugt becomes tamăẓẓukk ear tamǝẓẓugt becomes tamǝẓẓuk ear ǝndek-tăt ? becomes ǝndek-kăt ? which one? (f) / where is she? ǝnhăyăɣ-kăy becomes ǝnhăyăq-qăy I saw you ǝnăyăɣ-kăy becomes ǝnăyăq-qăy I saw you išăǵ-tăt becomes išăk-kăt he chased her izăg-tăt becomes izăk-kăt he chased her ǝkkeɣ ɣor-ǝs becomes ǝkkeq-qor-ǝs I went to his place ǝkkeɣ ɣur-ǝs becomes ǝkkeq-qur-ǝs I went to his place
This kind of merging does not occur in the middle of words (e.g. , ).
27 Swallowed vowels When a phrase gives consecutive vowels the first or the shorter is often lost, especially in frequently said formulae or rapid speech, e.g.: ma isǝm-ǝnnes ? is pronounced: m-isǝm-ǝnnes ? What is his name? mi ărhăn ? may be pronounced: mi-rhăn ? Who do they want? ma ămôs awa ? is pronounced: ma-môs awa ? What is that? aǵǝnna ikna ewet may be pronounced: aǵǝnna ikn-ewet It rained hard ma isǝm-nes ? is pronounced: m-isǝm-nes ? What is his name? mi ǝrăn ? may be pronounced: mi-răn ? Who do they want? ma ǝrăn? may be pronounced: ma-răn? What do they want? ăkonak ikna ewet may be pronounced: ăkonak ikn-ewet It rained hard
Fleeting ‘y’ sound Note that the 3msg verb and the msg participle begin with ‘y’, but this is dropped or contracted to ‘i’ in Tudalt and Tamaghit. If it is preceded by a vowel the ‘y’ may re-appear in the pronunciation at least as a fleeting sound especially in Tudalt, e.g.: wa okărăn may be pronounced: wa-yokărăn The one who stole ma imôs awa ? is pronounced: ma-ymôs awa ? What is that?
Difficult sounds Anglophones tend to find the following sounds difficult: ḍ, ɣ, q, r, ṣ, ṭ, x, ẓ (although Scots should have no trouble with ‘r’ or ‘x’). Certain distinctions can give difficulties, e.g.: ǝ from ă ă from a e from i o from u q from k d from ḍ t from ṭ s from ṣ z from ẓ ɣ from x ɣ from r
28 ɣ from q (at the end of a word) x from h single from doubled Here are a few pitfalls for English speakers when it comes to writing the language down (these are based on my own early mistakes and those I have observed others making): a) Mistakenly hearing the short English vowels ‘i’ (pit), ‘u’ (duck), ‘e’ (pen), ‘o’ (cot) ‘u’. All of these tend to be heard when ‘ǝ’ or ‘ă’ are used in certain contexts. If ‘i’, ‘e’, ‘o’ or ‘u’ is written these may then be confused with the long Tamasheq vowels. b) Writing ‘ay’ instead of ‘ey’ (by analogy with English ‘day’), and conversely reading ‘ay’ as if it rhymes with ‘day’, (it rhymes with ‘die’). c) Mistakenly writing ‘ar’ for a long ‘a’ by analogy with English ‘cart’ etc. Similarly with ‘o’ and ‘e’ before emphatics, e.g. writing ‘he fell’, as ‘he thought’. d) Failing to hear doubled consonants and writing them as single or vice versa. e) Failing to hear emphatics – especially after ‘a’ where they do not change the vowel sound. f) Mixing up similar sounds (see examples below). g) Missing ‘h’ at the end of a word in Tamaghit, e.g. g ‘it is enough’, ‘we resemble each other’.
Examples of similar sounds These examples are drawn largely from Tamaghit:
ḍ vs d E.g.: After ḍarăt dat Before And women ǝd-ḍeḍen d-edes Alongside Wind aḍu adi That He wronged eḍlăm idlăl He danced He fell oḍa orda He thinks He will accept ad ărḍu ad erdu He will suppose He hated ikyăḍ ikyăd He inspects He scrapes ikrăḍ ikrăd He ties He arrived iwwăḍ iwwăd He is gentle It isn’t soft wăr lǝmmeḍ wǝr ilmed He hasn’t learned (Note that ‘ḍḍ’ is extremely rare, e.g. ‘a census’, ‘approximately’.) d vs dd E.g.: He begs idăl iddăl He plays He stopped ibdăd ibaddăd He is stopping Deer edăm ăddinăt People
29 Someone măndam meddăn Men A seed ădom ăddăbara A solution Place edăgg iddăr He lives
ḍ vs dd E.g.: Leg aḍăr iddăr He lives Six săḍis seddeɣ Yet (=harwa) Wind aḍu ăddunya World They are naughty ǝššâḍăn šăddîǵăn They are clean tt vs ṭṭṭṭṭṭ E.g.: He sought ittăr eṭṭăs He slept He was arrested ittărmăs eṭṭăf He held They sought ǝttărăn ăṭṭăsăn They slept He eats itatt teṭṭ Eye (Single ‘ṭ’ is quite rare, except where it formed from a ‘ḍ’ in contact with an unvoiced consonant, e.g. , , but note and a few other exceptions.) z vs ẓẓẓ E.g.: Cock ekăz ogăẓ He protects First ăzzârăn aẓarăn Arteries Season ăzzăman tăẓẓăǵ It is milked Divorce amǝzzi ămaẓla A cold Adultery ǝzzǝna aẓǝkka Tomb He lived izzăɣ eẓẓăl He reaches out x vs ɣɣɣ E.g.: Milk axx ohăɣ He pillaged (Man’s name) Moxammăd ɣor ‘Chez’ (Woman’s name) Răxmatu Tăɣlǝs (Woman’s name) It is spoiled exšâd eɣaššăd He spoils He cut down extăs eɣattăs He cuts down x vs h E.g.: Peace ălxer ălhăm Anger Creating axălak ahălak Destroying Creation axluk ahluk Destruction Authority ălxǝkum alăhas Massacre (Man’s name) Exya ohâẓ It is near q vs ɣ (final) E.g.: Cloth tabdoqq lammădăɣ I learn
30 Time ălwăqq ămašăɣ Tuareg Guest (f) tănaftaqq ănaftaɣ Guest (m) Tuareg (f) Tămašăqq imušaɣ Tuaregs single vs double consonants E.g.: Be able! dubǝt zubbǝt Get down! Lack iba abba My father He hired ifăr iffăr He hid Entry ugǝš iggăš He entered You did tǝǵed taǵǵăd You do Heat tăkusse ăkkûs It is hot He made ikna ikka He went He has ila illa He exists He is coming imâl-id tǝmmal Praise He rode inăy inna He said Well anu anna My mother
333.3...2222 Writing systems
Roman script The alphabet used in this grammar is the one used by Prasse in the latest edition of his Lexique. It is very similar to that of the Malian government’s national literacy program DNAFLA. (The differences being the use of ‘ǵ’ rather than DNAFLA’s ‘j’ for the palatalised ‘g’ sound and the use of ‘ ̂’ above the stressed vowels of the stative aspect rather than writing the vowels twice e.g. ‘it is hot’ rather than ‘it is hot’.) The government literacy programme in Burkina uses the DNAFLA system except for the emphatics ḍ, ḷ, ṣ, ṭ, ẓ, where Burkina currently uses ‘hooked’ letters (a small diacritic is attached to the top right hand corner of the letter as in Fulfulde, e.g. ‘ ɗ ’). In Niger a different system was used until recently and this is the system used in the earlier works mentioned in the bibliography. The following characters differ between the first and second editions of Prasse’s : ɣ replaces former gh
ǵ replaces former gy (only to note words of other dialects) š replaces former sh x replaces former kh ž replaces former j Note that ‘j’ represents different sounds in the DNAFLA and old Niger systems. The Prasse system avoids this potential cause of confusion. The DNAFLA system conserves the ‘dictionary’ form of words, not showing even obligatory contractions or assimilations, and so does not correspond to actual pronunciation. For example, initial vowel shortening in the annexed state (see Section 3.3) is not shown and the directional particle ‘dd’ is always shown as ‘dd’ (see Section 3.7). I have preferred to write down what is said, e.g.:
31
DNAFLA Pronounced Tămašăɣt Tămašăqq Tamasheq tamăẓẓujt tamăẓẓukk Ear a-dd-tas a-dǝt-tas She will come hebu wa-n iwan hebu wa-n wan The cattle market
Tifinagh script Tifinagh is the traditional Tamasheq alphabet. It is a consonantal script possibly derived from Phoenician and dating back over 2,000 years as represented in the Libyco-Berber alphabets. It is known in Oudalan, but not widely used for communication. For more information on Tifinagh see: Prasse (1972, p. 152-157) Claudot-Hawad (1993, p. 139) Pichler (2007)
Arabic script The sounds of Tamasheq are very similar to those of Arabic, and it is relatively easy for those who have become literate in Arabic through Quranic education to write Tamasheq in Arabic script. In Burkina this is probably more common than the use of Tifinagh.
The consonants in the three alphabets Only the ‘free’ form of each Arabic character is shown. Some of these vary slightly from standard orthography, but rather represent the way Arabic is written by hand in the Sahel. To vocalise the Arabic the standard vowel markings are used with several different systems for coping with the extra vowel sounds in Tamasheq. For example, ‘ǝ’ may be marked as a short ‘ă’ (fatḥa) or a short ‘i’ (kasra). The distinctions o / u and e / i are generally not made. Whether long or short Arabic vowels are used to represent these varies. Tifinagh does not show vowels except for a final ‘a’ represented by a point ‘ A’, although final e/i are sometimes represented by y and final o/u by w. Ligatures, important elsewhere, are little used locally and not given here.
Roman Tifinagh Arabic b b L d d e ḍ æ | f F ¶ g g T ǵ g \
32 Roman Tifinagh Arabic ɣ c ® h h Ê k k º l l ¾ m m  n n Æ q q ‹ r r i s s p ṣ s w š H t t t P ṭ t ( or X) ¢ w w Ë x x d y y Ô z z or k ẓ j (or Ÿ) ¦ ž Z or z X
For these last three, the first Tifinagh form is Tamaghit. The alternative form is Tudalt, although many Tudalt speaking users of Tifinagh have assimilated to using the Tamaghit forms.
33 A typical greeting at the beginning of a letter in Tamasheq would be ‘This is me Dawda, I greet Maryama a lot’. This is rendered in the three systems below. In the Tifinagh note the punctuation mark (used for all kinds of pause) and the raised form of the ‘n’ of ; both ‘n’ and ‘l’ use this raised form after another ‘n’ or ‘l’ to prevent the ambiguity of a series of vertical strokes. The Tifinagh here is written left-to-right but it can also be written right-to-left or preferably bottom- to-top. The side-opening letters (such as ‘m’) always open in the direction of writing. The vocalisation of the Arabic is typical for Oudalan but is not the only system used.
awa năkk Dăwda, ăhulăɣ-in Măryama hullen
wA nk dwdA . hlcn mrymA hlN .
„ÅÎê÷»Ì‚Ç gÁgÍ„jg¿ „ÅÎê¬ò»ÌƒÇòA äe„Ëäe é¸gà gËòA
333.3...3333 Nouns Tamasheq nouns have gender; they are either masculine or feminine. Most masculine nouns begin with an ‘a’ (or another vowel) in the singular and an ‘i’ in the plural. Most feminine nouns begin with ‘t’. Words that begin with other letters are usually foreign words and can be either gender.
Regular nouns Singular Plural Masculine a-…- i-…-ăn e.g. amɣar imɣarăn Feminine ta-…-t ti-…-en e.g. tamɣart timɣaren Many common nouns follow this pattern, e.g.: amɣar Elder / old man imɣarăn Elders / old men tamɣart Elder / old woman timɣaren Old women amăḍray Younger brother imăḍrayăn Younger brothers tamăḍrayt Younger sister timăḍrayen Younger sisters amăqqar Older brother imăqqarăn Older brothers tamăqqart Older sister timăqqaren Older sisters abroɣ Blanket ibroɣăn Blankets abuyǝs Injury ibuyǝsăn Injuries amǝnokal Chief imǝnokalăn Chiefs amăḍan Shepherd imăḍanăn Shepherds tamăẓẓukk Ear timăẓẓuǵen Ears (ǵt=kk) tamǝẓẓuk Ear timǝẓẓugen Ears (gt=kk)
34 Others have intial short ‘ă’ rather than ‘a’. This is common where a long vowel follows the first consonant, e.g.: ămaraw Parent imarawăn Parents ănaftaɣ Guest inaftaɣăn Guests tănaftaq(q) Guest (f) tinaftaɣen Guests (f) (ɣt=qq) ămawaḍ Adolescent imawaḍăn Adolescents tămawaṭ(ṭ) Adolescent (f) timawaḍen Adolescents (f) tăsokalt Spoon tisokalen Spoons tăšokalt Spoon tišokalen Spoons ămănokal Chief imănokalăn Chiefs ămažǝɣ Tuareg imažǝɣăn Tuaregs A few have replaced the initial long ‘a’ with ‘e’, e.g.: esen Tooth isenăn Teeth ešen Tooth išenăn Teeth enhăḍ Craftsman inhăḍăn Craftsmen enăḍ Craftsman inăḍăn Craftsmen ešeḍ Donkey išeḍăn Donkeys
Other plurals Some nouns have a constant initial vowel that does not change and form the plural simply by adding the ending ‘-ăn’ (or ‘-en’ if feminine), e.g.: arab Arab arabăn Arabs alkăs Glass alkăsăn Glasses
taylalt Guinea fowl taylalen Guinea fowl tăylalt Guinea fowl tăylalen Guinea fowl terǵit Contribution terǵiten Contributions tirgit Contribution tirgiten Contributions tulat Species / type tulaten Species / types In many nouns where the singular ends in a vowel the plural takes ‘-tăn’ (feminine ‘-ten’). Many, but not all, words like this are of ‘foreign’ origin, e.g.: ălfăqqi (Religous) teacher ălfăqqităn Teachers ǝlfǝqqi (Religous) teacher ǝlfǝqqităn Teachers bokǝti Bucket bokǝtităn Buckets hebu Market hebutăn Markets zăbo Road zăbotăn Roads tanda Lean-to tandaten Lean-tos aḍu Wind / odour aḍutăn Winds / odours bahu Lie bahutăn Lies Verbal nouns of weak ‘t’ ending verbs are similar, e.g.: alǝnǵi Carrying (on head) ilǝnǵităn Carryings / loads alǝngi Carrying (on head) ilǝnităn Carryings / loads afrǝšši Madness ifrǝššităn Kinds of madness afǝrǝšši Madness ifǝrǝššităn Kinds of madness atkǝntǝki Sifting itkǝntǝkităn Siftings atǝkǝntǝki Sifting itǝkǝntǝkităn Siftings
35 Another group of nouns takes ‘-awăn’ (feminine ‘-awen’) with or without initial vowel change, e.g.: elăm Skin ilămawăn Skins /hides amidi Friend imidawăn Friends tamidit Friend (f) timidawen Friends (f) talăqqe Dependent tilăqqewen Dependents talǝqqe Dependent tilǝqqawen Dependents isǝm Name ismawăn Names ulh Heart ulhawăn Hearts teṭṭ Eye teṭṭawen Eyes šăṭṭ Eye šiṭṭawen Eyes tǝẓoli Iron tiẓolǝyawen Iron things Many nouns have changes to the internal vowels between singular and plural. There are many types of change. Many nouns fall into one of the groups listed below, those that don’t are best treated as if irregular, e.g.: amăɣid Herder class man imɣad Herder class men amǝɣid Herder class man imǝɣad Herder class men tamăɣitt Herder woman timɣad Herder women tamǝɣit Herder woman timǝɣad Herder women egăḍeḍ Bird igḍaḍ Birds agǝḍiḍ Bird igǝḍaḍ Birds afăḍis Hammer ifḍas Hammers afǝḍis Hammer ifǝḍas Hammers adăfor Cushion idfar Cushions adăfor Cushion idǝfar Cushions tawăgost Field tiwgas Fields tawăgost Field tiwǝgas Fields ăkal Homeland / earth ikallăn Lands / countries ăfud Knee ifaddăn Knees ăgeẓ Cheek igaẓẓăn Cheeks ămud Prayer imaddăn Prayers / fete ăkal Homeloand ikăllăn Lands / countries ăfud Knee ifăddăn Knees ǝgiẓ Cheek igăẓẓăn Cheeks ǝmud Prayer imăddăn Prayers / fete Many instrumental nouns form their plurals as follows, e.g.: asǝdwǝl Plant isǝdwal Plants asǝksǝl Dustpan / shovel isǝksal Shovels asǝkbǝl Support isǝkbal Supports asǝfrǝs Chopper isǝfras Choppers asǝfrăḍ Brush isǝfraḍ Brushes asǝfrǝḍ Brush isǝfraḍ Brushes tasǝǵbǝst Wrap skirt tisǝǵbas Wrap skirts tasǝgbǝst Wrap skirt tisǝgbas Wrap skirts tasăɣnǝst Melouf tisăɣnas Meloufs tasǝɣnǝst Melouf tisǝɣnas Meloufs
36 tasfǝlt Roof tisfal Roofs tasǝfǝlt Roof tisǝfal Roofs ashăr Lid / door ishar Lids / doors asǝhǝr Lid / door isǝhar Lids / doors Many verbal nouns from groups III, V and causatives insert an ‘i’ in the plural, e.g.: ahǝwhǝw Bark (of dog) ihǝwhiwăn Barks abǝkbǝk Shaking out ibǝkbikăn Shakings out A somewhat diverse set has ‘-an’ as a plural ending, e.g.: anu Well enwan Wells ašǝk Tree eškan Trees elu Elephant elwan Elephants akli Slave eklan Slaves eɣăs Bone iɣăsan Bones eǵăr Toad iǵăran Toads egǝru Toad igăran Toads ehăḍ Nights ihăḍan Nights Other nouns follow various patterns of internal vowel change, e.g.: ašănǵo Enemy išǝnǵa Enemies azăngo Enemy izǝnga Enemies anăsbahu Liar inǝsbuha Liars asăssamu Cushion isǝssuma Cushions tafăṣkot Grave tifǝṣka Graves ăkafăr European ikufar Europeans ăkafǝr European ikufar Europeans tenălle Thread tinǝlwa Threads tallit Moon / Month tilil Moons / Months Prasse (1985, p. 18) classifies plurals into seven groups. These are of interest to grammarians but are not regular enough to be of much use to language learners. Plurals are best learned as if irregular, while keeping an eye out for groups of patterns as shown above.
Irregular Plurals A few nouns also have changes to their consonants in the plural, e.g.: tas Cow iwan Cows tast Cow šitan Cows ăhalǝs Man meddăn Men alǝs Man meddăn Men edi Dog iyăḍan Dogs idi Dog iḍan Dogs esu Bull aswanăn Bulls ăyor Moon / Month orăn Moons / Months tehăle Ewe tihatten Sheep / Ewes ažăḍ Donkey ăẓẓan Donkeys ehăḍ Night ăḍan Nights
37 Annexed fformormormorm In situations where they are considered ‘annexed’ to a verb, preposition or number, many nouns shorten or even lose their initial vowel. This is a feature of Tamasheq with which language learners must take great care. The noun is in the annexed state (and many shorten or lose their initial vowel): a) when it is a c following the verb. b) after numbers. c) after prepositions (except ). E.g.: aaamnǝs a ikša tetăte The camel ate food aaamnǝs a ikša teṭṭe The camel ate food (subject before verb) ikša ǝǝǝmnǝsǝ tetăte The camel ate food ikša ǝǝǝmnǝsǝ teṭṭe The camel ate food (subject follows verb) iiimnas i Camels ilâ kăraḍ ǝǝǝmnasǝ He owns three camels iiiwan i ǝswănăt aman The cows drank water ǝswănăt wan aman The cows drank water hebu wa-n wan The cattle market tititifinaɣ ti akătab ǝn-kăl Tămašăq Tifinagh is the writing of Tamasheq people iktăb dăɣ tttǝtǝǝǝfinaɣ It is written in Tifinagh There are some fairly consistent rules of thumb about what happens. For example, the ‘i’ of the masculine plural is dropped if followed by a single consonant, e.g.: imawăn Mouths dăɣ mawăn In the mouths ibǝkran Rams ǝssuk wa-n bǝkran The price of rams If followed by a pair of consonants it becomes ‘ǝ’, e.g.: imnas Camels hebu wan ǝmnas Camel market imɣarăn Old men ǝssin ǝmɣarăn Two old men ǝššin ǝmɣarăn Two old men The ‘ti’ of the feminine plural becomes ‘tǝ’ in both cases, e.g.: timawaḍen Adolescent girls imălsan win tǝmawaḍen Adolescent girl’s clothes timăššăɣălen Servant women ǝššǝɣǝl wan tǝmăššăɣălen Servant women’s work In the singular ‘e’ becomes ‘ă’, e.g.: edăgg Place dăɣ ădăgg ǝyyăn In a (certain) place eɣăf Head s-ăɣăf-in With my head
38 Initial ‘a’ becomes ‘ă’ unless the word contains ‘ǝ’ elsewhere when it becomes ‘ǝ’ (‘ta’ becomes ‘tă’ or ‘tǝ’), e.g.: amɣar Old man y-ămɣar For the old man alǝggǝs Brother in law y-ǝlǝggǝs-in For my brother in law alǝggus Brother in law y-ǝlǝggus-in For my brother in law amǝnokal Chief y-ǝmǝnokal For the chief Initial ‘ă’ generally becomes ‘ǝ’ (‘tă’ becomes ‘tǝ’), e.g.: ămănokal Chief ehăn wann ǝmănokal The chief’s house Unfortunately, many nouns break these latter rules (see vocabulary section for a listing of nouns and their contracted endings). Some may vary between groups of Tamasheq speakers. In general, Tudalt speakers are more likely to contract to ‘ǝ’ and Tamaghit speakers to retain ‘ă’.
NonNon----declinabledeclinable nouns Some nouns have ‘strong’ initial vowels that never shorten. In general all nouns where the singular and plural begin with the same vowel (or ‘t’ + the same vowel) are like this, plus one or two others. Common nouns like this include: ara Child aratăn Children aman (pl) Water / liquid amanatăn Liquids ašǝk Tree eškan Trees abba Father abbatăn Fathers anna Mother annatăn Mothers assa Coming assatăn Comings alǝs Man taššalt Snake taššalen Snakes taššelt Snake taššelen Snakes taɣma Thigh taɣmiwen Thighs takna Co-wife takniwen Co-wives takna Co-wife taknaten Co-wives idǝm Face idmawăn Faces ilǝs Tongue ilsawăn Tongues tihay Darkness tifawt Morning tifawen Mornings tefărt Hobbling rope tefren Hobbling ropes teffart Hobbling rope tifren Hobbling ropes tidǝt Truth tidǝten Truths tide Sweat tufat Morning tufaten Mornings ukǝs Removal uksawăn Removals (and all other nouns that begin with ‘u’)
39 Nouns formed from verbs Verbal nouns The most common and important set of nouns derived from verbs are those called ‘verbal nouns’. These express the abstract concept of the verb. Verbal nouns are discussed more fully in Section 3.17, e.g.: ǝlmǝd Learn gives alămad Learning ǝkkǝs Take out gives ukǝs Taking out akǝr Steal gives tikra Theft / stealing
Instrumental nouns The instrumental form is akin to the causative of the verb. Not all verbs have an instrumental noun associated with them. These are often formed from the verb by adding ‘as-’ to the beginning of the singular imperative, e.g.: From verb group IA1: ǝfrăḍ Sweep gives asǝfrăḍ Brush ǝfrǝḍ Sweep gives asǝfrǝḍ Brush ăɣnǝs Cover gives tasăɣnǝst Melouf ǝɣnǝs Cover gives tasǝɣnǝst Melouf ǝkbǝl Catch / hold gives tasǝkbǝlt Support These all have the plural form ‘isǝBCaD’: e.g.: , . Other verb groups give similar forms, e.g.: ǝsǝl Put on shoes gives assǝl Sandal strap ǝsǝl Put on shoes gives asǝsǝl Sandal strap ǝfǝl Cover gives tasfǝlt Roof ǝfǝl Cover gives tasǝfǝlt Roof ǝwăr Be upon gives aswăr Headscarf ǝwǝr Be upon gives asǝwǝr Headscarf ăɣmu Dye gives asăɣmo Dye ɣăym Sit gives tasăqqaymut Chair ɣam Sit gives tasǝqqimit Chair (double ‘ɣ’ = ‘qq’)
Adjectival nouns These nouns express the person or thing that does the action or possesses the quality of the corresponding verb. These are often formed from the verb by adding ‘an-’, ‘am-’, ‘anăs-’, or ‘enăs-’ to the beginning. They may be used independently as substantives (i.e. nouns), but most commonly are used to qualify a noun, e.g.: ăḍǝn Herd (vb) gives amăḍan Herd ǝḍǝn Herd (vb) gives amăḍan Herd šăɣăl Work gives emăššăɣăl Worker sǝlmǝd Teach gives enăsselmǝd Teacher sǝlmǝd Teach gives anǝsselmǝd Teacher uksaḍ Be afraid gives ămaksaḍ Fearful (person) ǝkfǝr Be violent gives anăkfor Violent (person)
E.g.: enăsselmǝd os-id A teacher came here anǝsselmǝd os-id A teacher came here
40 ăhalǝs wan ănăsselmǝd os-id A / the teacher came here alǝs wan ǝnǝsselmǝd os-ăddǝd A / the teacher came here ăwadǝm wan ănăkfor A / the violent person temăššăɣălt-in My worker(f) tamăṭṭ tan tămăššăɣălt-in The woman who works for me tanṭuṭ tan tămăššăɣălt-in The woman who works for me
The possessive preposition The preposition ‘n’ is extremely useful in Tamasheq. Its field of meaning is similar to English ‘of’ in that it expresses the genitive. As such its semantic value is that of restriction or specification. It links a noun to a qualifying noun, pronoun or clause that narrows the possible range of meaning of the noun so qualified. Its form changes slightly depending on its position in the phrase. When preceded or followed by a vowel it attaches ‘-n’ or ‘n-’. When between two vowels it lengthens ‘-nn-’. When between two consonants it becomes ‘ǝn-’.
Genitive marker (expressing belonging or purpose) Used without the demonstrative pronoun, it expresses ‘an X of / for Y’, or ‘Y’s X’, e.g.: ărhêɣ băkita-nn-ăssukăr I want a packet of sugar ǝrêɣ băkita-nn-ǝssukǝr I want a packet of sugar alkăs n-ătay A cup of tea / a tea-cup ti-s ǝn-Dăwda David’s father hănn-is n-Adămu Adamu’s wife hănn-es n-Adămu Adamu’s wife Used with the demonstrative pronoun, it expresses ‘the X of Y’. The difference between this construction and the above is small, the construction with the demonstrative pronoun is more definite or a little more emphatic, e.g.: ti-s wan Dăwda David’s father hebu wan wan The cattle market hebu wan šitan The cattle market ašăl wan hebu Market day azǝl wan hebu Market day (lit. ‘The day of the market’) ăddinăt win diha People from here / local people ăytedăm win da People from here / local people
Following a verbal noun Used to join a verbal noun to an object which specifies its applicability, e.g.: tamăḍint a tăǵǵăn They herd tamǝḍint a taggin They herd (lit. ‘Herding is what they do’) ifullanăn, tamăḍint ǝn-wan a tăǵǵăn Fulani herd cows ifollanăn, tamǝḍint ǝn-šitan a taggin Fulani herd cows (lit. ‘Fulani, herding of cows is what they do’) ărhêɣ musnăt ǝn-Tămašăq I want to know Tamasheq ǝrêɣ măsnăt ǝn-Tǝmažǝq I want to know Tamajeq
41 olăs iǵi n-ătay He made tea again olăs igi n-ătay He made tea again (lit. ‘He repeated making of tea’)
Expressing possession The supporting pronouns ‘i’, masculine, ‘ti’ feminine meaning ‘the one’ or ‘those’ are used with ‘n’ to express what we would express in English by ‘X belongs to Y’ or ‘that X is Y’s’, e.g.: bătbăt ta ti-nn Adămu That motorbike belongs to Adamu (lit. ‘That motorbike (is) the one of Adamu’) ikărbănăn wi i-n Ɣusman These huts belong to Rousman (lit. ‘These huts (are) those of Rousman’)
For (a period of time) The restriction / specification of a time period is expressed using ‘n’ when it is a noun that is qualified. (If the verb were qualified the preposition ‘y’ would be used), e.g.: ăhalǝs wa ărhin ǝs-tăsa That man has had a bad stomach ǝn-măraw hăḍan for ten days alǝs wa irin ǝs-tǝdist That man has had a bad stomach ǝn-măraw ăḍan for ten days ăhalǝs wa ăšfărăššen-ti nǝzgam That man has been worried n-ǝssin hăḍan crazy for two days alǝs wa šăfărăššen-tăy nǝzgam That man has been worried n-ǝššin ăḍan crazy for two days (lit. ‘That man, they drove him mad, worries for two nights’)
Qualifying a verbal noun with a verbal clause Where a verbal clause (in the imperfective aspect) qualifies a verbal noun the preposition ‘n’ is used as the link expressing that the clause restricts or specifies the applicability of the verbal noun, e.g.: wǝr ila ăṣṣahăt He isn’t strong (lit. ‘He doesn’t possess strength’) wǝr ila ăṣṣahăt n-ad adwu He isn’t strong enough to travel ǝs-Mărkoy to Markoye this afternoon ămănokal ikf-e torhaǵăt The chief gave him permission n-ad ăkk Tera to go to Tera amǝnokal iff-e turagăt The chief gave him permission n-ad ăkku Tera to go to Tera
333.3...5555 Remarks on syntax The syntax (word order) of Tamasheq sentences is often very different from the English equivalent. In this section some of the main differences are considered. Further examples can be found in Section 5.27 Idiomatic phrases.
Subject following verb The English word order ‘subject-verb-object’ is acceptable in Tamasheq, but generally the order ‘verb-subject-object’ is preferred, e.g.: ăhalǝs extăs ašǝk The man cut down the tree
42 alǝs ixtăs ašǝk The man cut down the tree (subject-verb-object) extăs ăhalǝs ašǝk The man cut down the tree ixtăs alǝs ašǝk The man cut down the tree (verb-subject-object) Note that in this order the subject noun takes its annexed form (see Section 3.3 Nouns), e.g.: tihatten tattănăt alǝmmoẓ Sheep eat grass tihatten tattinăt alǝmmuẓ Sheep eat grass (subject-verb-object) tattănăt tǝhatten alǝmmoẓ Sheep eat grass tattinăt tǝhatten alǝmmuẓ Sheep eat grass (verb-subject-object)
Object before verb To stress the object it may be placed before the verb (in many cases this is equivalent to the English passive), e.g.: ašǝk extăs-ti ăhalǝs The tree was cut down by the man ašǝk ixtăs-te alǝs The tree was cut down by the man (lit. ‘The tree, he cut it, the man’) iwan ufân-tănăt ǝmnas Camels are better than cows šitan ofân-tănăt ǝmnas Camels are better than cows (lit. ‘Cows, they are better than them, camels’) taɣmărt n-ăɣalla ih-êt sălănga In the corner of the courtyard there is a latrine (lit. ‘Corner of the yard, it is in it, latrine’)
Differences in grammatical form Sometimes an active phrase in English is translated by a passive one in Tamasheq or vice versa. English adverbs are often translated by active verbs in Tamasheq generally changing the word order, e.g.: Măryama, tǝǵrăw-tăt tănăde Mary has got a fever Măryama, tǝgrăw-tăt tănăde Mary has got a fever (lit. ‘Mary, it has got her, a fever’) itrâb dăɣ ǝššǝɣǝl He works quickly (lit. ‘He is quick in work’) eɣewǝd wa igrâẓ y-Adămu Adamu likes that turban (lit. ‘The turban is pleasing to Adamu’)
Syntax and stress The same idea can be expressed in many ways with varying emphasis, e.g.: ‘Men don’t cook (millet) porridge’ meddăn wăr sǝkǝdiwăn ăsink (subject-verb-object) wăr sǝkǝdiwăn meddăn ăsink (verb-subject-object) ăsink wăr ti-sǝkǝdiwăn meddăn Porridge, men don’t cook it wădde meddăn a isăkădawăn ăsink It isn’t men who cook porridge wădde meddăn a săkădawnen ăsink It isn’t men who cook porridge
43 meddăn a wăren isǝkǝdiw ăsink Men are not the ones who cook porridge (ḍeḍen a ti-săkădawnen) (it is women who cook it) ăsink, meddăn a wăren t-isǝkǝdiw Porridge, men are not the ones who cook it (ḍeḍen a ti-săkădawnen) (it is women who cook it) meddăn wǝr sǝkǝdiwăn ǝšink (subject-verb-object) wǝr sǝkǝdiwăn meddăn ǝšink (verb-subject-object) ǝšink wǝr te-sǝkǝdiwăn meddăn Porridge, men don’t cook it wǝrge meddăn a isakădawăn ǝšink It isn’t men who cook porridge wǝrge meddăn a sakădawnen ǝšink It isn’t men who cook porridge meddăn a wǝr nǝsǝkǝdiw ǝšink Men are not the ones who cook porridge (tiḍoḍen a te-sakădawnen) (it is women who cook it) ǝšink, meddăn a tăy wǝr nǝsǝkǝdiw Porridge, men are not the ones who cook it (tiḍoḍen a te-sakădawnen) (it is women who cook it)
PosPositionition of prepositions In relative clauses such as ‘from which’, ‘with whom’, ‘in which’, the preposition follows the demonstrative pronoun (a / wa etc.) in Tamasheq, e.g.: awa ṭabǝl ta făl nǝtatt That is the table from which we eat awa ṭabǝl ta fǝl nǝtattu That is the table from which we eat aw’ abălboḍ wa dăɣ This is the bag in which tăwwărăɣ eɣnab I keep my pens awa abălboḍ wa dăɣ This is the bag in which tawwărăɣ iɣunab I keep my pens ihâ abălboḍ wa-s ǝmmăɣăɣ It is in the bag for which I am looking ihâ abălboḍ wa ǝgmăyăɣ It is in the bag for which I am looking tende ašǝk a dăɣ ităǵǵ A mortar, wood is what it is made from tende ašǝk a dăɣ itaggu A mortar, wood is what it is made from ǝnhăyăɣ amidi-nnăk. I saw your friend ǝnăyăɣ amidi-nnăk. I saw your friend ǝndek wa ? Which one? wa ɣor taɣaymed The one you stay with / with whom you stay wa ɣur taɣamăd The one you stay with / with whom you stay ǝtkălăɣ absăr I took a knife ǝtkălăɣ absǝr I took a knife ǝndek wa ? Which one?
44 wa-s tǝfrăsăd isan ihǝnnin The one with which you cut meat just now wa-s tǝfrăsăd isan ǝngom The one with which you cut meat just now
Series of verbs Tamasheq has no joining word (like English ‘and’) between consecutive verbs in a phrase, e.g.: awi-dd aman, tǝǵǝt-tăn dăɣ ǝlǝkkin Bring water (and) put it in the pot awi-dd aman, tăgăt-tăn dăɣ tayǝnt Bring water (and) put it in the pot dăɣ tifawt-i ǝnkărăɣ-id, This morning I got up ǝlseɣ imălsan-in and put on my clothes dăɣ tufat-a ǝnkărăɣ-dǝd, This morning I got up ǝlseɣ imălsan-in and put on my clothes
The supporting pronoun This pronoun / particle is used with a following relative clause to bring a noun in a phrase to the beginning for emphasis. It is especially used in questions and answers. Note that this can lead to a syntax that is unfamiliar to Europeans. It can be thought of as meaning ‘(it is / was) … that …’, e.g.: ǝššǝnšăɣ enăle I bought millet enăle a ǝššǝnšăɣ It was millet that I bought ǝzzǝnzăɣ enăle I bought millet enăle a ǝzzǝnzăɣ It was millet that I bought tǝkkêd hebu meɣ ? Are you going to market? hebu a tǝkked meɣ ? Is it to market that you are going? oseɣ-id ašăl wa-n hebu I arrived here on market day mǝnǵǝdu a dǝt-tosed ? When did you arrive here? ašăl wa-n hebu a dd-oseɣ It was on market day that I arrived oseɣ-dǝd azǝl wa-n hebu I arrived here on market day ǝmme a dǝt-tosed ? When did you arrive here? azǝl wa-n hebu a dd-oseɣ It was on market day that I arrived
To emphasise the subject To emphasise the subject ‘a’ is used with a participle (see Section 3.14 Participles), e.g.: ǝkneɣ bătbăt-in I fixed my motorbike năkku a iknăn bătbăt-in It was me who fixed my motorbike mi iknăn absăr wa ? Who made this knife? Ɣusman a tt-iknăn It was Rousman who made it iǵa awa făl-as awen-dăɣ He did that because that a ităwăǵǵen is what is done iga awa fǝl-as awen-dăɣ He did that because that a itawăggin is what is done
45 WWWithWith prepositions To emphasise a word which follows a preposition, the word is brought to the initial position in the sentence and the preposition then follows the supporting pronoun ‘a’, e.g.: ăḍkărăɣ alǝkkin dăɣ aman I filled the pot with water ma dăɣ tăḍkărăd alǝkkin ? What did you fill the pot with? aman a dăɣ ăḍkărăɣ alǝkkin It was with water that I filled the pot ǝḍkǝrăɣ tayǝnt dăɣ aman I filled the pot with water ma dăɣ tǝḍkǝrăd tayǝnt? What did you fill the pot with? aman a dăɣ ǝḍkǝrăɣ tayǝnt It was with water that I filled the pot
taǵǵănăt tikba dăɣ akof They make baskets with straw ma dăɣ taǵǵănăt tikba ? What do they make baskets with? akof a dăɣ tăǵǵănăt tikba It’s with straw that they make baskets tagginăt tikăboten dăɣ akof They make baskets with straw ma dăɣ tagginăt tikăboten ? What do they make baskets with? akof a dăɣ tagginăt tikăboten It’s with straw that they make baskets
mi dăr tǝmmǝǵrădăd ? Who did you speak to? amidi-nin a dăr ǝmmǝǵrădăɣ It was with my friend that I spoke mi dǝr tǝmmǝgrădăd ? Who did you speak to? amidi-nin a dǝr ǝmmǝgrădăɣ It was with my friend that I spoke
extăs ašǝk ǝs tutǝla He felled the tree with an axe ma-s extăs ašǝk ? What did he fell the tree with? tutǝla a-s t-extăs It was with an axe that he felled it ixtăs ašǝk ǝs taḍǝft He felled the tree with an axe ma-s ixtăs ašǝk ? What did he fell the tree with? taḍǝft a-s t-ixtăs It was with an axe that he felled it
Note: In this kind of phrase, the preposition ‘y’ meaning ‘to / for’ becomes ‘s’, e.g.: ăsgădăɣ y-ăradyo I listened to the radio ma-ssss tăsgădăd ? What did you listen to? ăradyo a-ssss ăsgădăɣ It was the radio that I listened to
ăsdărgănăɣ y-ăradyo I listened to the radio ma-ssss tăsdărgănăd ? What did you listen to? ăradyo a-ssss ăsdărgănăɣ It was the radio that I listened to
Meaning ‘since / for/ ago’ Used before a verbal clause expressing a time reference, ‘a’ expresses the passage of time which we would express in English by ‘since’, ‘for’ or ‘ago’ depending on context, e.g.:
46 a dd-oseɣ dăɣ, wǝr ǝnheyăɣ Musa Since I arrived I haven’t seen Musa a ilân ǝssin elăn, ǝkkeɣ Nyăme Two years ago I went to Niamey a iǵa ănḍǝšel, wăr oseɣ hebu I haven’t been to market since yesterday kăla wăr t-ǝnheyăɣ, a ikka Makăt I haven’t seen him since he went to Mecca wǝr ǝkkeɣ Waɣa a iǵa ǝssin orăn I haven’t been to Ouaga for two months a dd-oseɣ dăɣ, wǝr ǝneyăɣ Musa Since I arrived I haven’t seen Musa a ilân ǝššin elan, ǝkkeɣ Nyăme Two years ago I went to Niamey a iga ǝnḍazǝl, wǝr oseɣ hebu I haven’t been to market since yesterday kăla wǝr t-ǝneyăɣ, a ikka Makăt I haven’t seen him since he went to Mecca wǝr ǝkkeɣ Waɣa a iga sănatăt tǝlil I haven’t been to Ouaga for two months
Meaning ‘something’ Used with the participle it may be translated ‘something’ in the sense of ‘… that which is …’, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ a dd-išrăyăn I saw something new ǝnhăyăɣ a ăssuksăḍăn I saw something frightening ǝnăyăɣ a dd-izrăyăn I saw something new ǝnăyăɣ a issǝksăḍăn I saw something frightening
333.3...7777 Directional particles ( / ))) These particles attach to verbs and give a sense of direction / motion: dd = here / towards here in = there / away from here However, the idea of physical direction is not always evident.
Forms of ‘dd’ following the verb The directional particle follows the verb, unless the sentence structure brings it to the front. In Tamaghit it takes the form - ( or - among certain clans) when postverbal, e.g.: os-id He has arrived (here) ǝnkărăɣ-id I got up ikf-ahi-t-id He gave it to me kittoɣ-id isǝm-ǝnnes I remember his name Note, however, the following exceptions: awi-dd aman Bring water (contracted from ‘awǝy-id’) The form ‘-hid’ is rarely encountered. It is only used following the contracted masculine singular pronoun - -, e.g.:
47 nos-e-hid We came to him tǝkt-e-hid She remembered him In Tudalt the forms vary depending on whether the verb ends in a vowel or a consonant and whether or not a 3msg direct object pronoun is present, e.g.: os-ăddǝd He has arrived (here) oseɣ-dǝd I arrived nos-e-dǝd We came to him ǝnkărăɣ-dǝd I got up ikf-i-te-dǝd He gave it to me kattăɣ-dǝd isǝm-nes I remember his name Summary of Tudalt postverbal forms: Weak vowel (dropped) = ăddǝd os-ăddǝd Vowel (of pronoun) = dǝd nos-e-dǝd Consonant = dǝd oseɣ-dǝd
Note: In Tawellemmet - is pronounced - . This form is occasionally heard among Tudalt speakers in Oudalan.
Preverbal forms of ‘dd’ Negatives, question markers, relative markers (e.g. ) and the imperfective marker move it to the front of the verb. In this position, its form varies to facilitate pronunciation, e.g.: wăr d-osa He hasn’t arrived wǝr ǝdd-osa He hasn’t arrived wăr dǝt-tosa She hasn’t arrived wăr ma-dd-as He isn’t coming wǝr za-dd-asu He isn’t coming mi dd-osăn ? Who came? as d-osa, ăkf-e aman When he arrives give him water
Below is a summary of the possible preverbal contexts and the form of in each: V-V = dd a-dd-asăɣ V-C = dǝd a-dǝd-nas V-C = dǝd a-dǝd-nasu V-t = dǝt a-dǝt-tasăd C-V = d wăr d-osa C-V = ǝdd wǝr ǝdd-osa C-C = dǝd wăr dǝd-nosa C-t = dǝt wăr dǝt-tosa
Forms of ‘in’ In simple phrases it follows the verb taking the form - , e.g.: ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-ǝnnes I have forgotten its name ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-nes I have forgotten its name os-in ănḍǝšel He arrived there yesterday os-in ǝnḍazǝl He arrived there yesterday
48 eqqăl-in He went back there iqqăl-in He went back there In Tamaghit, the form - is used after the contracted 3msg pronoun. Tudalt makes the pronoun into a diphthong, e.g.: nos-e-hin We came to him (over there) tǝttǝw-e-hin She forgot him (/ it) nos-ăy-in We came to him (over there) tǝttǝw-ăy-in She forgot him (/ it) Negatives, questions markers etc. bring it in front of the verb where it takes the form - in Tamaghit, - in Tudalt, e.g.: wăr hin-tǝttǝwăd Don’t forget wǝr din-tǝttǝwăd Don’t forget a-hin-tăqqǝlăd meɣ ? Will you go back there? a-din-tǝqqǝlăd meɣ ? Will you go back there? If it is preceded by a pronoun, it takes the form - -, e.g.: wăr t-in-tǝttǝwăd Don’t forget it
333.3...8888 Demonstrative pronouns Tamasheq doesn’t have words for the definite article (the) as such, but does have demonstrative pronouns. It also has words for the indefinite article (a / some). Context often dictates whether a Tamasheq phrase without a demonstrative is translated with the definite, indefinite or without the article in English, basically depending on what has been said previously, e.g.: ǝglăn meddăn Some men left / the men left / men left osănăt-id ḍeḍen Some women came / the women came / women came osănăt-dǝd tǝḍoḍen Some women came / the women came / women came A qualified noun without a demonstrative is usually understood as indefinite, e.g.: ăhalǝs ǝn-Băyga os-id A man from Beyga came here alǝs ǝn-Băyga os-ăddǝd A man from Beyga came here ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs n-ănăsbăɣor I saw a rich man ǝnăyăɣ alǝs n-ănăsbăɣor I saw a rich man amnǝs măqqărăn ihâ hebu There is a big camel in the market ǝǵrăwăɣ tihun ămmutnen I got / found some dead batteries ǝgrăwăɣ tihun ǝmmutnen I got / found some dead batteries
Indefinite article Like many other languages, Tamasheq simply uses the number one to express the singular indefinite. For the indefinite plural the word ‘some / other’ is used. These articles are used to stress that the noun referred to is indefinite, e.g.: ăhalǝs ǝyyăn os-id A man came / one man came tamăṭṭ ǝyyăt tos-id A woman / one woman came alǝs ǝyyăn os-ăddǝd A man came / one man came tanṭuṭ ǝyyăt tos-ăddǝd A woman / one woman came
49 meddăn ǝyyăḍ osăn-id Some (other) men came ḍeḍen tǝyyăḍ osănăt-id Some (other) women came meddăn ǝyyăḍ osăn-dǝd Some (other) men came tiḍoḍen tǝyyăḍ osănăt-dǝd Some (other) women came
Demonstrative pronouns These are used to stress that the noun referred to is definite usually referring back to what has already been mentioned in the conversation. If the person / object has not just been mentioned there is usually sufficient precision that the listener should understand who or what is specifically being referred to. The most common demonstrative pronouns are: singular plural masculine wa wi feminine ta ti E.g.: ma tărhêd wa meɣ wa ? What do you want this or that? ma tǝrêd wa meɣ wa ? What do you want this or that? wa This one / that one ti These ones(f) / those ones(f) wa inna a-dd-as That one said he would come wa inna a-dd-asu That one said he would come ăhalǝs wa inn-ahi … This / that / the man said to me alǝs wa inn-i … This / that / the man said to me meddăn wi These men tas ta wăššâr This / that / the cow is old tast ta wăššâr This / that / the cow is old The demonstrative is usually used with participles and has the strength of the definite article. A second demonstrative is used to give demonstrative strength to the phrase, e.g.: ăkf-e e-wa ităǵǵăn ătay Give it to the one who is making tea ăkf-e i-wa itaggin ătay Give it to the one who is making tea wa ingăḍăn igla The turbaned one left amnǝs wa măqqărăn iha hebu The big camel is in the market amnǝs wa măqqărăn wa iha hebu That big camel is in the market The suffix - adds emphasis, e.g.: amnǝs wa-dăɣ This camel here / that camel there / this same camel / that very camel / the same camel / the very camel The demonstrative combines with the preposition to form qualifiers, e.g.: wan Gorăn Gorăn ikka hebu The one from Gorom went to market tamăṭṭ ta-n Săydu tos-id Saidou’s wife came tanṭuṭ ta-n Săydu tos-ăddǝd Saidou’s wife came ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wann ănăsbăɣor I saw the rich man ǝnăyăɣ alǝs wann ănăsbăɣor I saw the rich man Another common set of demonstrative pronouns expresses distance.
50 singular plural masculine wen win feminine ten tin E.g.: ăhalǝs wen That man (over there) alǝs wen That man (over there) meddăn win Those men (over there) teɣǝšmen tin-dăɣ Those very buildings (over there) tiɣǝzmen tin-dăɣ Those very buildings (over there) wen ingâḍăn The one over there wearing a turban In a story or account both sets can be used to mean the one just mentioned or described, e.g.: dăɣ ăzzăman wa In that time … dăɣ ăzzăman wen In those days … There are also extended forms of the demonstrative pronouns that add slight degrees of emphasis, e.g.: dăɣ ăzzăman wǝnnin In that time dăɣ ăzzăman innin In that time Another common demonstrative, especially with time words, is ‘-i’ in Tamaghit, ‘- a’ in Tudalt, e.g.: ašăl Day ašăl-i Today ašăl-i-dăɣ Today / this very day dăɣ tifawt-i-dăɣ This (very) morning azǝl Day azǝl-a Today azǝl-a-dăɣ Today / this very day dăɣ tufat-a-dăɣ This (very) morning All of the following simply refer back to someone / something already mentioned but with varying degrees of stress, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa / ăhalǝs-en / ăhalǝs wen / The man (just referred to) ăhalǝs-innin / ăhalǝs wǝnnin alǝs wa / alǝs-en / alǝs wen / The man (just referred to) alǝs-ǝngom / alǝs wǝngom In Tamaghit, etc. can sometimes be replaced by the invariable demonstrative , e.g.: Măssinăɣ di hannăyăn dăɣ ǝtunkǝl God the one who sees in secret (i.e. what is hidden) Another useful demonstrative is meaning ‘what / that’, e.g.: awa tǝnned tidǝt What you said is true wǝr ǝsleɣ y-awa tǝnned I didn’t hear what you said ma-mos awa ? What is that? ma-ymos awa ? What is that?
51 Supporting pronouns These mean ‘one’ or ‘of those’. They are used with participles in a special kind of descriptive construction. The syntax here is very different from English so care must be taken. Masculine sg and pl i Feminine sg and pl ti E.g.: ăhalǝs wa i wăššârăn That man is old alǝs wa i wăššârăn That man is old (lit. ‘Man that one who is old’) meddăn wi i wăššârnen Those men are old (lit. ‘Men those of those who are old’) tamăṭṭ ta ti wăššârăt That woman is old tanṭuṭ ta ti wăššârăt That woman is old ḍeḍen ti ti wăššârnen Those women are old tiḍoḍen ti ti wăššârnen Those women are old
333.3...9999 Verbal syssystemtem ––– introductory comments The Tamasheq verbal system is very different from the English system and it takes time and effort to get to grips with it. Compared with neighbouring Sub-Saharan African languages, or even Arabic, Tamasheq verbs are complex and take time to figure out. The difficulties lie in two areas: a) a system of ‘aspects’ that is very different to English tenses. b) the relatively large number of different verb groups (see ‘Verb groups’ Section 4). However Tamasheq verbs have some simplifying features. There is basically only one set of declensions for person / number / gender which apply (with slight modifications) to all verbs in all aspects. Also Tamasheq has no periphrastic tenses, the four aspects essentially cover all contexts.
The conconceptcept of aspects Tamasheq verbs are not particularly time orientated, unlike English verbs where time is the main frame of reference for choice of tense. Tamasheq has verbal ‘aspects’ rather than tenses. In choosing the aspect to use, it is the quality of the action rather than the time that it occurred that is important. Generally, it is the context, or supporting words that give the time reference. Like in Semitic languages the primary distinction is between actions viewed as completed (perfective aspect) and those considered ongoing (imperfective aspect). Tamasheq has developed two forms of each, one more ‘constative’ and the other more ‘descriptive’ giving a total of four aspects. It is better to learn to use Tamasheq phrases before trying to find ways of translating English tenses.
Forms of the Tamasheq verb The notes below give a concise overview of the various forms of the Tamasheq verb which you will encounter in the verb tables and which are described and explained in more detail later.
52 The perfective aspect (or simple perfect) most frequently refers to actions considered as complete (or considered as instantaneous) regardless of time reference, e.g. ‘he me’, ‘I ’, ‘When he …’. The stative aspect (or intensive perfect) generally refers to lasting states as the ongoing results of a completed action, e.g. ‘it ’, ‘he g ’, ‘the apples ’, ‘he / he ’. The imperfective aspect (or simple imperfect) most frequently refers to the future or to possible action (i.e. ‘projected’ in the mind). It is often used following a verb expressing emotion, decision or thought (in which case it often translated an English infinitive), e.g. ‘he today’, ‘I want ’, ‘I thought that I ’, ‘he refused c ’. The cursive aspect (or intensive imperfect) refers to ongoing actions regardless of time reference and often to habitual actions, e.g. ‘I milk’, ‘he g ’, ‘I here’, ‘water g in the lean-to’. The imperative mood is used to express commands. As it refers to what has not yet happened it is a kind of imperfect. It is usually a form of the imperfective, but the cursive imperative is also used to express something to be done repeatedly or an action to be begun and continued in. All aspects have participles used in relative clauses, e.g. ‘the one ’. All verbs have a verbal which may be translated by an English infinitive, participle or noun depending on context, e.g. ‘ ’, ‘ g ’, ‘ ’.
333.3...10101010 Introduction to aspects Tamasheq verbs have just four aspects (plus the imperative). Different grammar books give them different names. I have attempted to give them names that describe their most common usage as an aid to the language learner. In brackets are English translations of the names given by Karl Prasse, which might be considered as the standard names for the aspects. Galand’s terms in their original French follow in italics. Some older Berber grammars use the term ‘habitual’ for the ‘intensive imperfect’. Imperfective Cursive (Simple imperfect / ) (Intensive imperfect / cc )
Perfective Stative (Simple perfect / cc ) (Intensive perfect / ) The notes that follow describe the most frequent usage of each aspect in conversational Tamasheq. For further details of the range of usage of each aspect see Sections 3.19–3.22 ‘Uses of Perfective’ etc.
The perfective Perfective is best thought of as an abbreviation of ‘simple perfective aspect’. This is the most frequently used, and may be thought of as the default aspect used when nothing else is being stressed. Most often it is used as the simple past tense (e.g. I ate …) but it may be used for any action which is considered complete in
53 itself or instantaneous regardless of time. Generally, the context governs the temporal location, e.g.: ikf-ahi temeḍe He gave me 500CFA ikf-i temeḍe He gave me 500CFA inna ‘kăla kăla’ He said ‘no way’ izgăr He went out ibdăd He stood up mi tǝkked ănḍǝšel ? Where did you go yesterday? mi tǝkked ǝnḍazǝl ? Where did you go yesterday? ǝkkeɣ hebu I went to market
The stative Stative is best thought of as an abbreviation of ‘stative perfective aspect’, or ‘intensive perfect’ in Prasse’s system. This aspect usually describes a state (as the ongoing consequences of a completed action. It often translates the English perfect or pluperfect (e.g. I have eaten … / I had eaten …), or the present continuous where this refers to a state (e.g. He is standing up). It is often used in response to the question ‘are you going to … / have you …’ giving the meaning ‘I have already …’ or ‘It is already …’. (See also notes below on translating the English present continuous), e.g.: ăkkûs It has become hot (and so it is hot) ikkûs It has become hot (and so it is hot) ibdâd He has stood up (and so he is standing up) iglâ He has left (hence he is no longer here) izgâr He’s gone out (hence he is out) eṭṭâs He has fallen asleep (so he is asleep) iṭṭâs He has fallen asleep (so he is asleep) ǝbsăr ikăršăyăn (imperative) Hang out the clothes! ǝbsârăn They are already hanging out mi tǝkkêd ? Where are you going? ǝkkêɣ hebu I am going to market ărḍêɣ I agree ǝrḍêɣ I agree
The imperfective Imperfective is best thought of as an abbreviation of ‘simple imperfective aspect’. In everyday speech this aspect is most often used to describe actions that have not yet happened (or had not yet happened). It often translates the English future (e.g. I will eat …) but has wider uses, especially following verbs of emotion, thought, obligation or decision where it acts like a subjunctive (e.g. (that) I would eat …). In such cases it often replaces the English infinitive in translation. In certain circumstances it can be used like the cursive for refering to habitual actions but
54 unlike the cursive it can never translate the present / past continuous. The marker ‘ad’ is frequently used to introduce the imperfective, e.g.: ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I will learn Tamasheq ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I will learn Tamajeq ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I want to learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I want to learn Tamasheq ordêɣ a-tăt-ǝlmǝdăɣ I think / hope that I will learn it With pronouns and particles the marker ‘ad’ shortens to ‘a-’, e.g.: a-dd-as ašǝkka He will arrive (here) tomorrow a-ti-ăkfăɣ ătay I will give him tea a-dd-asu ažăkka He will arrive (here) tomorrow a-te-ăkfăɣ ătay I will give him tea
The cursive Cursive is best thought of as an abbreviation of ‘cursive imperfective aspect’, or ‘intensive imperfect’ in Prasse’s system. It expresses ongoing action. It is used for the present and past continious (I am eating … / I was eating …), also it is frequently used when describing habitual actions or repetitive ones (I eat … / I used to eat …). In this second sense you will often use it when asking cultural questions about what is usually done, e.g.: lammădăɣ Tămašăq I am learning Tamasheq iwan tattănăt alǝmmoẓ Cows eat straw tisǝd-id hebu kul meɣ ? Do you come for every market? ăru tašăɣalăɣ siha I used to work over there lammădăɣ Tǝmažǝq I am learning Tamajeq šitan tattinăt alǝmmuẓ Cows eat straw tasăd-dǝd hebu kul meɣ ? Do you come for every market? oho tašăɣalăɣ sa I used to work over there
Translating the English present / past continuous The English continuous tenses, which refer to ongoing actions or states in the past or present (‘He was sleeping’, ‘He is eating’), can be translated either by the stative, or the cursive. Usually the cursive is used. This is the main aspect for referring to ongoing actions whether past or present, e.g.: tattăɣ as d-osa I was eating when he arrived ara itaggăd The child is jumping (up and down) bărar itaggăd The child is jumping (up and down) Dăwda isarad Dawda is washing / was washing Dăwda išarad Dawda is washing / was washing itamăǵrad dăɣ Tămašăq He is / was speaking in Tamasheq itamăgrad dăɣ Tǝmažǝq He is / was speaking in Tamajeq aman taddămăn dăɣ tanda Water is dripping in the lean-to aman taṭṭăbăn dăɣ tanda Water is dripping in the lean-to lakkăwăɣ harwa I am still drawing water lakkăwăɣ hărwa I am still drawing water aratăn tišǝlăn dăɣ taberăt Children are running in the street bărarăn tazălăn dăɣ taberăt Children are running in the street
55 If the action is considered a state that has been entered into (rather than an action that is being continually renewed or repeated) then the stative is used. Some are ‘obviously’ states others less so. Carrying a bucket is a state in that it follows the single action of putting the bucket on the head – one could translate ‘the woman has a bucket on her head’ which brings it out more clearly, e.g.: eṭṭâs as d-oseɣ He was sleeping when I arrived iṭṭâs as d-oseɣ He was sleeping when I arrived ara ănnîd The child has a fever bărar innîd The child has a fever ăššêɣălăɣ ămăr-a I am working at the moment ǝššîɣălăɣ ămăr-a I am working at the moment as d-osa, ăššêɣălăɣ When he arrived, I was working as d-osa, ǝššîɣălăɣ When he arrived, I was working tamăṭṭ tăllînǵăt bokǝti The woman is carrying the bucket on her head tanṭuṭ tǝllîngăt bokǝti The woman is carrying the bucket on her head ămmînkădăɣ I am tired / I was tired ǝlwâgăɣ I am tired / I was tired aratăn ošâlăn dăɣ taberăt Children are running in the street bărarăn ozâlăn dăɣ taberăt Children are running in the street
An unstressed stative is often indistinguishable from the perfective and so in certain common phrases the perfective appears to be used (but these are probably best considered stative), e.g.: ǝkkêɣ hebu I am going to market (now) ǝglêɣ I am leaving (now) Note that a few verbs can use either the stative or the cursive with the same meaning.
333.3...11111111 Questions You can ask questions in Tamasheq by using a statement form with an interrogative intonation (i.e. rising at the end as in English), e.g.: tǝkked hebu You are going to market tǝkked hebu ? Are you going to market? hebu a tǝkked It’s to market (that) you are going hebu a tǝkked ? Is it to market (that) you are going? To make it clearer that it is a question add ‘or’, e.g.: hebu a tǝkked meɣ ? Is it to market you are going (or …)? tǝkked hebu meɣ ? Are you going to market (or …)? Alternatively , which is purely a question marker, e.g.: ak, tǝkked hebu? Are you going to market? Commonly, can be replaced with , but this is quite ugly Tamasheq.
Direct object (‘who’ / ‘what’) questions These are made using the interrogative pronouns ‘who’ or ‘what’, e.g.:
56 mi tǝnhăyăd ? Who did you see? mi tǝnăyăd ? Who did you see? ma tǝnhăyăd ? What did you see? ma tǝnăyăd ? What did you see? / What did you ride? ma tǝkned ? What are you making / repairing? ǝkneɣ absăr I am making a knife ǝkneɣ absǝr I am making a knife ma tǝǵed ? What are you doing? ma tǝged ? What are you doing? ma tăǵǵăd ašăl kul ? What do you do every day? ma taggăd azǝl kul ? What do you do every day? ma-môs awa ? What is that? ma-ymôs awa ? What is that? The interrogative marker ‘which’ can also be used for precision in direct object questions. ǝndek ašǝk wa extăs Săydu ? Which tree did Saidou cut down? ašǝk wa-n tǝboraqq a extăs He cut down the ‘taborak’ ǝndek ašǝk wa ixtăs Săydu ? Which tree did Saidou cut down? ašǝk wa-n tǝboraq a ixtăs He cut down the ‘taborak’
Indirect object questions These are questions regarding the indirect object of the verb (i.e. related to the verb by the indirect object marker ‘to / for’). If the indirect object is a person the question marker is ‘who to / for?’, in the rarer case that it is a thing the question marker is ‘what to / for?’, e.g.: mi-s tǝkned adăfor wa ? For whom are you making that cushion? ǝkneq-qi e-Săydu I am making it for Saidou ǝkneq-qe i-Săydu I am making it for Saidou ma-s tăqqâlăd ? What are you waiting for? ăqqâlăɣ e-torǝft I’m waiting for a vehicle ma-s tǝqqâlăd ? What are you waiting for? ǝqqâlăɣ i-turǝft I’m waiting for a vehicle Objects governed by prepositions are similar to this, e.g.: mi ɣor tăqqîmăd ? With whom are you staying? mi ɣur tǝqqîmăd ? With whom are you staying? ăqqîmăq-qor ǝmidi-nin I am staying with my friend ǝqqîmăq-qur ǝmidi-nin I am staying with my friend amidi-nin a ɣor ăqqîmăɣ It is with my friend that I stay amidi-nin a ɣur ǝqqîmăɣ It is with my friend that I stay mi dăr tămăǵradăd s-ălmăẓ ? Who do you talk with in the evenings? mi dǝr tamăgradăd s-ǝlmǝẓ ? Who do you talk with in the evenings? tamăǵradăɣ d-ǝmidi-nin I talk with my friend tamăgradăɣ d-ǝmidi-nin I talk with my friend
57 amidi-nin a-dăr-tămăǵradăɣ It is with my friend that I talk amidi-nin a-dǝr-tamăgradăɣ It is with my friend that I talk ma dăɣ iǵâ ? What was it made from? ma dăɣ igâ ? What was it made from? iǵâ dăɣ ašǝk It was made from wood igâ dăɣ ašǝk It was made from wood ma-s t-extăs ? What did he cut it down with? ma-s t-ixtăs ? What did he cut it down with? tutǝla a-s t-extăs He cut it down with an axe taḍǝft a-s t-ixtăs He cut it down with an axe
Subject (‘who’ / ‘what’) questions Where the answer to the question is the subject of the verb. These questions are expressed in Tamasheq by use of the question marker ‘who?’, or ‘what?’ plus the participle (see ‘Participles’ Section 3.14), e.g.: mi ošălăn ? Who ran? mi ozălăn ? Who ran? mi extăsăn ašǝk ? Who cut down the tree? mi ixtăsăn ašǝk ? Who cut down the tree? mi itaǵǵăn ătay ? Who makes tea? mi itaggăn ătay ? Who makes tea? ma kăy-iǵrâwăn ? What’s up? ma kăy-igrâwăn ? What’s up? (lit. ‘What has got you?’) Alternatively the question may be asked using ‘which?’, e.g.: ǝndek ara wa ošălăn ? Which child ran? ǝndek bărar wa ozălăn ? Which child ran? ara wa-n Săydu a ošălăn It was Saidou’s child who ran bărar wa-n Săydu a ozălăn It was Saidou’s child who ran
‘Why’ questions These are made using the phrase Ša / Za ‘what on / why’, e.g.: mafăl tǝǵed awa ? Why did you do that / why are you doing that? făl-as igrâẓ-ahi Because it pleases me mafăl tǝkked Gorăn ? Why did you go to Gorom? mafăl takkăd Gorăn Why do you go to Gorom ašăl wa-n ălxămis ? on Thursday? făl-as awen-dăɣ ašăl wa-n hebu Because that is market day măfel tǝged awa ? Why did you do that / why are you doing that? fǝl-as igrâẓ-i Because it pleases me măfel tǝkked Gorăn ? Why did you go to Gorom? măfel takkăd Gorăn Why do you go to Gorom azǝl wa-n ălxǝmis ? on Thursday? fǝl-as awen-dăɣ azǝl wa-n hebu Because that is market day
58 ‘When’ questions In Tamaghit ‘when’, in Tudalt ‘when’, e.g.: mǝnǵǝdu a tǝkked Gorăn ? When did you go to Gorom? mǝnǵǝdu a dǝt-tosed ? When did you arrive here? mǝnǵǝdu mad-tǝkkǝd Waɣa ? When will you go to Ouaga? ǝmme a tǝkked Gorăn ? When did you go to Gorom? ǝmme a dǝt-tosed ? When did you arrive here? ǝmme za-tăkkăd Waɣa ? When will you go to Ouaga?
How many These questions use the phrase ‘what (of) measure / how many / how much?’. In Tudalt may occasionally be heard, e.g.: man-iket eškan extăs ? How many trees did he fell? man-iket eškan ixtăs ? How many trees did he fell? man-iket aẓrǝf-ǝnnes ? How much (money) is it? man-iket aẓrǝf-nes ? How much (money) is it? man-iket elăn-nes ? How old is he? man-iket elan-nes ? How old is he? (lit. ‘How many his years?’)
‘Where’ questions These use ‘which’ plus Ša / Za which express being in a place or Ša / Za which express motion towards a place, e.g.: ǝndek diha-d tašăɣalăd ? Where do you work? ǝndek siha-s ošălăn ? Where did they run to? ǝndek diha-d illâ ? Where is he? ǝndek da-d tašăɣalăd ? Where do you work? ǝndek sa-s ozălăn ? Where did they run to? ǝndek diha-d illâ ? Where is he? In Tudalt the Tawellemmet form may also be heard: mǝni-d illâ ? Where is he? Note: the following two common verbs that use ‘who?’ in the sense of ‘where?’. These verbs take a place as their direct object, and the use of rather than probably expresses choice between a more limited number of options. mi tǝkked ? Where are you going? mi dǝt-tǝfălăd ? Where have you come from? These verbs can take ‘which’ when selecting more precisely, e.g.: ǝndek edăgg wa tǝkked ? Which place are you going to? ǝndek-ki hebu wa dǝt-tǝfălăd ? Which market have you come from?
‘How’ questions There are several ways of expressing this, with slight nuances of meaning: ‘what … so that / how’ ‘which that / how’ ‘(in) what manner that’
59 Depending on whether the reference is to the past ‘how did you …’, habitual ‘how do you …’ or future ‘ how will you …’ the perfective, cursive or imperfective will be used respectively, e.g.: ǝndek awa nǝtăǵǵ năǵ ătay ? How do we make tea? ǝndek awa nǝtaggu năgu ătay ? How do we make tea? (lit. ‘Which that we do, that we should make tea?’) ǝndek ǝmmǝk wa-s mad năǵ ătay ? How are we going to make tea? ǝndek ǝmmǝk wa-s za năgu ătay ? How are we going to make tea? (lit. ‘In what manner will we make tea?’) ma mad năǵ har năǵ ătay ? How are we going to make tea? ma za năgu har năgu ătay ? How are we going to make tea? (lit. ‘What are we going to do so as to make tea?’) ǝndek awa ǵed har tărẓed aḍăr-ǝnnăk ? How did you break your leg? (N.B. ‘ǵed’ is a contraction of ‘tǝǵed’) ǝndek awa tǝged har tǝrẓed aḍăr-năk ? How did you break your leg? (lit. ‘What did you do so that you broke your leg?’) ma tǝǵed har toḍed făl How did you fall off your bătbăt-ǝnnăk ? motorbike? ma tăged har tuḍed fǝl How did you fall off your bătbăt-năk ? motorbike? Among Tudalt speakers the Tawellemmet form may be heard, e.g.: man ǝmmǝk wa-s tǝkned bătbăt ? How did you fix the motorbike?
333.3...12121212 Negatives The negative in Tamasheq is formed by using the marker (in Tamaghit pronounced before consonants, ‘ă’, ‘a’, ‘e’, and ‘o’). Some people contract these to or even in rapid speech. Sometimes there is a change in the verb as well.
Perfective The negative perfective is the same in form as the positive, except for group I verbs where there is often a vowel change, e.g.: ǝkkân hebu They are going to market wǝr ǝkken hebu They are not going to market ǝkkêɣ anu I’m going to the well wǝr ǝkkeɣ anu I’m not going to the well tǝzzâyăd Musa meɣ ? Do you know Musa? wăr t-ǝzzeyăɣ făw I don’t know him at all os-id / os-ǝd / os-ăd He came os-ăddǝd He came wăr d-osa He didn’t come ǝssǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl He started work issǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl He started work wǝr ǝssǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl harwa He hasn’t started work yet wǝr issǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl hărwa He hasn’t started work yet
60 Stative The negative of the stative is always identical to the negative of the perfective, e.g.: ăkkûs It is hot wăr ăkkus It isn’t hot ămmînda It is finished wǝr ǝmmǝnda It isn’t finished issân Tămašăq He knows Tamasheq wǝr issen Tămašăq He doesn’t know Tamasheq ikkûs It is hot wǝr ikkus It isn’t hot immînda It is finished wǝr immǝnda It isn’t finished issân Tǝmažǝq He knows Tamajeq wǝr issen Tǝmažǝq He doesn’t know Tamajǝq
Imperfective The verb form doesn’t change but special marker words are added in place of , e.g.: ad ăkkăɣ hebu I will go to market wăr mad ăkkăɣ hebu I will not go to market wǝr z-ăkkăɣ hebu I will not go to market (See Section 3.21 Uses of Imperfective for more details)
Cursive For nearly all verbs, the negative cursive is slightly different from the cursive, e.g.: itatt enăle He eats millet wǝr itǝtt enăle He doesn’t eat millet ilammăd Tămašăq He is learning Tamasheq wǝr ilǝmmǝd Tămašăq He isn’t learning Tamasheq itattu enăle He eats millet wǝr itǝttu enăle He doesn’t eat millet ilammăd Tǝmažǝq He is learning Tamajeq wǝr ilǝmmǝd Tǝmažǝq He isn’t learning Tamajeq
Negatives of participles Participles have their own negative forms see Section 3.14 Participles and Section 4 Verb Tables for further details, e.g.: ǝnta a wăren ikka Tin-Akof It was he who didn’t go to Tin Akof ǝnta a wǝr nǝkka Tin-Akof It was he who didn’t go to Tin Akof ăhalǝs wa wăren ilmed Tarabt The man who hasn’t learned Arabic alǝs wa wǝr nǝlmed Tarabt The man who hasn’t learned Arabic
Nothing This is expressed by ‘nothing’, or by ‘something’ with the negative verb. The double negative ‘nothing’ with the negative verb is emphatic, e.g.: ma tǝnhăyăd ? What did you see? wăla! Nothing! wǝr ǝnheyăɣ wăla I saw nothing (at all) wǝr ǝnheyăɣ hărăt I didn’t see anything ma tǝnăyăd ? What did you see?
61 wăla! Nothing! wǝr ǝneyăɣ wăla I saw nothing wǝr ǝneyăɣ ărăt I didn’t see anything
NoNoNo-No ---oneone Similar to the above, e.g.: wǝr ǝnheyăɣ wǝlǝyyăn I saw no-one wǝr ǝnheyăɣ ăwadǝm I didn’t see anyone wǝr ǝnheyăɣ ăwadǝm wǝlǝyyăn I didn’t see anyone at all wǝr ǝneyăɣ wǝlǝyyăn I saw no-one wǝr ǝneyăɣ ăwadǝm I didn’t see anyone wǝr ǝneyăɣ ăwadǝm wǝlǝyyăn I didn’t see anyone at all
Never The adverb ‘ever / never / beforehand’ with the negative expresses ‘never’, e.g.: kăla wǝr ǝkkeɣ Abiǵa I have never been to Abidjan kăla wăr tăt-eḍes iǵi n-ăhăn She has never been married kăla wǝr tăt-iḍes igi n-ăhăn She has never been married (lit. ‘It has never touched her, doing of home’)
Nowhere The noun gg ‘place’ with the adverb ‘all / any’ or ‘not one’ and the negative verb expresses ‘nowhere’ or ‘not … anywhere’, e.g.: wăr tăt-ǝǵrewăɣ dăɣ ădăgg kul I didn’t find her anywhere wăr tăt-ǝgrewăɣ dăɣ ădăgg kul I didn’t find her anywhere wǝr ǝkkeɣ edăgg wăliyyăn I didn’t go anywhere wǝr ǝkkeɣ edăgg wǝliyyăn I didn’t go anywhere
It isn’t This is expressed by a useful little negative word that has a variety of forms as shown below, e.g.: wădden aɣănib It isn’t a pen udde aɣănib It isn’t a pen wǝrgin ǝɣanib It isn’t a pen ugge ǝɣanib It isn’t a pen năkku, wădde ămănokal, talăqqe ɣas I’m not a chief, (I’m) just a poor man năkku, wǝrgeɣ amǝnokal, talǝqqe ɣas I’m not a chief, (I’m) just a poor man mi iǵăn awa ? wădde năk ! Who did that? Not me! mi igăn awa ? wǝgge năk ! Who did that? Not me!
Multiple negatives Adverbial markers can be strung together in a negative phrase to generate multiple negatives, e.g.: ăwadǝm kul wǝr inna hărăt Nobody at all said anything ăwadǝm kul wǝr inna ărăt Nobody at all said anything ăwadǝm wăliyyăn wǝr inna wăla Nobody at all said anything ăwadǝm wǝliyyăn wǝr inna wăla Nobody at all said anything
62 Never again Two constructions are equivalent, both using verbs to express the negative idea, e.g.: wǝr ilkem lit. ‘It will not follow’ wăr mad alǝsăɣ I will not repeat wǝr z-alǝsăɣ I will not repeat wǝr ilkem a-dd-ăqqǝlăɣ diha I will never come back here again wăr ma-dd-alǝsăɣ oɣǝl ǝn-diha I will never come back here again wǝr ilkem ad ăkkăɣ dihen I will never go there again wăr mad alǝsăɣ iki ǝn-dihen I will never go there again wǝr ilkem a-dd-ǝqqǝlăɣ da I will never come back here again wǝr za-dd-alǝsăɣ uɣǝl ǝn-da I will never come back here again wǝr ilkem ad ăkkăɣ den I will never go there again wǝr z-alǝsăɣ iki ǝn-den I will never go there again
No more This is expressed by ‘no longer’ (from ‘[there is] cessation [of] that …’) with a positive verb in the cursive (Tudalt may also use ), e.g.: ib-as šanšeɣ kăfe I no longer buy coffee ib-as zanzăɣ kăfe I no longer buy coffee
333.3...13131313 Qualifiers There are no adjectives as such in Tamasheq, instead verbs and nouns are used as qualifiers. Often, descriptions are done by verbs in the stative aspect. Many verbs in all groups have an qualitative meaning and in addition Group IV is composed entirely of qualitative verbs, e.g.: ăkkûs It is hot ikkûs It is hot ǝbdâǵăn They are wet ǝbdâgăn They are wet wăššâr He / she is old Note: such verbs used in the perfective would means ‘to get …’ or ‘to become …’, e.g.: ăkkus It became hot ikkus It became hot ǝbdăǵăɣ I got wet ǝbdăgăɣ I got wet as wăššăr … When he / she became old … The imperfective of such verbs is occassionally used, e.g.: as tǝǵed tăẓoli dăɣ ăfew, ad tukas If you put metal in fire it will become hot as tǝged tǝẓoli dăɣ tămse, ad tukas If you put metal in fire it will become hot ad ăqqaymăɣ har toɣar taberăt I will wait until the road dries ad ăqqamăɣ har tuɣar taberăt I will wait until the road dries
63 The cursive is very rare, e.g.: efew ǝn-tămse wǝr itǝmǝttit The fire of Hell never dies
Participles (see next section) These form subordinate clauses qualifying a noun, which thus act like adjectives. When definite (taking ‘the’ or ‘that’ etc. in English) they are preceded by the demonstrative pronoun , the stress is more on the noun and the perfective participle is used. If the qualified noun is indefinite (preceded by ‘a’ or ‘some’ in English) the stress is more on the qualifier and the stative participle is used, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa Măryama, os-id The man Mary, came alǝs wa Măryama, os-ăddǝd The man Mary, came ăhalǝs wa os-id The man came alǝs wa os-ăddǝd The man came (i.e. The old man came) ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs gg I saw a camel c ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs z gg I saw a camel c (i.e. I saw a red camel) ǝngăḍăɣ eɣewǝd wa I wore the turban c ǝngăḍăɣ eɣewǝd wa g I wore the turban c (i.e. I wore the wet turban)
Nouns as qualifiers As in English nouns may be used as qualifiers. The preposition ‘n’ links the qualfier to the noun qualified. ‘n’ is usually preceded by one of the forms of the demonstrative pronoun , e.g.: Ɣusman wan ănhăḍ Rousman the blacksmith Ɣusman wan ănăḍ Rousman the blacksmith Ɣusman wan ǝfullan Ousman the Fulani Ɣusman wan ǝfollan Ousman the Fulani ašăl wan hebu Market day azǝl wan hebu Market day hebu wann ǝmnas The camel market ašăl wan hebu wann ǝmnas Tin Akof camel market day wan Tin-Akof azǝl wan hebu wann ǝmnas Tin Akof camel market day wan Tin-Akof tamăṭṭ tan Ɣusman Rousman’s wife tanṭuṭ tan Ɣusman Rousman’s wife ell-es tan Săydu Saidou’s daughter A large number of Tamasheq nouns are ‘adjectival’ and frequently used in this type of construction, e.g.: ăwadǝm wann ănăsbăɣor A / the rich person ara wann ăhalǝs A / the male child bărar wann alǝs A / the male child tarat tan tămăṭṭ A / the female child tabărart tan tǝnṭuṭ A / the female child
64 ǝn-kufar Western / modern / state (lit. ‘Of the infidel’) ǝššǝɣǝl wan kufar Formal employment / administrative work asǝyar wan kufar A spanner (lit. ‘An infidel key’) ǝn-bănnan Useless / free / spontaneous etc. ăwadǝm ǝn-bănnan A worthless person enăle ǝn-bănnan Spontaneous (wild) millet ǝššǝɣǝl ǝn-bănnan Worthless (or fruitless) labour
Expressing ‘belonging to’ The supporting pronoun ‘i’ followed by the preposition ‘n’ expressed belonging, e.g.: aɣănib wa i-n Măryama That pen belongs to Maryama ǝɣanib wa i-n Măryama That pen belongs to Maryama bătbăt ta ti-n Musa That motorbike belongs to Musa iwan ti ti-n Dăwda Those cows belong to David šitan ti ti-n Dăwda Those cows belong to David
The prefix is an adjectival prefix meaning ‘bad’, its feminine form is , e.g.: erk-nǝzgam Wrong thoughts erk-ăwadǝm A bad person ter-taberăt The wrong path ter-tǝmudre A bad life(style) // suffering In Tudalt the Tawellemmet forms may be heard.
333.3...14141414 Participles Participles are used exclusively in relative clauses in Tamasheq. They qualify (or occasionally replace) a noun. In this way often fulfil the role of the English adjective. They are preceded by the demonstrative pronoun if they are definite (take ‘the’ in English). When definite they are generally in the perfective aspect (less stressed than the stative). To have demonstrative strength they can take a second demonstrative pronoun either after the noun or after the participle. If there is no demonstrative pronoun before the participle the clause is considered indefinite (takes ‘a’ in English). In this case they are generally in the stative aspect, e.g.: ăhalǝs gǝzzǝ̂lăn, os-id A short man came here ăhalǝs wa gǝzzǝlăn, os-id The short man came here ăhalǝs wa gǝzzǝlăn wa, os-id That short man came here ăhalǝs wa, wa gǝzzǝlăn, os-id That man, the short one, came here ta gǝzzǝlăt, tos-id The short (woman) came here ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs wa măqqărăn I saw the camel c g (i.e. I saw the g camel)
65 ăhalǝs wa ibdădăn daw ašǝk, The man g under ǝmmǝǵrăd-ahi the tree, spoke to me tamăṭṭ ta tǝddăhăt enăle, tǝǵa tǝdda The woman , made the millet drink ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ăbălboḍ-in I am looking for my bag wa ămekărăn which has been stolen alǝs gǝzzûlăn, os-id A short man came here alǝs wa gǝzzulăn, os-ăddǝd The short man came here alǝs wa gǝzzulăn wa, os-id That short man came here alǝs wa, wa gǝzzulăn, os-id That man, the short one, came here ta gǝzzulăt, tos-ăddǝd The short (woman) came here ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs wa măqqărăn I saw the camel c g (i.e. I saw the g camel) alǝs wa ibdădăn daw ašǝk, The man g under immǝgrăd-i the tree, spoke to me tanṭuṭ ta tǝddăt enăle, tǝga tǝdda The woman , made the millet drink ǝgmăyăɣ abălboḍ-in I am looking for my bag wa immokărăn which has been stolen
Forms of participparticiplesleslesles Participles may be masculine singular, feminine singular or plural. They have a regular formation as follows: msg i- -ăn fsgfsgfsg tǝ- -ăt plplpl - -nen Note that the msg form is like the form of a plural masculine noun. This can be a source of confusion so care should be taken. These prefixes and suffixes can be modified depending on the exact verbal form they are attached to. See Verb groups in Section 4 for details of their formation for each type of verb in each aspect. Participles are a part of the verbal system, existing in all four aspects. (What the person or thing they are qualifying is doing may be perceived as an instantaneous action, an enduring state, a possible action or a recurrent one), e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa I saw the man Tǝfollant Fulfulde ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa I saw the man g Tămašăq Tamasheq ǝnhăyăɣ ḍeḍen ti I saw the women w g Tămašăq Tamasheq ǝnhăyăɣ tamăṭṭ ta I saw the woman g Makăt to Mecca ǝnăyăɣ alǝs wa I saw the man Tǝfollant Fulfulde ǝnăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa I saw the man g Tǝmažǝq Tamajeq
66 ǝnăyăɣ ḍeḍen ti I saw the women Tămašăq g Tamajeq ǝnăyăɣ tanṭuṭ ta z I saw the woman g Makăt to Mecca
Questions The masculine singular of the participle is used for all questions where the subject is being sought, e.g.: mi isăkădawăn ăsink ? Who prepares millet porridge? mi isakădawăn ǝšink ? Who prepares millet porridge? mi dd-osăn ănḍ-ăhăḍ ? Who arrived last night? mi dd-osăn ǝnḍ-ahăḍ ? Who arrived last night? mi ikkăn Waɣa ? Who went to Ouaga? The appropriate gender / number participle is used in the reply, e.g.: tamăṭṭ a săkădawăt ăsink It is the woman who prepares millet porridge tanṭuṭ a tǝsakădawăt ǝšink It is the woman who prepares millet porridge inaftaɣăn-nănăɣ a dd-osănen It was our guests who arrived năkku a ikkăn Waɣa It was I who went to Ouaga
Participles with the imperfective In Tamaghit the imperfective participle takes and loses the usual suffixes, e.g.: ǝndek-ki ăhalǝs wa maden ăǵ Where is the man who will ătay ? make the tea? tamăṭ ta maden dǝt-tas The woman who will come ǝmmăɣăɣ e-meddăn wi maden I’m looking for the man who ăqqǝn tanda-nin will build my lean-to In Tudalt the imperfective participle takes z and retains the usual suffixes, e.g.: ǝndek-ke alǝs wa z-ăgin ătay ? Where is the man who will make the tea? tanṭut ta za-dǝt-tasu The woman who will come ǝgmăyăɣ meddăn wi z-ǝqqǝnnen I’m looking for the man who tanda-nin will build my lean-to
Negative participles In Tamaghit the negative participle loses the usual suffixes and is preceded by (the Tadghaq form may also be heard), e.g.: ăhalǝs wa wăren ilmed Tămašăq The man who hasn’t learned Tamasheq tamăṭṭ ta wăren tǝssen Tafrănsit The woman who doesn’t know French meddăn wi wăren igla The men who didn’t go In Tudalt the negative participle takes and loses the usual prefixes and suffixes, e.g.: alǝs wa wǝr nǝlmed Tǝmažǝq The man who hasn’t learned Tamajeq
67 tanṭuṭ ta wǝr nǝssen Tafrănsit The woman who doesn’t know French meddăn wi wǝr nǝgla The men who didn’t go
Note Phrases such as ‘the man in the market’ are not translated using the participle. In such cases ‘the man’ is the object not the subject of the verb, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa ǝnhăyăɣ dăɣ hebu The man whom I saw in the os-id market has come alǝs wa ǝnăyăɣ dăɣ hebu The man whom I saw in the os-ăddǝd market has come Similary phrases such as ‘the man in the market’ are not translated using the participle either. Here ‘the man’ is the indirect object of the verb. Note that the indirect object marker ‘y’ becomes ‘s’ when moved to before the verb, e.g.: ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ăhalǝs dăɣ hebu I looked for the man in the market ăhalǝs wa-s ǝmmăɣăɣ dăɣ hebu The man for whom I looked in os-id the market came here Finally, phrases such as ‘the bag in which I left my things’ do not use the participle. Here ‘the bag’ is an object governed by a pronoun, e.g.: oyyeɣ ilalăn-in dăɣ ăbălboḍ I left my things in a bag okăr abălboḍ wa dăɣ oyyeɣ He stole the bag in which I left ilalăn-in my things ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ăbălboḍ wa dăɣ I am looking for the bag in which oyyeɣ ilalăn-in I left my things ǝgmăyăɣ abălboḍ wa dăɣ I am looking for the bag in which oyyeɣ ilalăn-in I left my things In English ‘which’ can be a marker for both subject and object and this can be a source of confusion. Only when it is subject is the participle used, e.g.: amnǝs wa ǝnăyăɣ The camel which I rode (direct object) amnǝs wa oḍăn The camel which fell amnǝs wa uḍăn The camel which fell (subject) amnǝs wa făl oḍeɣ The camel from which I fell amnǝs wa fǝl uḍeɣ The camel from which I fell (adverbial complement)
333.3...15151515 Pronouns Pronouns in Tamasheq are straightforward in outline and a little tricky in detail. They vary somewhat in different contexts as to their precise pronunciation.
Independent personal pronouns These are not obligatory before the verb and are used only for emphasis, or before imperatives and participles to denote or emphasise who is referred to.
68 I năk / năkku ( before a vowel) You (msg) kăy / kăyyu ( before a vowel) You (fsg) kăm / kămmu ( before a vowel) He / she ǝnta We năkkăneḍ We (fpl) năkkănăteḍ You (pl) kăwăneḍ You (fpl) kămăteḍ They ǝntăneḍ They (f) ǝntănăteḍ We năkkăned We (fpl) năkkănăted You (pl) kăwăned You (fpl) kămăted They ǝntăned They (f) ǝntănăted E.g.: năkku, ad ăkkăɣ Gorăn Myself, I will go to Gorom kăyy, awi-dd aman You, bring water! ǝnta, a innăn adi It was him (/ her) who said that
Possessive pronouns These are suffixed to the noun possessed (or to the demonstrative pronoun for emphasis). Depending on the ending of that noun the form varies slightly to facilitate pronunciation. Tamaghit and Tudalt differ somewhat in the details. (after (after (after any any C) any V) other C) (after ‘n’) My -in -nin -in Your (msg) -năk -nnăk -ǝnnăk Your (fsg) -năm -nnăm -ǝnnăm His / her -nes -nnes -ǝnnes Our -nănăɣ -nănăɣ -nănăɣ Your (mpl) -năwăn -năwăn -năwăn Your (fpl) -năkmăt -năkmăt -năkmăt Their (mpl) -năsăn -năsăn -năsăn Their (fpl) -năsnăt -năsnăt -năsnăt (The DWY form for ‘his/her’ - etc., does not occur in Oudalan.) E.g.: ehăn-in My home ehăn-năk Your home amidi-nin My friend amnǝs-in My camel amnǝs wa-nin My camel (emphatic) amnǝs-ǝnnăk Your camel amnǝs-năk Your camel
69 amidi-nnăk Your friend awa i-nnăk That is yours i-nnu It is mine (Alternative to ‘i-nin’)
Reflexive pronouns Reflexive pronouns are expressed using ‘self’ plus the possessive, e.g.: ǝngăḍăɣ eɣewǝd-in iman-in I put on my turban myself mi iknăn tăkoba-nnăk ? Who made your sword? ǝkneq-qăt iman-in I made it myself năkku a tăt-iknăn It was I that made it năkk iman-in a tăt-iknăn (It was) I myself that made it ǝnta iman-nes a tăt-iknăn He himself made it As with English ‘self’ the construction with is also used in order to put emphasis on a preceding noun or pronoun, e.g.: mi ăsserădăn ilalăn n-ătay ? Who washed the tea things? năkku iman-in a tăn-ăsserădăn I washed them myself mi iššorădăn ilalăn n-ătay ? Who washed the tea things? năkku iman-in a tăn-iššorădăn I washed them myself
Possessive pronouns special forms Several important nouns take special shorter versions of the possessive suffixes, e.g.: ror-es His son rur-es His son ti-k Your(msg) father mǝddan-ǝs His sons măddan-ǝs His sons These fall into a small number of sets of suffixes as listed below. set ‘a’‘a’‘a’ ‘aa’ ‘b’‘b’‘b’ ‘bb’ ‘c’‘c’‘c’ My -i -ɣ -e / -eɣ -i / -iɣ -i Your (msg) -ǝk -k -ek -ik -ak Your (fsg) -ǝm -m -em -im -am His / her -ǝs -s -es -is -as Our -năɣ -năɣ -enăɣ -inăɣ -anăɣ Your (mpl) -wăn -wwăn -ewwăn -iwwăn -awăn Your (fpl) -kmăt -kmăt -ekmăt -ikmăt -akmăt Their (m) -săn -ssăn -essăn -issăn -asăn Their (f) -snăt -snăt -esnăt -isnăt -asnăt Set ‘a’ includes tăy- Fathers mǝddan- Sons măddan- Sons mǝssaw- Masters The following nouns take set ‘aa’: măssa- Owner / boss (fsg) ma- Mother
70 ti- Father ši- Father ăŋŋa- Brother wălăt-ma- Sister wǝlǝt-ma- Sister ayǝt-ma- Brothers šăt-ma- Sisters ăššet-ma- Sisters ăŋŋăt-ma- (Maternal) uncle These take set ‘b’: ǝssin- Both of / two of ǝššin- Both of / two of kăraḍ- (All) three (and all 4-9 too) of măraw- (All) ten of hănn- Wife ell- Daughter ror- Son rur- Son iss- Daughters ešš- Daughters mǝssawăt- Owners / bosses (fpl) As does this preposition: ǵer- between gǝr- between These take set ‘bb’: măss- Master / owner (msg) hănn- Wife Set ‘c’ is used in Malian dialects: măssaw- Masters măddan- Sons
Prepositions with pronouns Prepositions also take the shortened forms of the possessive pronouns. Besides gǝr in set ‘b’ above there are two sets as listed below. dăɣ-, dǝr-, sǝr- făll- ɣor-, ǵǝnnǝǵ- dat- ɣur-, gǝnnǝg- ḍar- (< ḍarăt) dǝffǝr- daw- dat-, daw- daw- (optionally) Me -i -i You (msg) -ǝk -ak You (fsg) -ǝm -am Him / her -ǝs -as Us -năɣ -anăɣ
71 You (mpl) -wăn -awwăn You (fpl) -ǝkmăt -akmăt Them (m) -săn -assăn Them (f) -ǝsnăt -asnăt In Tamaghit both and may shorten to in all forms except 1sg, e.g.: iwăn ṭabǝl, oḍa făll-as He got on the table, he fell off it iwăn ṭabǝl, uḍa făll-as He got on the table, he fell off it ad idawăɣ dăr-săn I will go with them ad idawăɣ dǝ-săn I will go with them eqqǝyma ɣor-i He stayed with me iqqima ɣur-i He stayed with me
Direct object pronouns These follow the verb except in questions, negatives and a few other cases where they are drawn to the front. The forms differ slightly depending on whether they are before or after the verb and when following vowel-ending verb forms, there is a distinctive set. After a After a vowel Before verb consonant (vowel dropped) Me -ahi -ahi hi- Me -i -i di- You (msg) -kăy -ik kăy- You (fsg) -kăm -im kăm- Him -ti -e tt- / ti- Him -te /-tăy -e / -ăy tt- / te- Her -tăt -et tăt- Us -anăɣ -anăɣ hanăɣ- Us -anăɣ -anăɣ danăɣ- You (mpl) -kăwăn -iwăn kăwăn- You (fpl) -kămăt -ikmăt kămăt- Them (m) -tăn -en tăn- Them (f) -tănăt -enăt tănăt- E.g.: inhăy-ti He saw him inăy-tăy He saw him ikf-e amidi-nnes He gave it to his friend iwăt-anăɣ He hit us ikš-ik He ate (defeated) you a-hanăɣ-ǝnhǝy He will see us a-danăɣ-ǝnǝy He will see us ǝnhăyăq-qăy I saw you (ɣ + k = q-q) ǝnăyăq-qăy I saw you (ɣ + k = q-q) ǝnhăyăq-qi I saw him (ɣ + t = q-q) ǝnăyăq-qe I saw him (ɣ + t = q-q) wăr t-ǝnheyăɣ I didn’t see him wăr ti-ǝnheyăɣ I didn’t see him
72 wǝr t-ǝneyăɣ I didn’t see him wǝr tăy-ǝneyăɣ I didn’t see him
Indirect object pronouns Like the direct object pronouns these follow the verb except in questions, negatives and a few other cases where they are drawn to the front. The forms differ slightly depending on whether they are before or after the verb. Unlike the direct object pronouns there is no distinctive set when following a vowel-ending verb, the verb simply loses its final vowel and the standard set is used. After verb before verb before verb Me -ahi hi- Me -i di- You (msg) -ak hak- dak- You (fsg) -am ham- dam- Him/her -as has- das- Us -anăɣ hanăɣ- danăɣ- You (mpl) -awăn hawăn- dawăn- You (fpl) -akmăt hakmăt- dakmăt- Them (m) -asăn hasăn- dasăn- Them (f) -asnăt hasnăt- dasnăt- E.g.: ǝnneɣ-as I said to him a-has-ănnăɣ I will tell him inn-ahi He said to me wăr hak-ǝnneɣ wăla I didn’t say anything to you a-das-ănnăɣ I will tell him inn-i He said to me wǝr dak-ǝnneɣ wăla I didn’t say anything to you In Tamaghit occasionally the preverbal form is used following a vowel-ending or independantly. This form is used for stress, e.g.: inna-hak He said to a-has-eɣrǝs hak He will slaughter it for you
Note The verb ‘give’ normally takes two direct objects, e.g.: ǝkfeɣ amidi-nin tăkoba I gave my friend a sword ǝkfeq-qăt amidi-nin I gave it to my friend ǝkfeq-qi tăkoba I gave him a sword ǝkfeq-qe tăkoba I gave him a sword But if objects are pronouns the receiver becomes an indirect object, e.g.: ǝkfeɣ-as-tăt I gave it to him Similarly the verb ‘ask for/ beg’, e.g.: ăwadǝm idăl amidi-nnes taḷǝmt Someone asked his friend for a (female) camel idăl-ti taḷǝmt He asked him for the camel idăl-tăy taḷǝmt He asked him for the camel
73 idăl-tăt amidi-nnes He asked his friend for it but: idăl-as-tăt He asked him for it (lit. ‘He asked of him it’)
Word order Pronouns usually follow the verb. They are brought to the front by the negative marker , the future marker , the conjunctions / / etc., and the demonstrative pronouns , etc., e.g.: ǝnhăyăq-qi I saw him wăr t-ǝnheyăɣ I didn’t see him ǝnneɣ-as … I said to him … wăr has-ǝnneɣ wăla I didn’t say anything to him ma hi-tǝnned ? What did you say to me? ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa tăt-okărăn I saw the man who stole it ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa hak-ǝmmǝǵrădăn I saw the man who spoke to you ilkăm, a-hak-ti-ăkfăɣ Afterwards I will give it to you as ti-tǝnhăyăd … If you see him … ǝnăyăq-qe I saw him wǝr t-ǝneyăɣ I didn’t see him ǝnneɣ-as … I said to him … wǝr das-ǝnneɣ wăla I didn’t say anything to him ma di-tǝnned ? What did you say to me? ǝnăyăɣ alǝs wa tăt-okărăn I saw the man who stole it ǝnăyăɣ alǝs wa dak-immǝgrădăn I saw the man who spoke to you ilkăm, a-dak-tăy-ăkfăɣ Afterwards I will give it to you as te-tǝnăyăd … If you see him …
333.3...16161616 Orders, prohibitions and injunctions
The imperative The imperative is a form of the imperfective, usually the simple imperfective, e.g.: ăkf ! Give! ăff ! Give! awi-dd ! Bring (here)! awi-dd aman ! Bring water (here)! lăɣăt-ahi ma tămos tende Explain to me what a ‘tende’ is lăɣăt-i ma tǝmos tende Explain to me what a ‘tende’ is măǵrăd s-ăfălla, wăr hak-ǝsleɣ Speak up, I can’t hear you măgrăd s-ăfălla, wǝr dak-ǝsleɣ Speak up, I can’t hear you It has one singular form and two plural forms (masculine and feminine), e.g.: ǝgǝl ! Go away! (sg) ăglăt ! Go away! (mpl) ǝglǝmăt ! Go away! (fpl) ăglu ! Go away! (sg) ăglăt ! Go away! (mpl) ăglimăt ! Go away! (fpl)
74 In a series of commands the c (omitting ‘ad’) is used for second and subsequent instructions, e.g.: awi-dd aman, -tăn dăɣ Bring water, it in the ălbărrad, -ti efew tea-pot, it on the fire awi-dd aman, g -tăn dăɣ Bring water, it in the ǝlbǝrrad, -tăy temse tea-pot, it on the fire
The cursive imperative (quite rare) This uses the stem of the cursive (identical in form to the 3fsg) with the imperative suffixes in the plural, and refers to general or repeated actions, e.g.: tatt hullen ! Eat well! tattu hullen ! Eat well! sassăt axx ! Drink milk! (to a group of people) sassăt ax ! / sassiwăt ax ! Drink milk! (to a group of people)
Prohibition Normally, the negative perfective is used in Oudalan (especially by Tamaghit speakers), the context gives the sense, e.g.: wǝr tǝkked hebu ! Don’t go to market ! / You didn’t go to market / You are not going to market wăr tokerăd ! Don’t steal ! / You didn’t steal The negative cursive imperative is possible in Tamaghit. This uses the short form of the cursive (which is sometimes the same as the negative cursive), e.g.: wăr tikǝr ! Do not steal! wăr tikǝrăt ! Do not steal! (to a group of people) wăr săssăt ax ! Do not drink milk! (to a group of people) An alternative form of prohibition (used by Tudalt speakers) uses the imperfective, e.g.: ad-wǝr-takǝrăd ! Do not steal! ad-wǝr-tikǝrăd ! Do not steal! (cursive) ad-wǝr sassim ax ! Do not drink milk! (to a group of people)
The injunctive This uses the imperfective (or cursive) + ‘et’. It expresses desire or permission. It is never used in the second person where the imperative is used, e.g.: ăglet ! Let him leave! / He should leave (Like the French ‘qu’il parte!’) ǝnneɣ-as aset-id I told him to come (here) ǝnneɣ-as aset-dǝd I told him to come (here) The third person plural has an unusual form. The same form is used for both masculine and feminine, omitting the vowel of the 3mpl ending, e.g. : ǝlkǝmnet-as ! They should follow him! asǝnet-id iman-năsăn ! They should come here themselves! asǝnet-dǝd iman-năsăn ! They should come here themselves!
75 Negative injunctive In Tamaghit this uses the short form of the cursive, in Tudalt the negative cursive. These cursive forms are used even when referring to a single event, e.g.: ǝnneɣ-as wăr d-itiset I told him not to come ti-s inna wǝr ităkket hebu His father told him not to go to market ti-s inna wǝr itǝkket hebu His father told him not to go to market Again the third person plural has the special condensed form mentioned above, e.g.: wăr-kăwăn-ǵărrăwnet nǝzgam ! Don’t worry! wǝr-kăwăn-gǝrrǝwnet nǝzgam ! Don’t worry! (lit. ‘Let not worries get you’)
Let us … In Tamaghit (and Tudalt), this is expressed using the injunctive, e.g.: năglet ! Let’s leave! năkket hebu ! Let’s go to market! In Tudalt, it is also expressed by the plural imperative plus pronoun, e.g.: ăglăt-anăɣ ! Let’s leave! ăkkăt-anăɣ hebu ! Let’s go to market!
333.3...17171717 Verbal nouns All verbs have verbal nouns. They perform similar functions to the infinitive (and participles) of English. They are widely used in Tamasheq.
Occupations Verbal nouns are frequently used when talking about occupations / activities, e.g.: tamăḍint Shepherding tamǝḍint Shepherding aǵăyak Cultivation / weeding agăyak Cultivation / weeding asǝkkǝdǝw Food preparation / cooking asikǝl Travelling / a journey ašikǝl Travelling / a journey They can replace a finite verb, e.g.: eklan ǵayyăkăn Bellah cultivate eklan, aǵăyak a tăǵǵăn Bellah, cultivation is what they do eklan gayyăkăn Bellah cultivate eklan, agăyak a taggin Bellah, cultivation is what they do
This second form is prefered, especially in answer to a question, e.g.: ma tăǵǵăn fullanăn ? What do Fulani do? tamăḍint ǝn-wan a tăǵǵăn Herding of cows is what they do ma taggin follanăn ? What do Fulani do? tamǝḍint ǝn-šitan a taggin Herding of cows is what they do
76 This is a more common way of phrasing the answer than the simple reply: tǝḍḍanăn iwan They are herding cows iḍḍanăn šitan They are herding cows
Following a ‘modal’ verb or other controlling verb Many verbs can take either the imperfective or the verbal noun, e.g.: ărhêɣ ad ǝswăɣ aman I want to drink water ărhêɣ tesăse n-aman I want to drink (of) water tesăse n-aman a ărheɣ Drinking of water (is) what I want ǝrêɣ ad ǝswăɣ aman I want to drink water ǝrêɣ teṣṣe n-aman I want to drink (of) water teṣṣe n-aman a ǝreɣ Drinking of water (is) what I want wăr ăddobăt ad ărgǝš He cannot walk wăr ăddobăt tekle He cannot walk wǝr iddobăt ad ižǝwǝnkǝt He cannot walk wǝr iddobăt tekle He cannot walk orăm a-dd-as ănḍǝšel He tried to come here yesterday orăm-id tassawt ănḍǝšel He tried to come here yesterday orăm a-dd-asu ǝnḍazǝl He tried to come here yesterday orăm-dǝd assa ǝnḍazǝl He tried to come here yesterday (Note that the directional particle ‘dǝd’ cannot be attached to a verbal noun and so is attached to the verb which governs the verbal noun.)
Emphatics The verb ‘sort out / make / fix’ plus the verbal noun of the quality referred to is used to express emphasis. ‘well, greatly’ may be added for more stress, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa iknâ tǝwšăre That man is very old alǝs wa iknâ tǝwšăre That man is very old tǝknâ tihussay hullen ! She is really beautiful! tǝknâ tihussay hullen ! She is really beautiful! wǝr ikna musnăt ǝn-Tămašăq harwa He doesn’t speak Tamasheq well yet wǝr ikna măsnăt ǝn-Tǝmažǝq hărwa He doesn’t speak Tamajeq well yet (lit. ‘He hasn’t fixed knowing Tamajeq yet’)
Comparatives These use the verb ‘surpass / be greater than’ plus the verbal noun of the quality being compared, e.g.: oǵăr-ahi tărna He is stronger than me ogăr-i tărna He is stronger than me Adămu oǵâr-ahi tǝššǝgrǝt Adamu is taller than me Adămu ogâr-i tǝzzǝgrǝt Adamu is taller than me taẓǝkk ǝn-tăs toǵâr taẓǝkk Milking a cow is easier than ǝn-tăḷămt tărɣǝse milking a camel taẓǝk ǝn-tăst togâr taẓǝk Milking a cow is easier than ǝn-tăḷămt tǝrǝɣse milking a camel (lit. ‘… is greater than … in easyness’)
77 The word order can be varied, e.g.: taẓǝkk ǝn-tăḷămt toǵâr-tăt taẓǝkk ǝn-tăs tărɣǝse taẓǝk ǝn-tăḷămt togâr-tăt taẓǝk ǝn-tăst tǝrǝɣse
Superlatives The verb + noun or pronoun + ‘all’ + the verbal noun of the quality being compared is used to express superlatives, i.e. ‘He surpasses them all in age’, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa oǵăr-tăn kul tǝwšăre That man is the oldest (of all) tamăṭṭ ta toǵăr-tănăt kul tihussay That woman is the most beautiful (of all) alǝs wa ogăr-tăn kul tǝwšăre That man is the oldest (of all) tanṭuṭ ta togăr-tănăt kul tihussay That woman is the most beautiful (of all)
Excess / inadequacy To express that a quality impedes an action the quality is followed by ‘for’ and the verbal noun of the action impeded, i.e. ‘He is short for taking of things off the lean-to’, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa, gǝzzǝl y-ukǝs That man is too short to take ǝn-hărătăn făl tanda things off the lean-to alǝs wa, gǝzzul y-ukǝs n-ărătăn That man is too short to take făl tanda things off the lean-to torka ta, hărûw y-ugǝš n-ăɣalla That cart is too wide to enter the yard torka ta, hărûw y-ugǝz n-ăɣalla That cart is too wide to enter the yard absăr wa, wǝr imsed y-illuy That knife isn’t sharp enough ǝn-san to cut meat absǝr wa, wǝr iwel y-allay That knife isn’t sharp enough ǝn-san to cut meat
Before / after These are frequently expressed using verbal nouns, e.g.: ḍărăt tănăkra-nin, ǝkkeɣ hebu After getting up I went to market dat iki-nin e-hebu, ăsserădăɣ Before going to market, I washed dat tassawt-ǝnnăk e-diha, Before you arrived here, I was taǵǵăɣ ătay making tea dǝffǝr tănăkra-nin, ǝkkeɣ hebu After getting up I went to market dat iki-nin i-hebu, ăššorădăɣ Before going to market, I washed dat assa-nnăk i-da, taggăɣ ătay Before you arrived here, I was making tea However, there is another common way of expressing ‘before’ by using a negative. This is used most often to refer to future, whereas + verbal noun is used most often when referring to the past, e.g.: a-dd-ăqqǝlăɣ harwa wăr d-osa ăkăsa I will return before rainy season a-dd-ǝqqǝlăɣ hărwa wǝr ǝdd-osa ăkăsa I will return before rainy season
78 Restart, continue, carry on These ideas are expressed using the verb ‘repeat, begin again’ plus a verbal noun, e.g.: ǝǵeɣ ătay, ǝkšeɣ, olăsăɣ iǵi n-ătay I made tea, I ate, I made tea again ǝgeɣ ătay, ǝkšeɣ, olăsăɣ igi n-ătay I made tea, I ate, I made tea again (or ‘I carried on making tea’) ad alǝsăɣ iǵi n-ătay I will make tea again ad alǝsăɣ igi n-ătay I will make tea again olăs-in oɣǝl He went back there again olăs-in uɣǝl He went back there again
Formation of verbal nouns Verbal nouns form in a wide variety of ways. Each verb group has a standard way that its verbal nouns are formed, but many otherwise completely regular verbs have a uniquely formed verbal noun. See the lists of verbs at the end of each group for examples of both the tendency to a pattern and the number of exceptions. All verbal nouns can have plurals like other nouns but in practice, the plural is rare in all but a few cases. They are mainly used in phrases expressing that something was done so many times, e.g.: tǝǵa kăraḍ lăkawăn n-aman She did three drawings of water tǝga kăraḍ lăkawăn n-aman She did three drawings of water Plurals that are commonly used are noted in the vocabulary section.
333.3...18181818 Derived verbs Tamasheq verbs may take prefixes before the root consonants. These change both the meaning of the verb and the group to which it belongs. There are only a few types of prefix.
Causatives These are formed by the addition of the prefix ‘s’, e.g.: ‘cause to learn / teach’ If the root verb contains one of the characters ‘š’, ‘ž’, ‘ṣ’, ‘ẓ’, ‘z’ the prefix copies this, e.g. : ‘cause to be clean / cleanse’ z z g ‘cause to be clean / cleanse’ In a few verbs, the prefix is double ‘ss’ (or other sibilant as above), e.g.: ‘cause to carry / send’ Very rarely, the repeated prefix ‘ss’ is replaced by ‘sw’, e.g.: ‘have (sth.) done’ gg ‘have (sth.) done’ The meaning of the verb becomes ‘to cause to …’, ‘to have … done’, e.g.: ‘learn’ causative ‘cause to learn / teach’ ‘fill / be filled’ causative ‘have (sth.) filled’ ‘fill / be filled’ causative ‘have (sth.) filled’ ‘write’ causative ‘have (sth.) written’
79 Some verbs have a causative form without being obviously derived from a simple verb, e.g.: ‘ask (a question)’ ‘be pregnant’ g ‘believe’ Causatives decline like normal verbs and have their own verb groups. The major groups (detailed in Section 4) are: Group IA1 causative (includes IA5/6 and Group III) Group IA2 / 1B1 causative Group IA3 / 4 causative Group IA7 / 8 causative Group V causative Group XII / XVII causative Group XVIII causative
Reflexives Here the prefix is ‘m’ or ‘n’. This form is usually described as ‘reflexive’in Berber grammars although in practice the resultant derived verb is often identifiable as passive or reciprocal in meaning. These verbs fall into the existing verb groups (e.g. the reflexives of group IA1 work like normal group III verbs), e.g.: ‘see’ reflexive ‘see each other / bump into s.o.’ ‘see’ reflexive ‘see each other / bump into s.o.’
Reciprocals Here the prefix is ‘nm’. Usually the English equivalent involves the phrase ‘each other / one another’. These verbs fall into the existing verb groups (e.g. the reciprocals of group IA1 work like normal group V verbs), e.g.: ‘hate’ reciprocal ‘hate each other’
Passives In English the passive is used in two ways: a) for a change in emphasis, e.g.: ‘The dog bit the man’ becomes ‘The man was bitten by the dog’ b) when the doer of the action is unknown or unstated, e.g.: ‘The well was dug last year’ or ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ In Tamasheq, the first type is expressed by putting the object first and repeating it as a pronoun (the subject then follows). e.g.: edi idăd ăhalǝs The dog bit the man idi idăd alǝs The dog bit the man ăhalǝs idăd-ti edi The man was bitten by the dog alǝs idăd-tăy idi The man was bitten by the dog (lit. ‘The man, it bit him, the dog’) The true passive (doer unknown or unstated) is expressed either by a derived verb or by being inherent in the verb. Some verbs are automatically passive if the context demands it. For example with the verb ‘to dig’ below, when ‘the man’ is
80 the subject the verb is active ‘the man dug’, but when ‘the well’ is the subject the verb is passive ‘the well was dug’. In such cases the passive verb is intransitive (it has no actual or implied direct object). Many active transitive verbs in Tamasheq become passive if used intransitively. Often the intransitive usage is in the stative aspect. This simple passive refers to spontaneous action or action where the doer is unknown or unthought of, e.g.: ăhalǝs eɣăš anu The man dug the well alǝs eɣăz anu The man dug the well anu ănhaḍ-i The well g last year anu z ănaḍ-a The well g last year tăɣšăd bătbăt-in She broke my motorbike tǝɣšăd bătbăt-in She broke my motorbike bătbăt The motorbike bătbăt The motorbike ǝbsăr ikăršăyăn Hang out the clothes ǝbsǝr ikăršăyăn Hang out the clothes g g / g Otherwise, the passive is formed by adding the prefix ‘tw’, or occassionally ‘tt’ or ‘m’. The derived passive implies an understood, but unstated, agent.
Passive with ‘tw’ Many verbs have a passive formed by the addition of the prefix ‘tw’. These verbs fall into the existing verb groups (e.g. the passives with ‘tw’ of group IA1 work like normal group V verbs), e.g.: ‘see’ passive ‘be seen’ ătwănhăyăɣ I was seen tăwănăyăɣ I was seen
Passive with ‘tt’ A few verbs form their passive with the prefix ‘tt’ instead of ‘tw’. These verbs fall into the existing verb groups (e.g. the passives with ‘tt’ of group IA1 work like normal group III verbs), e.g.: ‘seize’ passive ‘be seized / be arrested’ ăwadǝm ǝttărmăs Someone was arrested ăwadǝm ittǝrmăs Someone was arrested
Passive with ‘m’ Many group IA3 verbs form their passive with the prefix ‘m’ resulting in group XVIII verbs. A few important group IA7 /8 verbs also form their passive with the prefix ‘m’ resulting in group III – vowel ending verbs, e.g.: iwan ămekărnăt The cows were stolen šitan ǝmmokărnăt The cows were stolen enăle ămelăy The millet was harvested enăle immolăy The millet was harvested axx ămmîswa The milk has (already) been drunk ax immîswa The milk has (already) been drunk
81 Multiple derivatives These are quite common and occur when two modifications are made to the verb. A reflexive verb may be made causative or passive for instance (see examples below). The causative of the reflexive of group IA1 verbs is a group III causative, e.g.: sǝmmǝkrǝs Knot / attach / join in marriage sǝnnǝfrǝn Choose Most other mutliple derivative verbs are group V or group V causative, e.g.: tǝwǝsǝnǝfrǝn Be chosen tǝwǝsǝxrǝk Be led astray sǝnnǝmǝksǝn Make (people) hate each other
333.3...19191919 Uses of the perfective This aspect (the simple form of the perfect) expresses an action perceived as complete and so is often used of past actions. The perfective is the most used aspect in Tamasheq. In certain circumstances it can refer to present or even future acts (see below). Often the context determines the time frame / sense.
SimSimSimpleSim ple past Most frequently the perfective corresponds to the English simple past tense, e.g.: -ahi … to me … ašăl wa-n hebu a dd- on market day wăr hak- didn’t you tăkarḍe ănḍǝšel a letter yesterday ănš-ahi, wǝr awa Forgive me, didn’t what -i … to me … azǝl wa-n hebu a dd- on market day wǝr dak- didn’t hear you tăkarḍe ǝnḍazǝl a letter yesterday surǝf-i-dǝd, wǝr g awa Forgive me, didn’t what
Adjectival verbs With adjectival verbs the stative aspect is usually used. If the perfective is used it expresses the act (or fact) of entering into the state. This usually occurs in a longer unit of speech, e.g.: ofrăy He became seriously ill ohăẓ-id He came near ihoẓ-dǝd He came near
Immediate future The perfective is used after conjunctions meaning if / when, e.g.: as ehăn, ad ăǵăɣ ătay When home I will make tea as ehăn, ad ăgăɣ ătay When home I will make tea as d- , ad năkš When we will eat
82 as d- , ad năkšu When we will eat afăl d- , ad nǝsu tǝdda If / When , we will drink millet gruel The perfective is also used in the following unusual construction. As in ‘blessings and curses’ below, the use of the perfective where an imperfective might be expected perhaps lends an air of certainty to what would otherwise be open to doubt, e.g.: awi-dd ǝlkǝttab ! Bring a book which c ! awi-dd ǝlkǝttab ! Bring a book which c ! ǝktǝb tăkarḍe ! Write a letter which !
Blessings and curses The perfective may have optative meaning, e.g.: g -kăy Măssinăɣ ! May God c you! (/ God c you) -ik Măssinăɣ aǵǝnna ! May God g you rain! -ik Măssinăɣ ăkonak ! May God g you rain! -anăɣ Yăḷḷa ašǝkka ! May God us tomorrow! -anăɣ Yăḷḷa ažăkka ! May God us tomorrow! -awăn Măssinăɣ ! May God you! -ik tănăde ! May fever you! -ik tănăde ! May fever you! -kăy Măssinăɣ ! May God c you ! -kăy Măssinăɣ May God c you !
Negative Group I verbs (see Sections 4.2–4.9) have a special form for the negative perfective. Note especially verbs of group IA7 / 8 / 10, e.g.: wăr d- harwa haven’t c yet wǝr d- hărwa haven’t c yet ăssôfăɣ ad wǝr gg ehăn I prefer that doesn’t the house ǝssôfăɣ ad wǝr gg z ehăn I prefer that doesn’t the house wǝr hebu haven’t to market / didn’t g to market / (certainly) not g g to market (now) Prasse notes that (as in the last translation of the above example) the negative perfective future has an energetic meaning in contrast to the negative imperfective (e.g. ) which has simple constative meaning.
Prohibition In Tamaghit this also takes the negative perfective in the second person only (for prohibition in Tudalt see Section 3.21), e.g.: wăr hebu ! Don’t g to market! wăr ! Don’t !
83 Expressing ‘Whenever’ With the conjunction meaning ‘whenever’, we might expect to use an imperfective or cursive to denote cursive action. However, the conjunction holds the idea of ‘each time that …’ and so Tamasheq stresses the individual action in a series. So usually people will use with the perfective, e.g.: id ad ǝǵǝn ăddăl, Whenever to play ad ǝmsǝdǝwăn they will get together id ad ăgin ăddăl, Whenever to play ad mǝšidǝwăn they will get together id , ăns Whenever , he lies down id , ănsu Whenever , he lies down
Negative future The negative perfective may be used as an alternative to the negative imperfective in phrases like the following, e.g.: ad wăr that won’t ad wǝr that won’t ad wăr mad eḍu (neg. imperfective) ad wǝr z-iḍu (neg. imperfective) as wăr d- g not c as wǝr d- g not c as wăr ma-dd-as (neg. imperfective) as wǝr za-dd-asu (neg. imperfective)
333.3...20202020 Uses of the stative This aspect (the intensive form of the perfect) describes an ongoing state as the continuing result of a completed action. It is frequently used with adjectival verbs. The stative differs from the perfective only by the one vowel (or by the stress placed on one vowel). When this vowel is highly stressed the stative is easy to recognise but, in conversational Tamasheq, the amount of stress put on the vowel will vary depending on what the speaker is or isn’t emphasising. It can then be difficult to distinguish between a perfective and a stative that is not heavily stressed (although their meanings are so close this hardly matters). I have noticed in DNAFLA texts a tendency to write some statives with a simple long vowel (e.g. ‘it is near’ rather than or it is said’ etc.), however this seems to be merely an orthographic preference in cases where there is no ambiguity with the perfective.
Present state E.g.: ǝššǝɣǝl The work ǝššǝɣǝl The work zz Mărkoy Markoye tǝkyăd Măryama dăɣ ăhalǝs Mary the man wa has- g to her tǝswăḍ Măryama dăɣ alǝs Mary the man wa das- g g to her
84 aratăn dăɣ taberăt Children g in the street bărarăn z dăɣ taberăt Children g in the street mi tt- awa ? Who that? imnas meɣ ? any camels?
Immediate present These are all stative aspect, but if unstressed (or spoken quickly) it is easy to hear them as a perfective, e.g.: g g (now) mi ? Where g g ? hebu g g to market ma ? What g ? ma g ? What g ? tăkarḍe g a letter cc / g (to your terms) cc / g (to your terms) a-dd-as to come / to come g a-dd-asu to come / to come --- c g (right now) z --- c g (right now)
Present consequence of past action E.g.: axx The milk ax The milk (hence there is no milk) Tarabt Arabic (i.e. he can speak it) anu ănhaḍ The well g last year anu z ănaḍ The well g last year (hence it is there) alǝkkin aman The clay pot c the water teyǝnt aman The clay pot c the water -as tăkarḍe him a letter
In response to a question The stative is often used in response to a question to reply that something has already happened, e.g.: ǝndek-kăt Tǝdwăl ? Where is Tidwal? zg g ăkf-ahi-d tehăyne Give me the dates ăkf-i-d tăyne (or tehăyne) Give me the dates tehăyne The dates tăyne The dates
85 ǝbsăr ikăršăyăn Hang out the clothes ǝbsǝr ikăršăyăn Hang out the clothes g g g
With adjadjectivalectival verbs Many verbs refer to a state and so usually use the stative. Extra stress on the long vowel emphasises the quality referred to, e.g.: ăddinăt people g ašăl-i Today, ănḍǝšel , wǝr ǝššăɣălăɣ Yesterday , I didn’t work ăytedăm gg people g azǝl-a Today, ǝnḍazǝl g , wǝr ǝššǝɣălăɣ Yesterday , I didn’t work
Pluperfect The stative often pushes what is referred to a step back in the past, e.g.: ǝndăr s-ad ărẓu šik, If it would break quickly wăr ti-šǝnšeɣ I would not have bought it ǝndar s-ad ărẓu žik, If it would break quickly wǝr te-zǝnzăɣ I would not have bought it
333.3...21212121 Uses of the imperfective This aspect (the simple form of the imperfect) is used for events which are perceived as not yet accomplished or uncertain. It has a distinctive form and is often preceded by a marker ‘ad’. This may be abridged to ‘a-’ or may be absent altogether in certain circumstances.
Future When referring to the future the imperfective is used, e.g.: ad Waɣa ašǝkka g to Ouaga tomorrow ašăl wa-n hebu ad tafăɣăt On market day rice a-dd- šik c soon / quickly ad Waɣa ažăkka g to Ouaga tomorrow azǝl wa-n hebu ad zz z tafăɣăt On market day rice a-dd- žik c soon / quickly In a series of statements about the future is usually dropped after the first, e.g.: ad Waɣa, g to Ouaga, c ǝs-Nyăme, ǝzzar -id to Niamey, then c c ad Waɣa, g to Ouaga, c ǝs-Nyăme, ǝzzar -dǝd to Niamey, then c c ad ašǝk, -e, c wood, it, tende c a mortar ad ašǝk, -e, cut wood, it, tende c a mortar
86 For an action dependent on another verb The imperfective is used for ‘projected’ actions whether they are a purpose, a possibility or a hypothesis, e.g.: ărhêɣ ad ătay d-ăssukăr I want tea and sugar ǝrêɣ ad zz z ătay d-ǝssukǝr I want tea and sugar orămăɣ ad Mărkoy I tried g to Markoye ǝs-takkăṣt zaggărăɣ ad In the afternoons I go out d-ăddinăt with people ǝs-takǝst zaggărăɣ ad In the afternoons I go out g d-ăytedăm with people Sometimes is omitted, e.g.: ǝndek awa nǝtăǵǵ ătay ? What do we do tea? ma ităǵǵ ăwadǝm What does someone do ašănǵo n-ǝyyăn ? c someone’s enemy? ǝndek awa nǝtaggu g ătay ? What do we do tea? ma itaggu ăwadǝm What does someone do azăngo n-ǝyyăn ? c someone’s enemy?
Expressing ‘until / when / so that’ This uses the construction ‘until’ plus the imperfective, e.g.: ad ătay dăɣ alkăsăn tea into glasses har , -ti ăddinăt until c then it to people ad ătay dăɣ alkăsăn tea into glasses har , -tăy ăytedăm until c then it to people ma tăǵǵăn măkrăḍăn har ? What do thieves do ? ma taggin băydăgăn har ? What do thieves do ? ăyy-e har Leave it for a while ăyy-e har g Leave it for a while ašăl kul tašăɣalăɣ har Every day I work until azǝl kul tašăɣalăɣ har g Every day I work until
After ‘whenever’ In the second part of a ‘whenever A, then B …’ sentence, a cursive may be used, but it is redundant as repetition is already implied by . Often the imperfective is used, e.g.: id ikša, Whenever he has eaten, id ikša, Whenever he has eaten, id eɣăš anu ad aman When he digs a well water id iɣăz anu ad g aman When he digs a well water
Other cursive uses The imperfective may be used to express unstressed habitual meaning in other instances too. Compared with the use of the cursive aspect usage of the imperfective in a habitual sense tends to imply talking about a hypothetical situation, or about what is generally done rather than what a specific subject does, e.g.: taskomt at- dăɣ tăẓoli A pruning hook of iron
87 taskomt at- dăɣ tǝẓoli A pruning hook of iron as iwa ara, a-tt- When a child is born, g it e-ma-s a-ti- to its mother and it as ihǝw bărar, a-tt- When a child is born, g it i-ma-s a-te- to its mother and it
Conditional tense The equivalent to the conditional tense is expressed by using the imperfective with the conjunction ‘if (unfulfilled)’, e.g.: ǝndăr ǝleɣ aẓrǝf, torǝft If I had money a car ǝndar ǝleɣ aẓrǝf, zz z torǝft If I had money a car ǝndăr ǝnhăyăɣ tesǝmt, -id If I had seen salt a-tăt- it ǝndar ǝnăyăɣ tesǝmt, -dǝd If I had seen salt a-tăt- zz z it ǝndăr ǝssănăɣ s-ad šik, If I had known ǝyyăn ifrânăn quickly, g a good quality one ǝndar ǝssănăɣ s-ad žik, If I had known zz z ǝyyăn ifrânăn quickly, g a good quality one
Injunctions Two forms give the same meaning (direct + indirect reporting), e.g.: tis inna His father told him tis inna ad His father told him amăqqar-in inn-ahi ad Dori My big brother told me g Dori amăqqar-in inn-ahi Dori My big brother told me g Dori tis inna g His father told him tis inna ad g His father told him amăqqar-in inn-i ad Dori My big brother told me to go to Dori amăqqar-in inn-i Dori My big brother told me to go to Dori
Future questions The marker changes to in Tamaghit, z in Tudalt, e.g.: ma mad ? What g g ? ma za g ? What g g ? ma ma-hi- dăɣ Mărkoy What g g g me from Markoye? ma za-di- dăɣ Mărkoy What g g g me from Markoye?
Future participles These take the prefix in Tamaghit, z in Tudalt (see verb tables in Section 4), e.g.: mi maden ătay ? Who g g tea? Măryama a maden ătay Mary g g tea Măssinăɣ a hanăɣ-maden g It is God c us
88 mi za g ătay ? Who g g tea? Măryama a za g ătay Mary g g tea Mǝssinăɣ a danăɣ za g It is God c us
Negative Imperfective The negative is expressed by the construction in Tamaghit, z in Tudalt. This is often contracted in rapid speech to , , , although some of these forms may be dialect variants rather than true contractions. These other forms are considered ugly locally, e.g.: wăr mad It not wǝr z- It not wăr ma-dd- šik He not c soon wǝr za-dd- žik He not c soon wăr ma-dd- He not c wǝr za-dd- He not c ǝmba-dd- He not c ǝmba-dd- He not c ǝmma-dd- He not c ǝmma-dd- He not c wăla-dd- He not c
Negative conditional The negative imperfective also expresses the negative conditional, e.g.: ǝndăr ǝkkeɣ hebu daɣ, Even if I had gone to market, wăr mad enăle not g millet ǝndar ǝkkeɣ hebu dăɣ, Even if I had gone to market, wǝr z- zz z enăle not g millet ǝndăr ǝnhăyăɣ tesǝmt, wăr If I had seen salt not ma-hin-tăt- g it ǝndar ǝnăyăɣ tesǝmt, wǝr If I had seen salt not za-din-tăt- g it bahu-nnăk kud tăt-tǝnhăyăd daɣ, Liar, even if you had seen it wăr ma-dǝt- a-tăt- not it bahu-nnăk kud tăt-tǝnăyăd dăɣ, Liar, even if you had seen it wǝr za-dǝt- a-tăt- zz z not
Negative imperfective participles These are identical in form to the positive imperfective participles with expressing the negative, e.g.: kăyyu a wăr maden ătay It is you who not g g tea kăyyu a wǝr za ătay It is you who not g g tea mi wăr maden hebu ? Who not g g g market? mi wǝr za hebu ? Who not g g g market?
Prohibition / negative injinjunctionunction In Tudalt the negative imperative / injunctive also uses the imperfective (for Tamaghit prohibition see Section 3.19, for negative injuction see Section 3.22), e.g.:
89 ad wǝr takǝrăd ! not ! inn-as ad wǝr akǝr He told him not
RRRapidRapid transition I have not attested the following usage in spoken Tamasheq in Oudalan, although it is likely that it is acceptable if uncommon. In relating a series of past events the imperfective (without ‘ad’) may be used in place of a perfective to mark the rapid transition from one action to another. Prasse (1986) cites the example on p. 157 line 22 of Histoire des Kel Denneg, where three perfectives are followed by four imperfectives in the narration of an historical incident. The use of imperfectives following a perfect in narration of a sequence of past events is common in North African Berber languages but probably rare in Tamasheq.
333.3...22222222 Uses of the cursive This aspect (the intensive form of the imperfect) is used to express actions that are perceived as ongoing. Thus it is frequently used to describe habitual or repetitive actions regardless of time reference. It is the aspect used when asking general questions about lifestyle and culture.
Short form of the cursive In Tudalt the cursive has positive and negative forms. In Tamaghit it has a third form, the short form. This is sometimes identical to the negative and sometimes similar to the positive but with a short ‘ă’ in the place of a long ‘a’. In the verb tables the short form is given only where it differs from the negative. The short form is used in place of the positive cursive in relative clauses (following ‘a’, ‘as’, ‘ma’, ‘mi’ , ‘awa’ etc.) and in some negative constructions as noted below and in Section 3.16. In this section [sh] is used to mark the short form, e.g.: ma [sh] ? What g ? ǝššǝɣǝl-in a [sh] g my work mi [sh] Tarabt? Who g Arabic?
Ongoing actions Where an action is viewed as ongoing or repetitive over a period of time (whether in the past or present) the cursive aspect is used. However some actions that English speakers would perceive as on going (e.g. ‘she is carrying a bucket’) are considered by Tamasheqs as a state that has been entered into and take the stative aspect, e.g.: ara gg The child g ăhalǝs The man g ănḍǝšel ǝnhăyăɣ Ăkafăr dăɣ Yesterday I saw a European in the hebu Tămašăq market g Tamasheq d-ălqim ǝn-lalăn g the price of things ǝs-Tămašăq măšan g in Tamasheq wǝr ikna musnăt ǝn-Tămašăq but he hadn’t perfected it bărar gg The child g alǝs The man g
90 ǝnḍazǝl ǝnăyăɣ Ăkafǝr dăɣ hebu Yesterday I saw a European in the g Tǝmažǝq market g Tamajeq d-ǝlqim ǝn-lalăn g the price of things g ǝs-Tǝmažǝq măšen g in Tamasheq wǝr ikna măsnăt ǝn-Tǝmažǝq but he hadn’t perfected it
Habitual or repeated actions E.g.: ma [sh] ? What ? ăddinăt wi-n diha enăle meɣ ? people here millet? ma [sh] kăl Tămašăq ? What Tamasheq people ? ḍeḍen imnas meɣ ? women camels? ma [sh] ? What ? ǝs-tifawt hărătăn ăynâynen In the morning new things ǝs-takkăṣt z gg ad In the afternoon g to talk ămmăǵrădăɣ d-ăddinăt with people ărû dăɣ Gorăn Gorăn in Gorom ma ? What ? ăytedăm wi-n da enăle meɣ ? people here millet? ma kǝl Tǝmažǝq ? What Tamasheq people ? tiḍoḍen imnas meɣ ? women camels? ma ? What ? ǝs-tufat ărătăn ăynâynen In the morning new things ǝs-takǝst z gg ad In the afternoon g to talk ămmăgrădăɣ d-ăytedăm with people ohô dăɣ Gorăn Gorăn in Gorom
Cursive participle The cursive participle is frequently used when asking about the usual doer of an action, e.g.: mi ăsink Who millet porridge? mi ǝšink Who millet porridge? mi wăren ? Who doesn’t ? (at Ramadan) mi wǝr ? Who doesn’t ? (at Ramadan)
Cursive imperative This is infrequent, but is used when exhorting someone to make a habit of something, e.g.: hullen ! well! hullen ! well! axx ! milk! ax ! milk!
Cursive injunction Also quite rare, e.g.: Tămašăq ! g Tamasheq!
91 To start to … In the context of narrating a story the construction ‘ plus the cursive’ means that an action (often perceived as repetitive) started to happen, e.g.: ad g ad g g ad gg g
Unfulfilled if (cursive) The following type of conditional sentence uses the cursive on both sides. Note the use of the word ‘it remains’ in the sense of ‘it follows that …’ in the first example, e.g.: ǝndăr hebu, If g to market (habitually), ăqqǝym enăle millet (but I don’t) ǝndar hebu, If g to market (habitually), iqqǝym z z enăle (but I don’t) ǝndăr ax, -qi If milk, it ǝndar ax, z z -qe If milk it
Negative cursive For most verbs the negative is slighty different in form (see verb tables Section 4), e.g.: Dăwda Tarabt Dăwda g Arabic Adămu wǝr Tarabt Adamu isn’t g Arabic
Prohibition In Tamaghit, this uses the short form of the cursive in a negated imperative, e.g.: wăr [sh] Tămašăq ! not Tamasheq! wăr asmăd ! not alcohol! (plural) In Tudalt plus the normal positive cursive is used, e.g.: ad wǝr Tǝmažǝq ! not Tamajeq! ad wǝr asmăd ! not alcohol! (plural) Alternatively the negative cursive is used and the context gives the meaning, e.g.: wǝr asmăd ! not alcohol! (plural) / not alcohol
Negative conditional The cursive is used for negative conditional statements following . Note that in this case the cursive is used even when referring to a one off event. (The imperfective is used following and for positive conditional statements generally.) E.g.: ǝndăr ǝssănăɣ s-ad ărẓu šik, If I had known that it would break wăr ti- quickly, not g it ǝndar ǝssănăɣ s-ad ărẓu žik, If I had known that it would break wǝr te-z z quickly, not g it ǝndăr ăxsud Măssinăɣ, If he feared God, not wǝr z c ǝndar iksuḍ Mǝssinăɣ, If he feared God, not wǝr z c
92 ǝndăr takkăɣ hebu daɣ, Even if I were to go to market wăr enăle (habitually), not millet ǝndar takkăɣ hebu dăɣ, Even if I were to go to market wǝr z z enăle (habitually), not millet
Negative injunction Here again in the Tamaghit of Oudalan the cursive is always used even when referring to a single event. As in prohibition it is the ‘short’ positive cursive rather than the negative, e.g.: ănḍǝšel tis inna Yesterday his father told him wăr [sh] hebu not g market ănḍǝšel amăqqar-in inn-ahi Yesterday my big brother told wăr [sh] hebu me not g market In Tudalt, the negative injunction has different forms for simple and cursive. The simple form being listed under ‘Uses of the imperfective’. The cursive negative injunctive has two forms, one of which uses the positive cursive the other the negative, e.g.: inn-as tis, ad wǝr tarabt His father told him not Arabic inn-as tis, wǝr tarabt His father told him not Arabic
Negative statements of whenever The negative cursive is always used in this construction. The following two constructions are equivalent, e.g.: id ǝkkeɣ Waɣa, wăr ătay When I go to Ouaga don’t tea id ǝkkeɣ Waɣa, wǝr gg ătay When I go to Ouaga don’t tea id takkăɣ Waɣa, wăr ătay When I go to Ouaga don’t tea id takkăɣ Waɣa, wǝr gg ătay When I go to Ouaga don’t tea
333.3...23232323 Uses of the preposition ( / ))) This preposition serves to introduce an indirect object noun. Thus, it is often equivalent to English ‘to / for’. In Tudalt it has the form before a consonant and before a vowel. In Tamaghit it has the form before a consonant and before a vowel.
Introducing an indirect object Often Tamasheq usage corresponds with English and is used where we would use ‘to’ or ‘for’, e.g.: iǵa ătay y-ǝmidi-nnes He made tea for his friend ǝnneɣ e-Măryama ‘ălxer ăǵǵên’ I said ‘thanks’ to Maryama ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ăɣewǝd ăhûsken I’m looking for a nice turban eqqăl y-ǝmidi-nnes He waited for his friend iga ătay y-ǝmidi-nnes He made tea for his friend ǝnneɣ i-Măryama ‘ălxer ǝggên’ I said ‘thanks’ to Maryama iqqăl y-ǝmidi-nnes He waited for his friend
93 With some verbs an indirect object is taken where English speakers might not expect it. The verb lists in Section 4 mark those verbs that take an indirect object with ‘#’, e.g.: ăhalǝs eɣrăs e-tăɣat The man slaughtered the goat ǝlkămăɣ y-ǝmidi-nin I followed my friend Ɣusman ăllil e-Dăwda Rousman helped David with ǝs-Tămašăq Tamasheq Ɣusman illil i-Dăwda Rousman helped David with ǝs-Tǝmažǝq Tamajeq With the verb ‘to hear’ the meaning is different depending on whether a direct or indirect object is used. ǝsleɣ e-tăkalt I heard a noise ǝsleɣ i-tăkalt I heard a noise ǝsleɣ-as I heard him ǝsleq-qi I have heard of him ǝsleq-qe I have heard of him In other Tamasheq verbs the preposition absent where English speakers might expect it as its meaning is contained in the verb, e.g. ‘to go to …’, e.g.: ǝkkeɣ hebu I’m going to market ǝfălăɣ-id Onlăter I come from England ǝkkeɣ hebu I’m going to market ǝfălăɣ-dǝd Onlăter I come from England ǝgmăyăɣ eɣewǝd ihôssăyăn I’m looking for a nice turban Some verbs take two direct objects, e.g.: ikfa amidi-nnes aẓrǝf He gave some money to his friend idăl amidi-nnes aẓrǝf He asked his friend for money
With a verbal phrase The preposition can link to a final clause rather than a noun, e.g.: ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ad ăkk Mărkoy I sought (tried to persuade) that he would go to Markoye
Expressing ‘in order to’ Here again the preposition introduces a final clause, e.g.: oseɣ-id y-ad ǝnhǝyăɣ amidi-nin I came to see my friend tiwǝyăn hărătăn y-a-tăn-šǝnšǝn They bring things to sell in dăɣ hebu the market ǝššǝnšăɣ torǝft y-ad tasakalăɣ I bought a car in order to travel oseɣ-dǝd y-ad ǝnǝyăɣ amidi-nin I came to see my friend tawăyăn ărătăn y-a-tăn-ăzzănzin They bring things to sell in dăɣ hebu the market ǝzzǝnzăɣ torǝft y-ad tašakalăɣ I bought a car in order to travel
Following verbal nouns ––– meaning ‘to / from / at’ In certain phrases links a verbal noun and an ‘indirect’ qualifying noun, e.g.: dat ăfel-in e-Mărkoy, ǝššǝnšăɣ Before leaving for Markoye tafăɣăt I bought rice
94 dat iki-nin e-hebu, ăserădăɣ Before going to market I washed dat ăfel-in i-Mărkoy, ǝzzǝnzăɣ Before leaving for Markoye tafăɣăt I bought rice dat iki-nin i-hebu, ăššorădăɣ Before going to market I washed Note also the following useful constructions: Dămbam tǝllâ-hin e-Mărkoy sihen Dembam is beyond Markoye Sălmossi tǝllâ-hid e-Mărkoy siha-dăɣ Salmossi is this side of Markoye Dămbam tǝll-în i-Mărkoy sen Dembam is beyond Markoye Sălmossi tǝll-îd i-Mărkoy sa-dăɣ Salmossi is this side of Markoye
Preverbial form In certain constructions, notably following the supporting pronoun , the indirect object preposition is brought in front of the verb. In this position it is replaced by , e.g.: eles inašš e-wan Cotton seed is sold for cows eles, iwan a-s inašš Cotton seed, it’s for cows that it is sold eles inazz i-šitan Cotton seed is sold for cows eles, šitan a-s inazzu Cotton seed, it’s for cows that it is sold ǝmmăɣăɣ y-ăhalǝs wa I was looking for that man ăhalǝs wa, a-s ǝmmăɣăɣ It is that man I am looking for
Uses of the conjunction and the preposition This section includes notes on both the preposition ‘towards / in / about / by means of’ and the conjunction ‘if / when / that’. The conjunction in Berber was formed by the fusion of the supporting pronoun and the preposition , hence its inclusion here.
Uses of The conjunction is frequently used to express ‘if’ or ‘when’, e.g.: as ăqqălăɣ ehăn-in ad sǝgǝdăɣ When I get home, I will listen y-ăradyo to the radio as ămtăllăɣ, sǝsseɣǝdăd-ahi If I make a mistake, correct me as ǝqqălăɣ ehăn-in ad sǝddǝrgǝnăɣ When I get home, I will listen y-ăradyo to the radio as mătăllăɣ, sǝssiɣǝdăd-i If I make a mistake, correct me It also frequently expresses ‘that’ although this may not pass over into an idiomatic English translation, e.g.: ḍarăt as ǝnkărăɣ, ǝkkeɣ hebu After I got up, I went to market dat as ǝkkeɣ hebu, ăserădăɣ Before I went to market, I washed ǝndăr ǝssânăɣ as wăr tăynay, If I had known that it wasn’t wăr tăt-šǝnšeɣ new, I wouldn’t have bought it dǝffǝr as ǝnkărăɣ, ǝkkeɣ hebu After I got up, I went to market dat as ǝkkeɣ hebu, ǝššorădăɣ Before I went to market, I washed ǝndar ǝssânăɣ as wǝr tăynay, If I had known that it wasn’t wǝr tăt-zǝnzăɣ new, I wouldn’t have bought it
95 When followed by the imperfective aspect marker it may contract to , e.g.: erḍa s-a-dd-as He agreed that he would come irḍa s-a-dd-asu He agreed that he would come unǵăy s-a-dd-as He refused to come ungăy s-a-dd-asu He refused to come ilâ s-a-dd-as He has to come ilâ s-a-dd-asu He has to come
Uses of the preposition All of the uses listed below are essentially adverbial in nature. Note that with a pronoun ‘s’ takes the form ‘sǝr-’. The preposition frequently means ‘towards’, e.g.: ad ăkkăɣ Waɣa ǝzzar I will go to Ouaga then akǝyăɣ ǝs Nyăme continue to (towards) Niamey ikka s-iǵǝǵ He went far away ikka s-igǝg He went far away ǝndek siha-s tǝššărgăšăd ? Where are you visiting? mi-s tăsekălăd ? Where are you travelling to? mi-s tǝššokălăd ? Where are you travelling to? It can also express position or direction (in time or space), e.g.: ikka s-ider He went underneath ikka s-ăder He went underneath ăǵ-e s-ăfălla Put it on top ăg-e s-ăfălla Put it on top Waɣa tǝhâ s-ăgăla Ouaga is in the south ǝs-takkăṣt ad ăkkăɣ Mărkoy In the evening I will go to Markoye ǝnhăyăq-qi s-iǵǝǵ I saw him in the distance ǝs-tifawt In the morning s-ăkăsa tahanem s-ădăgg ǝyyăn Do you move elsewhere in meɣ ? rainy season? ǝs-takǝst ad ăkkăɣ Mărkoy In the evening I will go to Markoye ǝnăyăq-qe s-igǝg I saw him in the distance ǝs-tufat In the morning s-ăkăsa tagălem s-ădăgg ǝyyăn Do you move elsewhere in meɣ ? rainy season? It is used with verbal nouns to express manner. In this usage it is often equivalent to an English adverb, e.g.: ǝrkǝb s-ăṣṣahăt ! Pull hard! s-iǵǝt Greatly / in quantity s-igǝt Greatly / in quantity Adămu oǵăr-ti Musa tăyǝtte s-a-nḍărrăn Musa is a bit clever than Adamu Adămu ogăr-tăy Musa tăyǝtte s-a-nḍărrăn Musa is a bit clever than Adamu ǝs-tăɣdărt Deceitfully / treacherously / by surprise ǝs-tǝɣdǝrt Deceitfully / treacherously / by surprise
96 Another important usage is expressing instrument or means (English ‘with’ or ‘by’), e.g.: ifrăs isan s-ăbsăr He cut the meat with a knife ma-s extăs ašǝk ? What did he cut the tree down with? tutǝla a-s ti-extăs He cut it down with an axe orămăɣ ad ǝkneɣ bătbăt s-ad I tried to fix the bike by sirǝdăɣ buži cleaning the plug ifrăs isan s-ǝbsǝr He cut the meat with a knife ma-s ixtăs ašǝk ? What did he cut the tree down with? taḍǝft a-s t-ixtăs He cut it down with an axe orămăɣ ad ǝkneɣ bătbăt s-ad I tried to fix the bike by ǝššurǝdăɣ buži cleaning the plug It can also express the equivalent to the English ‘about (a topic)’, e.g.: harkuk imawaḍăn tamăǵradăn ǝs-ḍeḍen Young men always talk about women harkuk imawaḍăn tamăgradăn ǝs-tǝḍoḍen Young men always talk about women Dăwda iǵlăy s-ălămad ǝn-Tămašăqq Dave is serious about learning Tamasheq Dăwda iglăy s-ălămad ǝn-Tǝmažǝq Dave is serious about learning Tamajeq
CardCardinalinal Numbers In Tamaghit these are expressed by , but in Tudalt also by , e.g.: wa-s ǝssin The second wa-s ǝššin / wa-n ǝššin The second
Verbal phrase qualifiers Where a verbal phrase qualifies a noun it is introduced by the preposition . Often the demonstrative pronoun precedes it.... Such phrases are equivalent to the English ‘whose / of whom / for whom’. ( ‘takes the place’ of the indirect object marker and the genitive marker when a verbal phrase containing them is rearranged to be a qualifier), e.g.: ǝkneɣ tărik y-ăhalǝs wa I made a camel saddle for that man ăhalǝs wa-s ǝkneɣ tărik, os-id The man for whom I made a camel saddle, came ǝkneɣ tǝrik y-alǝs wa I made a camel saddle for that man alǝs wa-s ǝkneɣ tǝrik, os-ăddǝd The man for whom I made a camel saddle, came ǝnhăyăɣ ehăn ǝn-tămăṭṭ ta I saw that woman’s home tamăṭṭ ta-s ǝnhăyăɣ ehăn-nes tos-id The woman whose home I saw, came ǝnăyăɣ ehăn ǝn-tǝnṭuṭ ta I saw that woman’s home tanṭuṭ ta-s ǝnăyăɣ ehăn-nes tos-ăddǝd The woman whose home I saw, came ǝššǝɣǝl ǝn-Mosa tamăḍint Mosa’s work is shepherding ǝššǝɣǝl ǝn-Mosa tamǝḍint Mosa’s work is shepherding Mosa ăhalǝs wa-s ǝššǝɣǝl-ǝnnes Mosa is a man whose work is tamăḍint shepherding Mosa alǝs wa-s ǝššǝɣǝl-nes Mosa is a man whose work is tamǝḍint shepherding
97 mi-s săkădaw ? Who is she cooking for? mi-s tǝsakădaw ? Who is she cooking for? ămmoqqăsăɣ meddăn ǝssin I met two men s-ămêkărnăt wan-năsăn whose cows had been stolen ǝmmoqqăsăɣ meddăn ǝššin I met two men s-ǝmmôkărnăt šitan-năsăn whose cows had been stolen Participles are a kind of verbal qualifier. Unlike verbs they cannot be themselves qualified by an adverb. If a qualifying adverb is needed then the phrase is rearranged with a finite verb following the demonstrative pronoun plus the preposition , e.g.: ǝmmǝnhăyăɣ d-ăhalǝs wa ikkăn Abiǵa I met a man who had been to Abidjan ǝmmǝnhăyăɣ d-ăhalǝs I met a man who went to Abidjan wa-s kăla ikka Abiǵa a long time ago ǝmmǝnăyăɣ d-alǝs wa ikkăn Abiǵa I met a man who had been to Abidjan ǝmmǝnăyăɣ d-alǝs I met a man who went to Abidjan wa-s kăla ikka Abiǵa a long time ago ǝmmǝnhăyăɣ d-ăhalǝs wa wăren I met a man who hadn’t been to ikka Makăt Mecca ǝmmǝnhăyăɣ d-ăhalǝs I met a man who had never been wa-s kăla wǝr ikka Makăt to Mecca ǝmmǝnăyăɣ d-alǝs wa wǝr nǝkka I met a man who hadn’t been to Makăt Mecca ǝmmǝnăyăɣ d-alǝs I met a man who had never been wa-s kăla wǝr ikka Makăt to Mecca ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs ăhûsken I saw a beautiful camel ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs wa-s kăla ăhuskăt I saw a camel which used to be beautiful ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs ihôṣṣăyăn I saw a beautiful camel ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs wa-s kăla ihoṣṣăy I saw a camel which used to be beautiful ărhêɣ tabdoq ta-s kăla wăr tǝbdeǵ I want some cloth that has never been wet ǝnhăyăɣ ara wa-s iket iwa I saw a child which had just been born ǝrêɣ tabdoq ta-s kăla wǝr tǝbdeg I want some cloth that has never been wet ǝnăyăɣ bărar wa-s iket ihu I saw a child which had just been born
Uses of the particles etc. based on This section includes the use of various conjunctions / prepositions based on .
––– imperfective particle Often this aspect is preceded by (which shortens to before pronouns etc.), e.g.:
98 ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I will learn Tamasheq ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I want to learn Tamasheq ărhêɣ a-tăt-ǝlmǝdăɣ I want to learn it ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I will learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I want to learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ a-tăt-ǝlmǝdăɣ I want to learn it When used with the cursive is inceptive meaning ‘start to …’, e.g.: ad eḍaẓẓ He started laughing ad iḍaẓẓu He started laughing as toyya ara, ad ihall If she leaves the child it will (start to) cry as toyya bărar, ad ihallu If she leaves the child it will (start to) cry
Linking clauses Often means ‘that’ and links two clauses. I have written it here to help distinguish it from the imperfective particle , but often the two will be written identically. In a few constructions its use is necessary, e.g.: orăm a-d wăr eṣṭa He tried not to laugh orăm a-d wǝr iṣṭa He tried not to laugh (lit. ‘He tried that he didn’t laugh’) In others it is optional and is put in for emphasis, e.g.: ašăl-i-dăɣ a-d ǝssǝntăɣ Tămašăq Today I started Tamasheq azǝl-a-dăɣ a-d ǝssǝntăɣ Tǝmažǝq Today I started Tamasheq The contracted form is used in the sense of ‘that’ following ‘when’ questions, e.g.: mǝnǵǝdu-d irihhu ăwadǝm absăr ? When does someone need a knife? ǝmme-d itiru ăwadǝm absǝr ? When does someone need a knife? It is also used meaning ‘that’ following ‘where / when’ (Tudalt ), e.g.: diha-dăɣ-d ǝsleɣ e-torǝft When (as soon as) I heard the car, a-d ǝbdădăɣ I stood up diha-dăɣ-d ǝsleɣ e-măǵrăd-ǝnnăk, When (as soon as) I heard your a kăy-ǝzzăyăɣ voice, I recognised you da-dăɣ-d ǝsleɣ i-turǝft When (as soon as) I heard the car, a-d ǝbdădăɣ I stood up da-dăɣ-d ǝsleɣ i-măgrăd-năk, When (as soon as) I heard your a kăy-ǝzzăyăɣ voice, I recognised you ǝndek diha-d illâ ăkal-ǝnnăk ? Where is your homeland? ǝndek da-d illâ ăkal-năk ? Where is your homeland? In Tudalt the Tawellemmet version of this last phrase may occasionally be heard, e.g.: mǝni-d illâ ăkal-năk ? Where is your homeland?
etc. ––– directional particles See Section 3.7 Directional particles.
99 Whenever / wherever / because The conjunction can express all of these depending on context, e.g.: id eɣăš anu, ǝǵrǝw aman Wherever he digs a well he finds water id ǝwwăḍăɣ Goron kul, saradăɣ Whenever I reach Gorom, I wash ikna ilalăn-nes id He arranged his things because ašǝkka a mad ăsakăl it’s tomorrow that he’ll travel id eɣăz anu, igrǝw aman Wherever he digs a well he finds water id ewăḍăɣ Goron kul, šaradăɣ Whenever I reach Gorom, I wash ikna ilalăn-nes id He arranged his things because ažăkka a z-ǝssikǝl it’s tomorrow that he’ll travel
The preposition meaning ‘with’ The preposition means ‘with’ in the sense of accompanying, often it is equivalent to ‘and’ when linking nouns. It never means ‘with’ in the sense of ‘by means of’. When linked to a pronoun it takes the form , e.g.: ad idaw ǝd-Măryama He will accompany Maryama ǝmmǝǵrădăɣ ǝd-Săydu I spoke with Saidou ǝmmǝgrădăɣ ǝd-Săydu I spoke with Saidou ărhêɣ ad ămmăǵrădăɣ dǝr-ǝk I want to talk with you ărhêɣ ătay d-ăssukăr I want tea and sugar ǝrêɣ ad ămmăgrădăɣ dǝr-ǝk I want to talk with you ǝrêɣ ătay d-ǝssukǝr I want tea and sugar With the verb ‘ask’ it means ‘about / for’, e.g.: isastan d-ǝlqim ǝn-lalăn He was asking the price of things ǝssǝstăn d-ismawăn ǝn-hărătăn He asked about the names of things issǝstăn d-ismawăn n-ărătăn He asked about the names of things
Note that is never used as a conjunction to link two or more verbal phrases, e.g.: ǝsweɣ ătay, ǝkšeɣ tehăyne I drank tea and ate dates ǝsweɣ ătay, ǝkšeɣ tăyne I drank tea and ate dates It is used as a linking word meaning ‘as’ following the verb ‘resemble’, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa olâh ǝd ti-s That man looks like his father ălɣăyal ma dǝr olâh ? How is the family? wa olâh ǝd wa That is the same as that alǝs wa olâ ǝd ti-s That man looks like his father ăytedăm-năwăn ma dǝr olâ ? How is the family? wa olâ ǝd wa That is the same as that
Uses of the preposition / suffix
The susuffixffix Used as a suffix to a noun or demonstrative pronoun - means ‘this very / this same’, e.g.: ašăl-i Today ašăl-i-dăɣ Today, this very day
100 ăhalǝs wa That man ăhalǝs wa-dăɣ That same man / that very man azǝl-a Today azǝl-a-dăɣ Today, this very day alǝs wa That man alǝs wa-dăɣ That same man / that very man awen-dăɣ a făl … That is (the reason) why … awen-dăɣ a fǝl/fel … That is (the reason) why …
Uses of the preposition Its primary meaning is locative (in time or space), ‘in’, ‘at’ or directional ‘into’, e.g.: ǝǵeɣ ilalăn-in dăɣ ăɣrǝǵ I put my things into the sack ǝgeɣ ilalăn-in dăɣ ǝɣrǝg I put my things into the sack m-isǝm-ǝnnes dăɣ Tămašăq ? What is its name in Tamasheq? m-isǝm-nes dăɣ Tǝmažǝq ? What is its name in Tamasheq? ăhalǝs ikyăd dăɣ tiset The man looked into the mirror alǝs ikyăd dăɣ tišet The man looked into the mirror ăhalǝs ikyăd dăɣ midawăn-nes The man looked at his friends alǝs ikyăd dăɣ midawăn-nes The man looked at his friends dăɣ ăkăsa In (last) rainy season dăɣ tifawt-i This morning dăɣ tufat-a This morning Ibrahim iwa dăɣ Băyga Ibrahim was born in Beyga Ibrahim ihu dăɣ Băyga Ibrahim was born in Beyga iwa dăɣ ăzzăman wa-n tămăɣatert He was born during the famine ihu dăɣ ăzzăman wa-n tămăɣatert He was born during the famine (lit. ‘He was born in the season of difficulty’) Note that following the demonstrative , may replace , e.g.: ăzzăman wa-d ămos Ibrahim It was during the time that Ibrahim ămănokal ad iwa Sidi was chief that Sidi was born amidi-nin os-id ălwăq wa-d My friend arrived while I was ăserădăɣ washing ăzzăman wa-d imos Ibrahim It was during the time that Ibrahim amǝnokal ad ihu Sidi was chief that Sidi was born amidi-nin osa-dǝd ălwăq wa-d My friend arrived while I was ǝššorădăɣ washing Tamasheq has no separate preposition meaning ‘from’. All prepositions can have a partitive meaning. So can mean ‘starting from in’ and hence ‘out of’, ‘from’, ‘away from’. The verb used gives the context and fixes the meaning, e.g.: ǝkkăsăɣ ilalăn-in dăɣ ăɣrǝǵ I took my things out of the sack ma dǝt-tǝwwăyăd dăɣ Dori ? What have you brought from Dori? ăhalǝs inkăḍ dăɣ san The man cut off some meat tende ašǝk a dăɣ tăǵǵ A mortar is made from wood ǝkkăsăɣ ilalăn-in dăɣ ǝɣrǝg I took my things out of the sack ma dǝt-tewăyăd dăɣ Dori ? What have you brought from Dori?
101 alǝs inkăḍ dăɣ san The man cut off some meat tende ašǝk a dăɣ taggu/tǝtaggu A mortar is made from wood ora ešeḍ dăɣ ašǝk He untied the donkey from the tree Măssinăɣ ad issăɣlǝs ăddinăt-ǝnnes God will save his people from dăɣ băkkaḍăn-năsăn their sins Măssinăɣ a hanăɣ-maden agăẓ dăɣ It is God who will save us from šǝnǵa-nănăɣ our enemies ora ažăḍ dăɣ ašǝk He untied the donkey from the tree Mǝssinăɣ ad issǝɣlǝs ăytedăm-nes God will save his people from dăɣ băkkaḍăn-năsăn their sins Mǝssinăɣ a danăɣ-z-agǝẓăn dăɣ It is God who will save us from zǝnga-nănăɣ our enemies It can also be used with verbal nouns to form a class of verbal qualifiers (often translated by English adverbs). Note: many verbal nouns only take ‘by means of’, some may take either, e.g.: iǵa awa dăɣ ufăr He did that secretly (in secret) iga awa dăɣ ufǝr He did that secretly (in secret) In a few cases it can mean ‘by means of’, e.g.: talăqqe wǝr itǝtt ar dăɣ garibu A poor man only eats by receiving alms It can also be used with a verbal noun to mean ‘at (an activity)’, e.g.: ḍeḍen ărnânăt meddăn dăɣ eqqas Women are better at clapping than men tiḍoḍen ornânăt meddăn dăɣ eqqas Women are better at clapping than men
Uses of the preposition / conjunction
‘until’ (‘to / for / so that’) As a preposition is unusual in that it is followed by a noun in the free state. Like the English ‘until’ it can also be a conjunction, followed by a verb (in the perfective). It may be used in reference to time (English ‘until’, ‘for’ or ‘by’), e.g.: har ašǝkka Until tomorrow har ažăkka Until tomorrow har ăssaɣăt See you soon har ăssăɣăt See you soon (lit. ‘Until an hour’) ăhalǝs ăssîhăḍ efew har erɣa The man blew the fire until it burned alǝs issîhăḍ temse har tǝrɣa The man blew the fire until it burned ikka Waɣa, a-hin-ăqqaym He’s gone to Ouaga, he’ll stay there har ǝssin orăn ǝzzar ăqqǝl-id for two months then come back ikka Waɣa a-din-iqqam He’s gone to Ouaga, he’ll stay there har sănatăt tǝlil tǝzzar iqqǝl-dǝd for two months then come back
102 diha-dăɣ har awătăy ad šănšăɣ By a year from now I will have torǝft bought a car da-dăɣ har awătăy ad ăzzănzăɣ By a year from now I will have turǝft bought a car It may be used in reference to place (English ‘until’, ‘to’), e.g.: ara ošăl ɣor ăɣrǝm har anu The child ran from the town to the well bărar ozăl ɣur ǝɣrǝm har anu The child ran from the town to the well ilalăn-nes ămewăyăn har Mărkoy His things were taken to Markoye ilalăn-nes ǝmmewăyăn har Mărkoy His things were taken to Markoye It can express result (English ‘so that’, ‘and then’), e.g.: ǝndek awa ǵed har tărẓed aḍăr-ǝnnăk ? How did you break your leg? (Note: is a contraction of ) ǝndek awa tǝged har tǝrẓed aḍăr-năk ? How did you break your leg? (lit. ‘What did you do so that you broke your leg?’) inăy Dăwda amnǝs har oḍa Dawda rode a camel and then fell off inăy Dăwda amnǝs har uḍa Dawda rode a camel and then fell off
It is also used in the sense of ‘as many as’, e.g.: oseɣ-id har kăraḍ dăggan I came here (as many as) three wăr kăy-d-ogeẓăɣ times but I didn’t find you here oseɣ-dǝd har kăraḍ dăggăn I came here (as many as) three wǝr kăy-d-ogeẓăɣ times but I didn’t find you here
Uses of the preposition The preposition (pronounced by Tudalt speakers) has the basic spatial meaning of ‘on’ or ‘upon’ or ‘at’ and also ‘from upon’ or ‘off’, e.g.: ǝǵeɣ ǝlkǝttab făl ṭabǝl I put the book on the table ǝgeɣ ǝlkǝttab fǝl ṭabǝl I put the book on the table ǝssǝswăɣ ulli făl anu I watered the goats at the well ǝssǝswăɣ wǝlli fǝl anu I watered the goats at the well oḍa făl ǝmnǝs He fell off a camel uḍa fǝl ǝmnǝs He fell off a camel ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs I saw a camel ǝndek wa ? Which one? wa făl toḍed ănḍǝšel The one you fell off yesterday ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs I saw a camel ǝndek wa ? Which one? wa fǝl tuḍed ǝnḍazǝl The one you fell off yesterday
103 This then extends to time as well as space taking the meaning ‘during’, ‘while’ or ‘from here’, e.g.: ǝyyăḍ wăr ărhen măǵrăd făl tătăte Others don’t like talking while eating ǝyyaḍ wǝr ǝren măgrăd fǝl tăṭṭe Others don’t like talking while eating man-iket hăḍan făl ma-dd-asǝn ? In how many nights are they coming? man-iket ăḍan fǝl za-dd-asin ? In how many nights are they coming? It can also mean ‘about’ a subject matter, e.g.: ma torded făl šumar ? What do you think about the rebels? ma torded fǝl šumar ? What do you think about the rebels? Or ‘because of’, e.g.: tosed-id făl hebu meɣ ? Have you come for the market? tosed-dǝd fǝl hebu meɣ ? Have you come for the market? mafăl ? Why (lit. ‘What on … ?’) mafǝl ? Why (lit. ‘What on … ?’) măfel ? Why (lit. ‘What on … ?’) awen-dăɣ a făl d-oseɣ That is why I came awen-dăɣ a fǝl d-oseɣ That is why I came Or ‘compared with’, e.g.: ăkal lămmeḍ făl tǝhun Earth is soft compared with stones amăḍal lǝmmuḍ fǝl tǝhun Earth is soft compared with stones ara i-nḍărrăn făl ere wăššărăn A child is small compared to a grown up bărar i-nḍărrăn fǝl iri wăššărăn A child is small compared to a grown up ăloki i-nḍărrăn făl tas A calf is small compared to a cow ebărkăw i-nḍărrăn fǝl tast A calf is small compared to a cow
104 444 Verb Groups
105 444.4...1111 Classification Tamasheq is an Afro-asiatic language, specifically a Berber language. Like other languages in these groups, it is based on consonant roots. These are groups of (usually three) consonants that hold a meaning. For example, holds the meaning ‘learn’. The vowels are added to this root to produce nouns and verb forms. Often auxilliary consonants are added as prefixes or suffixes as well to produce the full range of possible forms. For example gives the idea of learning. By adding vowels we get forms such as ‘to learn / learning’, ‘learn!’, ‘he learned’, and with auxilliary consonants as well ‘she learned’, ‘cause to learn / teach’, ‘he taught’, ‘they taught’. Tamasheq verbs are very regular in the way they form the person. The suffixes and prefixes stay the same for every verb in every aspect with few variations. These suffixes and prefixes are added to a stem, which is formed from the root consonants of the verb combined with a set of vowels. The form of this varies with the aspect of the verb. Different verb groups form in different ways as shall be seen further on. 1sg I --- e.g. I learned 2sg you ------ You learned 3msg he --- ( becomes ) He learned 3fsg she --- She learned 1pl we --- We learned 2mpl you ------ You learned 2fpl you ------ You learned 3mpl they --- They learned 3fpl they --- They learned Participles msg who ------ ( becomes ) Who learned fsg who ------ Who learned cpl who --- Who learned
Notes i) The of the 3msg and msg participle combines with the initial of the verb to give in the dialects of Burkina. If the first vowel of the verb is not the is dropped, e.g. ‘he stole’. If the verb is preceded by a word ending in a vowel, the (or a fleeting remnant of it) may be heard. So, ‘the one who stole’ may be heard as . ii) In the ‘sha’ dialects of Oudalan the becomes only if the verb does not have another in it. Whenever another is present the is dropped giving assimilation of vowel sounds. So ‘he will learn’ is rather than as found in ‘za’ dialects and many Malian ‘sha’ dialects. (Group IA8 Imperfective does not have in the stem but also drops the for similar reasons.) iii) If the stem begins with a consonant, it does not take a prefixed . Such stems include all forms of the cursive, many forms of the imperfective in the causative and all perfectives of group IV. In these cases, the only prefixes are (in place of ) for the 3msg and msg participle and for the 1pl, e.g.:
106 He is learning She is learning (rather than ) You are learning (rather than ) We are learning iv) In Tudalt, this rule is only strictly applied to Group IV perfectives. In other forms the prefix may be heard but its use is optional.
Varieties of suffixes. The endings shown above are true for all verbs which end in a normal (‘strong’) consonant. There are a number of groups however, with ‘weak’ or ‘vowel’ endings. The suffixes merge with the final vowel or weak ending to produce a variety of slightly different forms. Tudalt has nine such variants, Tamaghit thirteen. The full listing of each of these sets of suffixes will be found in the relevant verb groups.
Vowel endings (where the final consonant of the verb has been lost). ‘-a’ ending of groups IA7-11 perfective. ‘-a’ ending of groups IA7-11 stative. ‘-a’ ending of groups IA7-11 negative. ‘-a’ ending of perfective of group III onwards, (for Tamaghit also IA7/8 causative cursive). ‘-u’ ending of imperfective and cursive for all vowel endings. Tamaghit has five variants for these vowel endings: ‘-’ ending where ‘ǝ’ has been dropped (IA7 imperfective, IA7 negative cursive, group V, XII and XVII imperfectives, all causative imperfectives). ‘-u’ ending of group IA8 imperfective and cursive. ‘-’ ending where ‘ă’ has been dropped (group IA7 cursive, group III imperfective, group XVIII imperfective). ‘-a’ ending of cursive group III onwards (except IA7/8 causative). ‘-i’ ending of cursive group V on and negative cursive of group III.
Weak ‘t’ endings (where the final consonant of the verb has been replaced by ). ‘-ăt’ ending. ‘-ǝt’ ending. ‘-ǝt’ ending. ‘-it’ ending. ‘-ut’ ending.
Verb groups It is in the way that they change between the aspects that Tamasheq verbs vary greatly. Prasse has classified all but a few very irregular verbs into a long series of verb groups. These are rather unwieldy for language learning purposes so I have simplified the Prasse system, choosing a number of important groups that need to be learned and listing other verbs with the groups they most closely resemble. This provides a useful overview of the Tamasheq verb system and also, combined
107 with the lists of verbs given each section, a way of practicing and mastering the various conjugations. The major groups are listed below:
GROUP I: IA1 IA1 CAUSATIVE IA2 IA2 CAUSATIVE IA3/4 IA3/4 CAUSATIVE IA5/6 IA5/6 CAUSATIVE IA7 (includes IA9 / IA11) IA7/8 CAUSATIVE IA8 (Tamaghit only) IA10 GROUP II GROUP III GROUP III CAUSATIVE GROUP IV GROUP V GROUP V CAUSATIVE GROUP XII GROUP XII CAUSATIVE GROUP XVII GROUP XVIII GROUP XVIII CAUSATIVE
Layout of verb lists and tables The verb tables give a sample verb for each group listing the declension for each aspect under the aspect name. Other verbs in the same group have the same prefixes, suffixes and vowel structure but with their own root consonants substituted in. Where a verb is shown in summary form the following pattern is used: Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun 3msg (ad) imperfective 3msg cursive 3msg neg. cursive 3msg perfective 3msg stative 3msg neg. perf. E.g.: <> be new N.V. 3msg 3msg In the verb lists the following symbols are used: + Verb takes direct object ++ Verb takes two direct objects # Verb takes indirect object <> Intransitive verb (takes no object) & Reciprocal verb (takes ‘ǝd’ + object)
Overview of Group I Many common verbs fall into one of the Group I conjugations. The superficial unifying characteristic of this group is the vowel change between the perfective and its negative (e.g. ‘he learned’, but --- ‘he did not learn’). However, there is a deeper unity identified by Prasse (1973). All these verbs originally had a three consonant stem (ǝBCǝD) like Group IA1. A number of verbs borrowed from Arabic also fall into this pattern, especially into IA1. Some of the complexities of
108 Berber verbs (and Tamasheq in particular) come from the loss of certain consonants and the subsequent diversification of verb groups.
Group IA According to Prasse, all Group IA verbs were originally of type IA1. Loss of certain consonants has caused the diversification into the current eleven groups. These verbs tend to express voluntary activity. Prasse suggests that originally they all expressed this and that apparent exceptions are due to a sliding of meaning over time or assimilation from another group. (e.g. originally meant ‘to wet something or oneself’, but has also come to mean the passive ‘be wet’. ‘be no good’ was probably originally and in Group IV or perhaps Group II)
Group IB Prasse notes the affinities of this group with Group II. The sense is generally descriptive or expresses the involuntary. A number of verbs denoting mental or sensory functions fall in this group.
Group by Group details of group I
Group IA1 This is the largest set of verbs in Tamasheq; each verb in the group has a three consonant stem ‘ǝBCǝD’. More than half of all verbs fall into this group. The most striking thing about the conjugation of this group is the formation of the cursive. Virtually all verbs outside this group form the cursive beginning with ‘t + long vowel’, (causatives being the other exception). Group IA1, however, forms it by separating the first two stem consonants, placing a long ‘a’ between them and doubling the second ‘BaCCăD’, e.g. ‘he learned’, becomes ‘he is learning’. This doubling has a predictable but at first surprising effect on verbs in which the second vowel is ‘ɣ’, ’w’ or ‘ḍ’ which become ‘qq’,’gg’ and ‘ṭṭ’ respectively. Hence ‘he hid’ becomes ‘he hides’, ‘he / it grew up’ becomes gg ‘he / it grows’ (although is also said) and ‘he shot’ becomes ‘he shoots’. The verbal noun most commonly has the form ‘aBăCad’, e.g. ‘learning’, although a number of verbs have an irregular formation or more than one form. Tudalt often has the alternative form ‘aBCuD’, e.g. ‘learning’.
Group IA2 This group of verbs is very similar to IA1. Prasse proposes an original form ‘ǝwCǝD’. In time, the ‘w’ was dropped and the second consonant doubled to make up for it. This theory might seem unlikely and irrelevant until you consider the unusual form of the causative (see Section 4.18). The group now has the form ‘ǝCCǝD’ and forms the cursive with ‘ta-’, e.g. ‘take out’, ‘he took out’, ‘he takes out’. The verbal noun most commonly has the form ‘uCǝD’, e.g. ‘taking out’, although there are many irregular formations too. In Tudalt another fairly common form of the verbal noun that preserves the original ‘w’ is e.g. ‘return’.
Group IA3 Prasse proposes that this group was originally of the form ‘ǝhCǝD’ where ‘h’ could also be another guttural. The loss of this consonant led to the lengthening of the
109 initial vowel giving the form ‘aCǝD’. In the perfective / stative this vowel becomes ‘o’, e.g. ‘cut’, ‘he cut’. The cursive has somewhat different forms in Tamaghit and Tudalt, Ša ‘he cuts’, Za ‘he cuts’. The verbal noun most commonly has the form ‘iCCuD’, e.g. ‘cutting’. Tudalt sometimes has the Tawellemmet form ‘aCCaD’, e.g. ‘cutting’. Many verbs form the verbal noun in a less regular manner.
Group IA4 This small group is essentially a variant of group IA3 and is listed with it in the verb tables. Originally of the form ‘ǝhwǝD’ the modern form is ‘awǝD’. The ‘w’ modifies the pronunciation of the initial vowel in the perfective / stative. Tamaghit and Tudalt have different forms, e.g. Ša ‘carry’, Ša ‘he carried’, Za ‘he carried’, Ša ‘he carries’, Za ‘he carries’. The verbal noun is of the form ‘aggaD’, e.g. gg ‘carrying’.
Group IA5 Originally ‘ǝBhǝD’ this group has the form ‘ǝBǝD’. The formation of the cursive is slightly different in Oudalan and neighbouring areas of Mali / Niger than in the rest of the Tamasheq world, e.g. ‘bite’, ‘he bit’, ‘he bites’. Elsewhere this last form would be ‘he bites’, which is also heard in Oudalan among Tudalt speakers. The verbal noun is most commonly of the form ‘eBeD’, e.g. ‘biting’, but there are many exceptions.
Group IA6 Originally ‘ǝwhǝD’ this small group has the form ‘ǝwǝD’. It can be considered as a special case of group IA5 and is listed with it. In the cursive the ‘w’ is doubled and becomes ‘gg’. Again the local form is different from that of the rest of the Tamasheq world, and Tudalt speakers use both, e.g. ‘hit’, ‘he hit’, gg ‘he hits’. Elsewhere and Tudalt gg ‘he hits’. The verbal noun may be ‘eweD’ as group 1A5 but irregular forms are common, e.g. ‘hitting’.
Group IA7 (Tamaghit) Originally ‘ǝBCǝh’ this group has lost the final consonant and now has the form ‘ǝBC’. In Tamaghit the imperative has two forms depending on the second consonant. Usually the form is ‘ăBC’, e.g. ‘lie down’, but if the second consonant is ‘l’, ‘m’, ‘n’ or ‘r’ this is hard to pronounce and the secondary form ‘ǝBǝD’ is adopted, e.g. ‘arrange’. The cursive forms like group IA1 without the final vowel and consonant, e.g. ‘lie down’, ‘he lay down’, ‘he lies down’. The verbal noun varies quite a bit in formation, e.g. ‘lying down’.
Group IA8 (Tamaghit) Originally ‘ǝBCǝh’, this group differs from IA7 in that a final vowel is retained giving the form ‘ǝBCu’. The cursive forms in a slightly different way too, e.g. ‘agree’, ‘he agreed’, ‘he agrees (habitually)’. The verbal noun varies in formation, e.g. ‘agreement / acceptance’.
Group IA7/8 (Tudalt) These two groups are essentially indistinguishable in Tudalt. They are both of the form ‘ăBCu’, e.g. ‘lie down’, ‘he lay down’, ‘he lies down’, and
110 ‘agree’, ‘he agreed’, ‘he agrees (habitually)’. The verbal noun varies in formation and is generally the same as or similar to the Tamaghit, e.g. ‘lying down’, ‘agreement / acceptance’. A number of verbs that in Tamaghit fall into IA1 and have preserved a final ‘h’, fall into this group in Tudalt, e.g. Ša , Ša , g Ša become Za , g Za , g Za respectively.
Group IA9 Originally ‘ǝwCǝh’ this tiny group shares characteristics of groups IA2 and IA7. It is listed as a variant of IA7, of the form ‘ăCC’ , ‘ăCCu’ . The cursive forms in a manner analogous to group IA2, e.g. Ša ‘go to’, Ša ‘he went to’, Ša ‘he goes to’, Za ‘go to’, Za ‘he went to’, Za ‘he goes to’.
Group IA10 Originally ‘ǝhCǝh’ this small group combines characteristics of groups IA3 and IA7. Tamaghit and Tudalt forms differ somewhat. In Tamaghit the form is ‘aC’, e.g. ‘open’, ‘he opened’, ‘he opens’. In Tudalt the form is ‘aCu’, e.g. ‘open’, ‘he opened’, ‘he opens’.
Group IA11 This very small group was originally ‘ǝBhǝh’ combining groups IA5 and IA7. There is no single verb that is an ideal example of this group as ‘do’ is probably a contraction of (IA9), whilst ‘own’ is not used in the cursive. The Tamaghit form is ‘ăB’, e.g. ‘do’, ‘he did’, ‘he does’. The Tudalt form is ‘ăBu’, e.g. g ‘do’, g ‘he did’, gg ‘he does’.
Group IB1 This small group is listed as a variant of group IA3 which it resembles. It is of the form ‘aBCǝD’, ‘be ill’, ‘he became ill’, Ša ‘he is (frequently) ill’, Za ‘he is (frequently) ill’. The handful of remaining group IB verbs are treated as variants of the groups they most resemble. For example group IB4 (originally ‘aBCǝh’ now ‘aBCu’) combining elements of group IA3 and IA8 is found under group IA8. Groups IB5 and IB7 are found under group IA10 which they closely resemble.
Verb formation To form another verb of the group simply swap its stem consonants for those of in the table. The vowels, prefixes and suffixes remain the same, e.g.: ‘write’ K replaces L T replaces M B replaces D kattăbăɣ Tămašăq I am writing Tamasheq ǝktăbăɣ tăkarḍe I wrote a letter tǝktăbăd tăkarḍe You wrote a letter
111 444.4...2222 Group IA1
Tamaghit ‘learn’ Imperative sg ǝlmǝd mpl ǝlmǝdăt fpl ǝlmǝdmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝlmǝdăɣ lammădăɣ wăr lǝmmǝdăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝlmǝdăd lammădăd wăr lǝmmǝdăd 3msg (ad) ǝlmǝd ilammăd wǝr ilǝmmǝd 3fsg (ad) tǝlmǝd lammăd wăr lǝmmǝd 1pl (ad) nǝlmǝd nǝlammăd wăr nǝlǝmmǝd 2mpl (ad) tǝlmǝdăm lammădăm wăr lǝmmǝdăm 2fpl (ad) tǝlmǝdmăt lammădmăt wăr lǝmmǝdmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝlmǝdăn lammădăn wăr lǝmmǝdăn 3fpl (ad) ǝlmǝdnăt lammădnăt wăr lǝmmǝdnăt (short form: ilămmăd etc.)
ParticipParticiplesleslesles msg maden ǝlmǝd ilammădăn wăren ilǝmmǝd fsg maden tǝlmǝd lammădăt wăren lǝmmǝd pl maden ǝlmǝd lammădnen wăren ilǝmmǝd
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝlmădăɣ ǝlmâdăɣ wǝr ǝlmedăɣ 2sg tǝlmădăd tǝlmâdăd wăr tǝlmedăd 3msg ilmăd ilmâd wǝr ilmed 3fsg tǝlmăd tǝlmâd wăr tǝlmed 1pl nǝlmăd nǝlmâd wăr nǝlmed 2mpl tǝlmădăm tǝlmâdăm wăr tǝlmedăm 2fpl tǝlmădmăt tǝlmâdmăt wăr tǝlmedmăt 3mpl ǝlmădăn ǝlmâdăn wǝr ǝlmedăn 3fpl ǝlmădnăt ǝlmâdnăt wǝr ǝlmednăt
Participles msg ilmădăn ilmâdăn wăren ilmed fsg tǝlmădăt tǝlmâdăt wăren tǝlmed pl ǝlmădnen ǝlmâdnen wăren ilmed
112 Group IA1
Tudalt ‘learn’ Imperative sg ǝlmǝd mpl ǝlmǝdăt fpl ǝlmǝdmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝlmǝdăɣ lammădăɣ wǝr lǝmmǝdăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝlmǝdăd lammădăd wǝr lǝmmǝdăd 3msg (ad) ilmǝd ilammăd wǝr ilǝmmǝd 3fsg (ad) tǝlmǝd lammăd wǝr lǝmmǝd 1pl (ad) nǝlmǝd nǝlammăd wǝr nǝlǝmmǝd 2mpl (ad) tǝlmǝdăm lammădăm wǝr lǝmmǝdăm 2fpl (ad) tǝlmǝdmăt lammădmăt wǝr lǝmmǝdmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝlmǝdăn lammădăn wǝr lǝmmǝdăn 3fpl (ad) ǝlmǝdnăt lammădnăt wǝr lǝmmǝdnăt
Participles msg z-ilmǝdăn ilammădăn wǝr nǝlǝmmǝd fsg za-tǝlmǝd lammădăt wǝr nǝlǝmmǝd pl z-ǝlmǝdnen lammădnen wǝr nǝlǝmmǝd c(neg) wǝr za-nǝlmǝd
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝlmădăɣ ǝlmâdăɣ wǝr ǝlmedăɣ 2sg tǝlmădăd tǝlmâdăd wǝr tǝlmedăd 3msg ilmăd ilmâd wǝr ilmed 3fsg tǝlmăd tǝlmâd wǝr tǝlmed 1pl nǝlmăd nǝlmâd wǝr nǝlmed 2mpl tǝlmădăm tǝlmâdăm wǝr tǝlmedăm 2fpl tǝlmădmăt tǝlmâdmăt wǝr tǝlmedmăt 3mpl ǝlmădăn ǝlmâdăn wǝr ǝlmedăn 3fpl ǝlmădnăt ǝlmâdnăt wǝr ǝlmednăt
Participles msg ilmădăn ilmâdăn wǝr nǝlmed fsg tǝlmădăt tǝlmâdăt wǝr nǝlmed pl ǝlmădnen ǝlmâdnen wǝr nǝlmed
113 Examples of simple verb lammădăɣ Tămašăq I am learning Tamasheq Zǝnnǝba wăr lǝmmǝd Tămašăq Zenneba isn’t learning Tamasheq Zǝnnǝba wǝr tǝlǝmmǝd Tǝmažǝq Zenneba isn’t learning Tamajeq ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I will learn Tamasheq ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I want to learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I want to learn Tamajeq ǝlmădăɣ ismawăn ăynâynen ănḍǝšel I learned new words yesterday ǝlmădăɣ ismawăn ăynâynen ǝnḍazǝl I learned new words yesterday Măryama ad tǝlmǝd Tesăwăq meɣ ? Will Mary learn Hausa? Măryama tǝlmâd Tesăwăq Mary has already learned Hausa Adămu wǝr ilmed Tămašăq Adamu has not learned Tamasheq
Examples of participleparticiplessss mi ilămmădăn [sh] Tămašăq ? Who is learning Tamasheq? mi ilammădăn Tǝmažǝq ? Who is learning Tamajeq? Dăwda a ilămmădăn [sh] Tămašăq It’s Dave who is learning Tamasheq Dăwda a ilammădăn Tǝmažǝq It’s Dave who is learning Tamajeq tamăṭṭ ta lămmădăt [sh] Tămašăq The woman who is learning Tamasheq tanṭuṭ ta (tǝ)lammădăt Tǝmažǝq The woman who is learning Tamajeq Măryama a ilămmădăn Tămašăq It’s Mary who’s learning Tamasheq Măryama a ilammădăn Tǝmažǝq It is Mary who’s learning Tamajeq
ǝndek-ki ăhalǝs wa ilmădăn Which is the man who has Tăfollant ? learned Fulfulde? ǝndek-ke alǝs wa ilmădăn Which is the man who has Tǝfollant ? learned Fulfulde? ara wa wăren ilmed teɣăre The child who hasn’t learned to read bărar wa wǝr nǝlmed teɣăre The child who hasn’t learned to read
Example of verbal noun ma tăǵǵăd [sh] ? What do you do? ma taggăd ? What do you do? alămad ǝn-Tămašăq a tăǵǵăɣ [sh] Learning Tamasheq is what I do alămad ǝn-Tǝmažǝq a taggăɣ Learning Tamajeq is what I do
Note: the Tamaghit short form of the cursive is marked [sh] above.
114 A selection of the most common group IA1 verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ǝbdǝd <> stand up / stop tebădde ǝbrăr <> be no good abror ǝbrǝr <> be no good abrur ăḍkăr <> be full // + fill aḍkor ǝḍkǝr <> be full // + fill aḍkur ǝdlǝl <> dance adălal / adlul ǝfhǝm + (Ar.) understand făhăm ǝfrǝs + cut / slice // <> be cut / sliced afăras ǝgdăh <> be enough agădah / migdăhăw ǝgmǝy + try / look for agămay ǝǵrăh + understand uǵreh / aǵărah ǝǵrǝw + get / earn / attain aǵăraw ǝgrǝw + get / earn / attain agăraw ǝgrăẓ # be pleasing / please agăraẓ / ǝggǝroẓăt ǝgrǝẓ # be pleasing / please agăraẓ / ǝggǝruẓăt ǝǵyǝk + farm / weed / cultivate aǵăyak ǝgyǝk + farm / weed / cultivate agăyak ăɣšǝd + spoil // <> be spoiled / broken aɣăšad / oɣšed ǝɣšǝd + spoil // <> be spoiled / broken aɣăšad / uɣšed ǝknǝs + fight akǝnnas ǝktǝb + (Ar.) write akătab ǝlkǝm # follow // <> be inevitable alăkam / lǝkkum ǝlmǝd + (Ar.) learn alămad ǝlwǝg <> be tired alăwag ǝnhǝy + see (cursive: etc.) ahănay ǝnkǝl <> be messy / dirty ǝnnikăl ǝnkăr <> get up / wake up // ‘nomadise’ tanăkra ǝnkǝr <> get up / wake up // ‘nomadise’ tanăkra ǝnkǝš <> move (oneself) // <> be moved anăkaš (With directional particles this can also mean be near / be far away.) ǝnkǝz <> move (oneself) // <> be moved anăkaz (With directional particles this can also mean be near / be far away.) ǝnšǝy <> travel in the morning tanšit ǝnzǝy <> travel in the morning tanzit ărgǝš <> walk // prowl arăgaš / tekle (Narrower usage than English, can imply seeking sexual partner.) ărmǝs + grab / seize / catch fire arămas ǝrmǝs + catch fire // grab / seize arămas ǝšwăr + precede / almost (do sth.) ašăwar (cursive etc.) ǝzgăr + go out // pass by // # be set aside for azăgar ǝzgǝr + go out // pass by // # be set aside for azăgar ǝzlǝf + (or <>) be / get married / betrothed azălaf ǝžwǝr + precede / almost (do sth.) ažăwar (cursive: gg etc.)
115 These are the IA1 verbs a language learner should learn first; a fuller listing follows.
Other common group IA1 verbs ǝbdǝǵ <> be wet abduǵ / ubdaǵ ǝbdǝg <> be wet abdug / ubdag
ǝbdǝɣ + kick / push (with foot) abădaɣ ǝbdăr + receive a ‘souvenir’ abădar / tibǝddar ǝbdǝr + receive a ‘souvenir’ abădar / tibǝddar (Gifts are often given on the return from a journey.) ǝbhǝl + push abăhal ǝbrǝš + clear (field) of old roots / trees abăraš ǝbrǝz + clear (field) of old roots / trees abăraz ǝbsăr + hang out (clothes) // <> be hanging out abăsar ǝbsǝr + hang out (clothes) // <> be hanging out abăsar ǝbsǝy <> melt / fall apart //+ melt / pull apart abăsay ǝdbǝl + carry in arms // stitch a border adăbal ǝdhǝl + help tadhǝlt ǝdhǝn + spill grease on / grease (sth.) adăhan ǝtkǝl + pick up / take / lift up // adăkal / adkul <> be lifted / be high ǝdlǝǵ + decorate // <> be decorated adălaǵ / adluǵ ǝdlǝg + decorate // <> be decorated adălag / adlug ǝdrǝǵ + not know / be ignorant of ăddăraǵ ǝdrǝg + not know / be ignorant of ăddărag ǝdnǝs <> be calm / calm (oneself) down adănas ǝdrăr <> be calm adror ǝdrǝr <> be calm adrur ǝdrǝw + share adăraw ǝdwǝl <> grow / grow up adăwal (cursive: Ša , gg Za etc.) ăḍgăẓ + disturb / oppress / occupy ăḍḍăgaẓăt ǝḍgǝẓ + disturb / oppress / occupy ăḍḍăgaẓăt ăḍkăḍ + (Ar.) estimate // <> be estimated aḍăkaḍ / ăḍḍǝkoḍ ǝḍkǝḍ + (Ar.) estimate // <> be estimated aḍăkaḍ / ǝḍḍǝkuḍ ăḍlǝm + (Ar.) wrong (s.o.) / provoke (s.o.) taḍlǝmt ǝḍlǝm + (Ar.) wrong (s.o.) / provoke (s.o.) taḍlǝmt ăḍnǝy + fill // <> be full aḍni / aḍănay ǝḍnǝy + fill // <> be full aḍni / aḍănay ăḍrăẓ + put sauce on food // aḍăraẓ <> have had sauce put on (food) ǝḍrǝẓ + put sauce on food // aḍăraẓ <> have had sauce put on (food) ǝfhǝm + (Ar.) understand făhăm ǝflǝs + trust taflǝst ǝfnăẓ + reduce / subtract // <> be reduced afănaẓ ǝfnǝẓ + reduce / subtract // <> be reduced afănaẓ ǝfrǝd + gather (in bush) tafrǝtt ǝfrăḍ + sweep // <> be swept //<> (Ar.) be obligatory afăraḍ
116 ǝfrǝḍ + sweep // <> be swept //<> (Ar.) be obligatory afăraḍ ǝfrăɣ <> be bent / curved afăraɣ / afroɣ ǝfrǝɣ <> be bent / curved afăraɣ / fǝrruɣ ǝfrǝn + choose // <> be excellent tafrǝnt ǝftăɣ + spread out (mat) // be spread out afătaɣ ǝftăɣ + spread out (mat) // be spread out afătaɣ ǝftǝn + climb afătan ǝftǝy + dismantle afătay ǝǵbǝs + tie (around waist) aǵăbas ǝgbǝs + tie (around waist) agăbas ǝgdǝl + prevent agădal ǝǵlǝk <> be hungry / starving ǵǝlǝk ǝglǝk <> be hungry / starving gǝlǝk ǝǵlǝy <> be serious / conscientious aǵălay / ăǵǵǝluyăt ǝglǝy <> be serious / conscientious agălay / ăggǝluyăt ǝgmăḍ + flee / go out agămaḍ / agmoḍ ǝgmǝḍ + flee / go out agămaḍ / agmuḍ ǝǵmǝm + chew (tobacco) aǵămam ǝgmǝm + chew (tobacco) agămam ǝǵmăr + store up / conserve aǵămar ǝgmǝr + hunt // store up / conserve agămar / tagmǝrt ǝgžǝm + slaughter agăžam ǝgzăr + oppose agăzar ǝgzǝr + oppose agăzar ăɣbǝd + (Ar.) worship / adore aɣăbad ǝɣbǝd + (Ar.) worship / adore aɣăbad ăqbǝl + (Ar.) accept / welcome aqăbal ǝqbǝl + (Ar.) accept / welcome aqăbal ăɣdǝl + (Ar.) be honest / righteous ălɣădala ǝɣdǝl + (Ar.) be honest / righteous ălɣădala ăɣdăr + (Ar.) betray / deceive taɣdărt ǝɣdǝr + (Ar.) betray / deceive taɣdǝrt ăɣfǝl + (Ar.) lock aɣăfal ǝɣfǝl + (Ar.) lock aɣăfal ăɣlǝb + (Ar.) defeat / overcome aɣălab ǝɣlǝb + (Ar.) defeat / overcome aɣălab ăɣlǝf + (Ar.) be entrusted (with) aɣălaf / taɣlift ǝɣlǝf + (Ar.) be entrusted (with) aɣălaf / taɣlift ăɣlǝl <> be eternal / durable aɣlul ǝɣlǝl <> be eternal / durable aɣlul ăɣlǝs <> (Ar.) be protected / be OK / be saved ǝlɣǝllas ǝɣlǝs <> (Ar.) be protected / be OK / be saved ǝlɣǝllas ăɣlǝy + go round aɣălay ǝɣlǝy + go round aɣălay ăɣmăr + (Ar.) prepare (tea etc.) aɣămar ǝɣmǝr + (Ar.) prepare (tea etc.) aɣămar ăɣmǝs + cover / envelop aɣămas ǝɣmǝs + cover / envelop aɣămas ăɣnǝs + cover completely aɣănas
117 ǝɣnǝs + cover completely aɣănas ăɣrǝf + assemble // <> be assembled (group / item) aɣăraf ǝɣrǝf + assemble // <> be assembled (group / item) aɣăraf ăɣrǝs # slaughter // + cut / cross aɣăras ǝɣrǝs + cut / cross aɣăras ăɣsăr + land (in) aɣăsar ǝɣsǝr + land (in) aɣăsar ăɣtǝf + (Ar.) lie in wait / ambush aɣătaf ǝɣtǝf + (Ar.) lie in wait / ambush aɣătaf ăɣtǝl + (Ar.) advise / exhort / rebuke aɣătal ǝɣtǝl + (Ar.) advise / exhort / rebuke aɣătal ăɣtǝm + (Ar.) complete reading of Quran / aɣătam <> read Quran on ‘night of power’ / + give alms on the ‘night of power’ ǝɣtǝm + (Ar.) complete reading of Quran / aɣătam <> read Quran on ‘night of power’ / + give alms on the ‘night of power’ ăɣtǝs + chop / cut down // <> be cut down aɣătas ǝɣtǝs + chop / cut down // <> be cut down aɣătas ăɣwǝd + cut to shape // read aloud aɣăwad / ăttăɣwid ǝɣwǝd + cut to shape // read aloud aɣăwad / ăttăɣwid ăɣyǝb <> (Ar.) be faulty / deficient / disabled ălɣib ǝɣyǝb <> (Ar.) be faulty / deficient / disabled ălɣib ăɣyǝl <> be well brought up / proper taɣyǝlt ǝɣyǝl <> be well brought up / proper taɣyǝlt ăhlǝk + (Ar.) destroy // <> be destroyed / ruined ahălak / ǝlhǝllak ǝhlǝk + (Ar.) destroy // <> be destroyed / ruined ahălak / ǝlhǝllak ăhyǝǵ + injure // <> be injured ahăyaǵ / ahăyoǵ ǝhyǝg + injure // <> be injured ahăyag / ahăyog ǝkbǝl + catch / hold / support akăbal ǝkfǝl + take as captives // <> be taken captive akăfal ǝkfăr <> (Ar.) be pagan // be violent ukfar / akfor ǝkfǝr <> (Ar.) be pagan // be violent ukfar / akfur ǝklǝs + cut (meat) into strips for drying akălas ǝkmǝl <> (Ar.) be perfect akămal ǝkmǝm <> be mean / refuse to give akămam ǝkmǝs + knot into cloth // <> be knotted into cloth akămas ǝkrǝd + tie up / bind akărad ǝkrăḍ + scratch akăraḍ ǝkrǝḍ + scratch akăraḍ ǝkrǝf + hobble (an animal) akăraf / takrǝft ǝkrǝm + fold // <> be folded / curved / sit (of goat etc.) akăram ǝkrǝs + tie / attach / build // <> be built akăras ǝkrǝš + own / acquire akăraš ǝkrǝz + own / acquire akăraz ǝksǝl + scoop up (‘lift up loose bits with flat object’) akăsal ǝksǝn + hate akăsan ǝkwăr + insult (cursive: etc.) tiǵǝǵǵar ǝkwǝr + insult (cursive: gg etc.) tikǝggar
118 ǝkwǝy + grill / burn // <> be grilled akăway ǝkyǝd + look at / examine akăyad ǝkyăḍ + hate / misjudge ukyaḍ / akyoḍ ǝkyǝḍ + hate / misjudge ukyaḍ / akyuḍ ǝlbǝk <> be thin / starved lǝbǝk / alăbak ǝlbǝy + uproot alăbay ălḍǝš <> be tired alăḍaš ǝlḍǝz <> be tired alăḍaz ǝlfǝs + smooth off // <> be smoothed off alăfas ǝlgǝm # punch alăgam ǝlɣǝd + (Ar.) persuade alăɣad ǝlɣǝn + (Ar.) insult (cursive: etc.) tulɣant / tilɣant ǝlɣǝs <> hide (oneself) / be hidden alăɣas ǝlhǝm <> (Ar.) be angry ălhăm ǝlhǝy + stuff / penetrate // <> be stuffed alăhay ǝlkăḍ # go to meet alăkaḍ ǝlkǝḍ # go to meet alăkaḍ ǝlkăh + despise / reject mǝlkăhăw ǝlkǝw + draw (water) / fetch (water) alăkăw ǝlmăɣ + dive // <> be dipped alămaɣ ǝlmǝɣ + dive // <> be dipped alămaɣ ǝlmǝm + suck (silently) // <> be sucked alămam ǝlmăẓ + swallow alămaẓ ǝlmǝẓ + swallow alămaẓ ǝltăɣ + adhere to / be stuck to alătaɣ ǝltǝɣ + adhere to / be stuck to alătaɣ ǝlwǝy + lead (cursive: Ša gg Za etc.) alăway ǝlxǝm + (Ar.) solder / weld //<> be welded alăxam ǝlyǝm <> dissolve / disintegrate alăyam ǝlyǝs + criticise alăyas ǝlzǝm + (Ar.) be obligatory alăzăm ǝmdǝy + tie (animal to stick) amăday ǝmsǝd <> be sharp amsud ǝmsǝl + dye blue / make (sth.) blue by amăsal wiping it with something indigo ǝmbǝǵ + pierce / be pierced / cross anăbaǵ ǝmbǝg + pierce / be pierced / cross anăbag ăŋbǝl + bury anăbal ǝnbǝl + bury anăbal ǝmbăr + do (work / a journey) at night anăbar ǝnbǝs + throw (powder / grit) anăbas ǝnbǝš <> be broadcast / dispersed anăbaš ǝnbǝy + have sex (crude term) anăbay ǝnbǝz <> be broadcast / dispersed anăbaz ǝndǝm <> (Ar.) lower head (in fatigue / grief) anădam ǝndǝw <> become creamy (milk / butter) anădaw ănḍǝb + shoot (arrow / gun) anăḍab ǝnḍǝb + shoot (arrow / gun) anăḍab ănḍăr <> die suddenly / do (sth.) suddenly anăḍar
119 ǝnḍǝr <> die suddenly / do (sth.) suddenly anăḍar ănḍǝw + throw // <> be thrown anăḍaw ǝnḍǝw + throw // <> be thrown anăḍaw ǝnfăr <> be spacious / spaced out anăfar ǝnfǝr <> be spacious / spaced out anăfar ǝnfǝš + sprinkle // <> be sprinkled anăfaš ǝnfǝz + sprinkle // <> be sprinkled anăfaz ǝnfăẓ # punch in the face anăfaẓ ǝnfǝẓ # punch in the face anăfaẓ ăngăḍ + put on (turban) // <> be turbaned anăgaḍ ǝngǝḍ + put on (turban) // <> be turbaned anăgaḍ ǝnǵăr + be in the shelter of / hide behind anăǵar ǝngǝr + be in the shelter of / hide behind anăgar ǝnǵǝy <> flow anăǵay ǝngǝy <> flow anăgay ăŋɣǝl + pour / spill // <> be poured / spilled tanăɣla / ănăɣal ǝŋɣǝl + pour / spill // <> be poured / spilled tanăɣla / ănăɣal (cursive: Ša etc.) ǝnhǝǵ <> be naive // be uninhibited anăhoǵ / anhuǵ ǝnhǝg <> be naive // be uninhibited anăhog / anhug ǝnkăḍ + cut off anăkaḍ ǝnkǝḍ + cut off / harvest / circumcise anăkaḍ ǝnkǝf # bump into / knock against anăkaf ǝnkǝs + suckle // <> be suckled anăkas ǝnsǝǵ + smell / sniff anăsaǵ ǝnsǝg + sniff / take snuff anăsag ǝnsăr <> be ripped away / torn off anăsar ǝnsǝr <> be ripped away / torn off anăsar ǝnsǝs <> dry up (well,spring) anăsas ǝnšăr <> bear new leaves // bud anăšar ǝnšǝš <> be sieved anăšaš ǝntǝg + push anătag ǝntǝm <> be stuck / be firm antum ǝntǝs + set fire to anătas ǝntǝš + snatch anătaš ǝntǝz + snatch anătaz ǝnxǝs <> (Ar.) be discouraged / saddened anăxas ǝnzăɣ <> be peeled / stripped (e.g. bark) anăzaɣ ǝnzǝɣ <> be peeled / stripped (e.g. bark) anăzaɣ ǝnzǝr <> bear new leaves // bud anăzar ǝnzǝz <> be sieved anăzaz ănẓǝǵ <> blink / be half closed (eye) //+ wink (eye) anăẓaǵ ǝnẓǝg <> blink / be half closed (eye) //+ wink (eye) anăẓag ănẓăr + sing // pose an enigma anăẓar ǝnẓǝr + sing // pose an enigma anăẓar ărbǝb + hold (sth.) in arms // <> be armed arăbab ǝrbǝb + hold (sth.) in arms // <> be armed arăbab ărbăḍ + insult someone’s parents erăbḍan ǝrbǝḍ + insult someone’s parents ǝrrǝbḍan
120 ărbăẓ + knead // <> be kneaded arăbaẓ ǝrbǝẓ + knead // <> be kneaded arăbaẓ ărḍǝl + (Ar.) recite // <> be loaned arăḍal ǝrḍǝl + (Ar.) recite arăḍal ărɣǝm + (Ar.) warn / forbid // threaten arăɣam ǝrɣǝm + (Ar.) warn / forbid // threaten arăɣam ărhǝǵ <> be saved / delivered arăhaǵ ărkǝb + pull arăkab ǝrkǝb + pull arăkab ărkăḍ <> (
121 ǝškǝy + stain with red ochre (also: ) ašăkay ǝšlǝǵ + carry (on back) ašălaǵ ǝšlǝm + see at a glance ašălam ǝšlǝy + get lost / miss (road / target) ašălay ǝšmăr # put up with / tolerate ăššămmarăt ǝšrǝǵ + go for water ašăroǵ ǝšrăɣ # (Ar.) judge (# s.o. / + the punishment) ăššăreɣa ǝšrǝɣ # (Ar.) judge (# s.o. / + the punishment) ǝššǝriɣa ǝšrǝy <> be new / be last // + replace ašăray ǝšwǝy + anoint / wipe with oil ašăway (cursive: etc.) ǝtrǝb <> hurry / be quick atrub / atărab ǝtwăr + store / hide (things) away atăwar (cursive etc.) ǝtwǝr + store / hide (things) away atăwar (cursive: gg etc.) ăxkǝm + (Ar.) rule ălxǝkum ǝxkǝm + (Ar.) rule ǝlxǝkum ăxlǝd <> be greedy taxălett ǝxlǝd <> be greedy axălad ăxlǝk + (Ar.) create // <> be created axălak / axluk ǝxlǝk + (Ar.) create // <> be created axălak / axluk ăxsǝb + (Ar.) count / calculate / count as ălxisab ǝxsǝb + (Ar.) count / calculate / count as ălxisab ăxsǝl <> reach the end of one’s rescources axăsal ǝxsǝl <> reach the end of one’s rescources axăsal ǝzlǝg + carry (on back) azălag ǝzlǝm + see at a glance azălam ǝzlǝy + get lost / miss (road / target) azălay ǝzrǝg + go for water azărog / tazrek ǝzrǝy + be new / be last / replace azăray ăẓlǝy + separate / distinguish // aẓli / aẓălay <> be taken in marriage ǝẓlǝy + separate / distinguish // aẓli / aẓălay <> be taken in marriage ăẓmǝy + sew aẓămay ǝẓmǝy + sew aẓămay ăẓwǝy + lift // <> be high aẓăway ǝẓwǝy + lift // <> be high aẓăway ǝžmǝr # put up with / tolerate žǝmmerăt ǝžwǝy + anoint / wipe with oil ažăway (cursive: gg etc.)
122 444.4...3333 Group IA2
Tamaghit ‘take out’ Imperative sg ǝkkǝs mpl ǝkkǝsăt fpl ǝkkǝsmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative CurCursivesive 1sg (ad) ǝkkǝsăɣ takkăsăɣ wăr tǝkkǝsăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝkkǝsăd takkăsăd wăr tǝkkǝsăd 3msg (ad) ǝkkǝs itakkăs wǝr itǝkkǝs 3fsg (ad) tǝkkǝs takkăs wăr tǝkkǝs 1pl (ad) nǝkkǝs nǝtakkăs wăr nǝtǝkkǝs 2mpl (ad) tǝkkǝsăm takkăsăm wăr tǝkkǝsăm 2fpl (ad) tǝkkǝsmăt takkăsmăt wăr tǝkkǝsmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝkkǝsăn takkăsăn wăr tǝkkǝsăn 3fpl (ad) ǝkkǝsnăt takkăsnăt wăr tǝkkǝsnăt (short form: ităkkăs etc.)
Participles msg maden ǝkkǝs itakkăsăn wăren itǝkkǝs fsg maden tǝkkǝs takkăsăt wăren tǝkkǝs pl maden ǝkkǝs takkăsnen wăren itǝkkǝs
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝkkăsăɣ ǝkkâsăɣ wǝr ǝkkesăɣ 2sg tǝkkăsăd tǝkkâsăd wăr tǝkkesăd 3msg ikkăs ikkâs wǝr ikkes 3fsg tǝkkăs tǝkkâs wăr tǝkkes 1pl nǝkkăs nǝkkâs wăr nǝkkes 2mpl tǝkkăsăm tǝkkâsăm wăr tǝkkesăm 2fpl tǝkkăsmăt tǝkkâsmăt wăr tǝkkesmăt 3mpl ǝkkăsăn ǝkkâsăn wǝr ǝkkesăn 3fpl ǝkkăsnăt ǝkkâsnăt wǝr ǝkkesnăt
Participles msg ikkăsăn ikkâsăn wăren ikkes fsg tǝkkăsăt tǝkkâsăt wăren tǝkkes pl ǝkkăsnen ǝkkâsnen wăren ikkes
123 Group IA2
Tudalt ‘take out’ Imperative sg ǝkkǝs mpl ǝkkǝsăt fpl ǝkkǝsmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative Cursive 1sg (ad) ǝkkǝsăɣ takkăsăɣ wǝr tǝkkǝsăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝkkǝsăd takkăsăd wǝr tǝkkǝsăd 3msg (ad) ikkǝs itakkăs wǝr itǝkkǝs 3fsg (ad) tǝkkǝs takkăs wǝr tǝkkǝs 1pl (ad) nǝkkǝs nǝtakkăs wǝr nǝtǝkkǝs 2mpl (ad) tǝkkǝsăm takkăsăm wǝr tǝkkǝsăm 2fpl (ad) tǝkkǝsmăt takkăsmăt wǝr tǝkkǝsmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝkkǝsăn takkăsăn wǝr tǝkkǝsăn 3fpl (ad) ǝkkǝsnăt takkăsnăt wǝr tǝkkǝsnăt
Participles msg z-ikkǝsăn itakkăsăn wǝr nǝtǝkkǝs fsg za-tǝkkǝsăt takkăsăt wǝr nǝtǝkkǝs pl z-ǝkkǝsnen takkăsnen wǝr nǝtǝkkǝs c(neg) wǝr za-nǝkkǝs
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝkkăsăɣ ǝkkâsăɣ wǝr ǝkkesăɣ 2sg tǝkkăsăd tǝkkâsăd wǝr tǝkkesăd 3msg ikkăs ikkâs wǝr ikkes 3fsg tǝkkăs tǝkkâs wǝr tǝkkes 1pl nǝkkăs nǝkkâs wǝr nǝkkes 2mpl tǝkkăsăm tǝkkâsăm wǝr tǝkkesăm 2fpl tǝkkăsmăt tǝkkâsmăt wǝr tǝkkesmăt 3mpl ǝkkăsăn ǝkkâsăn wǝr ǝkkesăn 3fpl ǝkkăsnăt ǝkkâsnăt wǝr ǝkkesnăt
Participles msg ikkăsăn ikkâsăn wǝr nǝkkǝs fsg tǝkkăsăt tǝkkâsăt wǝr nǝkkǝs pl ǝkkăsnen ǝkkâsnen wǝr nǝkkǝs
124 Group IA2 Verbs Imperative MeaMeaning ning Verbal Noun ǝddăh + pound tidhăwt ǝddǝk + move to / put up tent udǝk ǝddǝl <> play ăddăl ǝddǝm <> spot (with rain) teddemt ǝddăr <> live / be alive tămudre ǝddǝr <> live / be alive tǝmudre ǝṭṭǝb <> spot / drip (rain etc.) teṭṭebt ăṭṭǝf + hold / take hold oḍǝf ǝṭṭǝf + hold / take hold uḍǝf ăṭṭǝs <> be asleep eḍǝs ǝṭṭǝs <> be asleep eḍǝs ăḍḍǝš <> be weakened (by lack of food) oḍǝš ǝḍḍǝz <> be weakened (by lack of food) uḍǝz ǝffǝd + lend / borrow (cf ) ufǝd ǝffăr + hide // <> hide (oneself) ufăr ǝffǝr + hide // <> hide (oneself) ufǝr ǝffǝy + pour // <> have diarrhoea tufit / teffayt ǝffăẓ + chew / crunch ufăẓ ǝffǝẓ + chew / crunch ufǝẓ ǝggǝd + jump / fly teggett ǝggǝš + enter / go in ugǝš ǝggǝz + enter / go in ugǝz ăqqăɣ <> explode / strike (lightning) teqqaqq ǝqqǝɣ <> explode / strike (lightning) teqqaq ăqqǝl + become // return // # wait for oɣǝl ǝqqǝl + become // return // # wait for uɣǝl / tewăɣle ăqqǝn + attach / construct // oɣǝn + hang / wear (jewellery) ǝqqǝn + attach / construct // uɣǝn / tewăɣne + hang / wear (jewellery) ăqqǝs <> clap eqqas ǝqqǝs <> clap eqqas ǝkkǝs + take out / take away ukǝs ǝllǝf # wave / signal ulǝf ǝllăɣ + lick ulăɣ ǝllǝɣ + lick ulǝɣ ǝllǝm + pass quickly / twist ulǝm ǝllǝy <> hover / hang around ulǝy Ša / ellay Za ǝllăẓ <> sink / be pushed deep (into sth.) ulăẓ ǝllǝẓ <> sink / be pushed deep (into sth.) ulǝẓ ǝmmăɣ # look for / search for // <> be soaked umăɣ ǝmmǝɣ <> be soaked // (# look for / search for) umǝɣ ǝmmăr + pass by umăr ǝmmǝr + pass by umǝr ǝnnăḍ + turn around //<> turn (oneself) around unăḍ ǝnnǝḍ + turn around //<> turn (oneself) around unǝḍ
125 ǝssǝf <> be rigid usǝf ǝssǝn + know / be good for musnat / tămusne ǝssǝn + know / be good for măsnat / tamusne ǝššăḍ <> be playful / giddy ušăḍ ǝššǝḍ <> be playful / giddy ušǝḍ ǝššǝf <> swim eššaf ǝššǝk + doubt / be upset ăššăk ǝššǝm # be better mušmăt / tamušme ǝttǝl + wrap ettal ǝttăr + seek / pray / ask for // insult utăr / tǝwatre ǝttǝr + seek / pray / ask for // insult utǝr / tǝwatre ǝzzǝf <> be naked / + strip uzǝf ǝzzăɣ + live (in) / abide tămuzɣe / tamǝzzoqq ǝzzǝɣ + live (in) / abide tamuzɣe / tamǝzzuq ǝzzǝl <> be superseded / past / spent uzǝl ǝzzăh <> warm (oneself) up uzăh ǝzzǝy + know (s.o. / place) / recognise // muzyăt / tămuzye <> be healed / tamǝzzuyt ǝzzǝy + know (s.o. / place) / recognise // mǝzzǝyăt / tamuzye <> be healed / tamǝzzit ăẓẓǝǵ + milk / <> be milked taẓǝkk ǝẓẓǝg + milk / <> be milked taẓǝk ăẓẓǝl + stretch / reach out oẓǝl ǝẓẓǝl + stretch / reach out uẓǝl ăẓẓǝm + mount (a horse) teẓẓemt ǝẓẓǝm + mount (a horse) teẓẓemt
126 444.4...4444 Group IA3
Tamaghit ‘run’ Imperative sg ašǝl mpl ašǝlăt fpl ašǝlmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ašǝlăɣ tišlăɣ wăr tišlăɣ 2sg (ad) tašǝlăd tišlăd wăr tišlăd 3msg (ad) ašǝl itišǝl wǝr itišǝl 3fsg (ad) tašǝl tišǝl wăr tišǝl 1pl (ad) našǝl nǝtišǝl wăr nǝtišǝl 2mpl (ad) tašǝlăm tišlăm wăr tišlăm 2fpl (ad) tašǝlmăt tišǝlmăt wăr tišǝlmăt 3mpl (ad) ašǝlăn tišlăn wăr tišlăn 3fpl (ad) ašǝlnăt tišǝlnăt wăr tišǝlnăt
Participles msg maden ašǝl itišlăn wăren itišǝl fsg maden tašǝl tišlăt wăren tišǝl pl maden ašǝl tišǝlnen wăren itišǝl
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ošălăɣ ošâlăɣ wăr ošelăɣ 2sg tošălăd tošâlăd wăr tošelăd 3msg ošăl ošâl wăr ošel 3fsg tošăl tošâl wăr tošel 1pl nošăl nošâl wăr nošel 2mpl tošălăm tošâlăm wăr tošelăm 2fpl tošălmăt tošâlmăt wăr tošelmăt 3mpl ošălăn ošâlăn wăr ošelăn 3fpl ošălnăt ošâlnăt wăr ošelnăt
Participles msg ošălăn ošâlăn wăren ošel fsg tošălăt tošâlăt wăren tošel pl ošălnen ošâlnen wăren ošel
127 Group IA3
Tudalt z ‘run’ Imperative sg azǝl mpl azǝlăt fpl azǝlmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) azǝlăɣ tazălăɣ wǝr tizǝlăɣ 2sg (ad) tazǝlăd tazălăd wǝr tizǝlăd 3msg (ad) azǝl itazăl wǝr itizǝl 3fsg (ad) tazǝl tazăl wǝr tizǝl 1pl (ad) nazǝl nǝtazăl wǝr nǝtizǝl 2mpl (ad) tazǝlăm tazălăm wǝr tizǝlăm 2fpl (ad) tazǝlmăt tazălmăt wǝr tizǝlmăt 3mpl (ad) azǝlăn tazălăn wǝr tizǝlăn 3fpl (ad) azǝlnăt tazălnăt wǝr tizǝlnăt
Participles msg z-azǝlăn itazălăn wǝr nǝtizǝl fsg za-tazǝlăt tazălăt wǝr nǝtizǝl pl z-azǝlnen tazălnen wǝr nǝtizǝl c(neg) wǝr za-nazǝl
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ozălăɣ ozâlăɣ wǝr ozelăɣ 2sg tozălăd tozâlăd wǝr tozelăd 3msg ozăl ozâl wǝr ozel 3fsg tozăl tozâl wǝr tozel 1pl nozăl nozâl wǝr nozel 2mpl tozălăm tozâlăm wǝr tozelăm 2fpl tozălmăt tozâlmăt wǝr tozelmăt 3mpl ozălăn ozâlăn wǝr ozelăn 3fpl ozălnăt ozâlnăt wǝr ozelnăt
Participles msg ozălăn ozâlăn wǝr nozel fsg tozălăt tozâlăt wǝr nozel pl ozălnen ozâlnen wǝr nozel
128 Group IA3 verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun abăr + grasp ibbor abǝr + grasp ibbur
abǝẓ + seize ibbuẓ / abbaẓ adǝd + lean on / press iddud aḍǝǵ + drive ahead / hit neck (of an.) teḍǵit aḍǝg + drive ahead / hit neck (of an.) tiḍgit aḍǝn + feel (lack of) / want to eḍḍun Ša iḍḍun Za aḍăr + soak (a skin prior to removing hairs) eḍḍor aḍǝr + soak (a skin prior to removing hairs) iḍḍur afǝl <> be tanned ifful agăẓ + protect / inherit / find iggoẓ agǝẓ + protect / inherit / find igguẓ / aggaẓ aǵǝl + abstain iǵǵul agǝl + abstain iggul aǵǝm + take (millet) out of pot iǵǵum agǝm + take (millet) out of pot iggum aɣǝd <> be straight / righteous eqqud Ša iqqud Za aɣǝm <> be stored in a sealed container eqqum Ša iqqum Za aɣǝs + insist / persist eqqus Ša iqqus Za aɣǝy + choke / strangle eqquy Ša iqquy Za ahăɣ + raid / pillage teɣha ahăr + share / meet with tihra ahǝr + share / meet with tihra ahăẓ + approach / be near ihaẓ aǵăr + surpass / be greater than tiǵra agǝr + surpass / be greater than tigra aǵǝy + tie iǵǵuy agǝy + tie igguy akăḍ & detest mikḍaw akǝḍ & detest mikḍaw akǝl <> be hopeless ikkul akăr + steal tikra akǝr + steal tikra akǝy + pass by / continue / watch ikkuy alăɣ <> be good milɣaw alǝɣ <> be good milɣaw alăh & be the same as / resemble milhaw alǝl <> be caught (falling object) illul alǝm + open / untie illum alǝs + start again / re-do illus alǝy + cut (harvest) // <> be hanging illuy Ša allay Za amǝd + gather (in the bush) immud amǝl + praise / confess / explain tǝmmal amăr + order / command immor amǝr + order / command immure
129 amǝs + wipe immus anǝn <> be trained / broken in (an.) innun anǝs + tie (front leg of an. to back leg) innus arǝǵ + contribute / help (financially) terǵit arǝg + contribute / help (financially) tirgit arǝk + be near / be touching / approach erruk Ša irruk Za arǝm + try termit / errum arǝm + try tirmit / tarramt arǝw + give birth / beget / bear fruit terwe arǝy + be near / be touching // approach irruy / array asăɣ + be united / joined tassaqq asǝɣ + be united / joined tassaq asǝs + tighten // <> be tight issus aṣǝm <> be jealous tiṣmiten (pl) ašǝl <> run azzal atǝm + put (sth.) into (bottle / jar etc.) ittum atǝs + plan / do deliberately ittus ayǝs + sneak up on iyyus azǝl <> run azzal aẓǝm + gossip about / slander teẓmit Ša tiẓimt Za aẓăr + hurt / be painful // <> suffer teẓẓort aẓǝr + hurt / be painful // <> suffer tǝẓẓurt
Group IB1 (forms in exactly the same way as 1A3) afrǝy <> be seriously ill // + feel (sth.) ifri / tafrit agdăh <> be equal // agree on a price migdăhăw aɣsǝy <> perish / expire măɣsăy ansǝy + beg / ask greedily mansay arwǝs <> be a creditor // be owed (sth.) ămarwas askǝn <> get up on hind legs to eat (leaves) iskǝn ašwǝl <> be branded / marked ešwăl azɣăɣ <> be lying on (one’s) back tazɣăqq azɣǝɣ <> be lying on (one’s) back tazɣǝq ažwǝl <> be branded / marked ežwăl aẓẓǝy <> gang up on (s.o.) eẓẓi
Irregular The following verb classed as IB3 is somewhat similar to Group IA3: unǵǝy + refuse vn tunǵit 3msg (ad) unǵǝy iniǵǵuy / wǝr iniǵǵuy / itunǵǝy wǝr itunǵǝy 3msg unǵăy unǵây wǝr unǵey ungǝy + refuse vn tungit 3msg (ad) ungǝy inigguy / wǝr inigguy / itungǝy wǝr itungǝy 3msg ungăy ungây wǝr ungey
130 Group IA4 In Tamaghit this group is identical to group IA3 except in the perfective / stative. There are two almost equivalent ways of writing it. The first notation is better as it allows the 3msg etc. to be written accurately, the second is also noted as it may be encountered (with the 3msg given as ). Only the 1sg is shown below. Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝwwăyăɣ ǝwwâyăɣ wǝr ǝwweyăɣ 1sg uwăyăɣ uwâyăɣ wǝr uweyăɣ
In Tudalt this group is identical to IA3 above except in the perfective / stative where the initial vowel is ‘e’ rather than ‘o’. Generally the verbs in this group have ‘w’ for their first stem consonant but a few have ‘r’. Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ewăyăɣ ewâyăɣ wǝr eweyăɣ
Group IA4 verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun awǝd <> be gentle // + treat gently / watch over aggad awăḍ + arrive / attain / suffice aggaḍ awǝḍ + arrive / attain / suffice aggaḍ awăɣ + dance // guard / oversee aggaɣ awǝɣ + dance // guard / oversee aggaɣ awǝl + observe / watch / guard aggal awǝs + pay tribute / tax tiwse awǝy + bring / carry // take (as wife) aggay
arǝw + give birth / beget / bear fruit ara arwǝs <> be a creditor // be owed (sth.) ămarwas
131 444.4...5555 Group IA5
Tamaghit ‘ask for / beg’ Imperative sg ǝdǝl mpl ǝdǝlăt fpl ǝdǝlmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdǝlăɣ tǝddalăɣ wăr tǝddilăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝdǝlăd tǝddalăd wăr tǝddilăd 3msg (ad) ǝdǝl itǝddal wǝr itǝddil 3fsg (ad) tǝdǝl tǝddal wăr tǝddil 1pl (ad) nǝdǝl nǝtǝddal wăr nǝtǝddil 2mpl (ad) tǝdǝlăm tǝddalăm wăr tǝddilăm 2fpl (ad) tǝdǝlmăt tǝddalmăt wăr tǝddilmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdǝlăn tǝddalăn wăr tǝddilăn fpl (ad) ǝdǝlnăt tǝddalnăt wăr tǝddilnăt (short form: itǝddăl etc.)
Participles msg maden ǝdǝl itǝddalăn wăren itǝddil fsg maden tǝdǝl tǝddalăt wăren tǝddil pl maden ǝdǝl tǝddalnen wăren itǝddil
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝdălăɣ ǝdâlăɣ wǝr ǝdelăɣ 2sg tǝdălăd tǝdâlăd wăr tǝdelăd 3msg idăl idâl wǝr idel 3fsg tǝdăl tǝdâl wăr tǝdel 1pl nǝdăl nǝdâl wăr nǝdel 2mpl tǝdălăm tǝdâlăm wăr tǝdelăm 2fpl tǝdălmăt tǝdâlmăt wăr tǝdelmă 3mpl ǝdălăn ǝdâlăn wǝr ǝdelăn 3fpl ǝdălnăt ǝdâlnăt wǝr ǝdelnăt
Participles msg idălăn idâlăn wăren idel fsg tǝdălăt tǝdâlăt wăren tǝdel pl ǝdălnen ǝdâlnen wăren idel
Note: Sometimes the initial ‘tǝ’ of the 2sg, 3fsg, and 2pl may be dropped.
132 Group IA5
Tudalt ‘ask for / beg’ Imperative sg ǝdǝl mpl ǝdǝlăt fpl ǝdǝlmăt
Imperfective Cursive NNNegative Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdǝlăɣ ǝddalăɣ wǝr ǝddilăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝdǝlăd tǝddalăd wǝr tǝddilăd 3msg (ad) idǝl iddal wǝr iddil 3fsg (ad) tǝdǝl tǝddal wǝr tǝddil 1pl (ad) nǝdǝl nǝddal wǝr nǝddil 2mpl (ad) tǝdǝlăm tǝddalăm wǝr tǝddilăm 2fpl (ad) tǝdǝlmăt tǝddalmăt wǝr tǝddilmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdǝlăn ǝddalăn wǝr ǝddilăn fpl (ad) ǝdǝlnăt tǝddalnăt wǝr tǝddilnăt
Participles msg z-ǝdǝlăn iddalăn wǝr nǝddil fsg za-tǝdǝlăt tǝddalăt wǝr nǝddil pl z-ǝdǝlnen ǝddalnen wǝr nǝddil c(neg) wǝr za-nǝdǝl
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝdălăɣ ǝdâlăɣ wǝr ǝdelăɣ 2sg tǝdălăd tǝdâlăd wǝr tǝdelăd 3msg idăl idâl wǝr idel 3fsg tǝdăl tǝdâl wǝr tǝdel 1pl nǝdăl nǝdâl wǝr nǝdel 2mpl tǝdălăm tǝdâlăm wǝr tǝdelăm 2fpl tǝdălmăt tǝdâlmăt wǝr tǝdelmăt 3mpl ǝdălăn ǝdâlăn wǝr ǝdelăn 3fpl ǝdălnăt ǝdâlnăt wǝr ǝdelnăt
Participles msg idălăn idâlăn wǝr nǝdel fsg tǝdălăt tǝdâlăt wǝr nǝdel pl ǝdălnen ǝdâlnen wǝr nǝdel
Note: The form given above for the cursive and its negative is the Tawellemmet form (also found in some Malian ‘sha’ dialects). However, Tudalt speakers sometimes use the Tamaghit form these days, e.g.: Cursive Negative cursive 3msg itǝddal wǝr itǝddil
133 Group IA5 verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ǝbǝg + leave on a raid ebeg ǝbǝk + put grains / powder in mouth ebek ǝbǝt + carry (sth.) off ebet ǝdǝd + bite / sting eded ǝdǝǵ + stab / inject //+ make one’s way towards edeǵ / tedeǵe ǝdǝg + stab / inject //+ make one’s way towards edeg / tedege ǝdǝl + ask for / beg tamădilt ǝdǝl + ask for / beg tamǝdilt ǝdǝw + soak edew ǝdǝy + pitch (tent) / build edey ăḍǝǵ + leave on a raid tăḍaǵa
ăḍǝn # shepherd / lead to pasture // <> graze tamăḍint ǝḍǝn # shepherd / lead to pasture // <> graze tamǝḍint ăḍǝs + touch eḍes ǝḍǝs + touch eḍes ǝfǝl + leave / come from feel ǝfăr + hire tefert ǝfǝr + hire tefert ǝfǝs + enlarge / extend / increase efes ăɣǝf <> be annoyed tăɣafa ǝɣǝf <> be annoyed eɣef / tăɣafa ăɣǝš + dig // <> be dug eɣeš ǝɣǝz + dig // <> be dug eɣez ăhăḍ + swear (an oath) // <> be blown tăhoḍe ǝhǝḍ + swear (an oath) // <> be blown tahuḍe ǝhǝl + dare / risk (might / may) taholăt ăhăr + close eher ǝhǝr + close eher ǝǵǝn <> kneel tamăǵint ǝgǝn <> kneel tamǝgint ǝǵăr + throw teǵere ǝǵǝr <> be no good (seems to be a local usage) eǵer ǝgǝr + throw tegere ǝkǝt + count / measure out // give alms takute / eket ǝlǝš <> be ugly / be bad (behaviour) tăluše ǝlǝz <> be ugly / be bad (behaviour) tălaza ǝmăḍ <> be thick (leather) emeḍ ǝmǝḍ <> be thick (leather) emeḍ ǝmǝl + arrive / be (in a place) emel ǝmǝl + explain / say // arrive / be (in a place) emel ǝnǝy + rule / reign // ride tănaya ǝnǝy + see (cursive: etc. as IA1) ahănay ărǝs + enter / descend eres ǝrǝs + enter / descend eres ărǝš + reward / compensate irošan / marušăt
134 ǝrǝz <> cease erez ǝrǝz + reward / compensate maruzăt ǝsǝl + put on (shoes) tamăsilt ǝsǝl + put on (shoes) esel / tamǝsilt ǝsăr + annul / undo / change mind eser ǝsǝr + annul / undo / change mind eser ǝšǝǵ + chase tăšaǵa ǝzǝg + chase ezeg / tăzaga ăẓăḍ + grind / crush eẓeḍ ǝẓǝḍ + grind / crush eẓeḍ ăẓǝl + pay (for) / repay tamăẓilt ǝẓǝl + pay (for) / repay tamǝẓilt
Group IA6 Group IA6 verbs have ‘w’ as their first consonant. They decline like group IA5, but in the cursive the ‘w’ being doubled becomes ‘gg’, e.g.: Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 3msg (ad) iwǝt itǝggat wǝr itǝggit Among Tudalt speakers the Tawellemmet form is also common, e.g.: Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 3msg (ad) iwǝt iggat wǝr iggit
IA6 Verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ǝwǝf + be panicked by / panic tăwafa ǝwǝl <> turn / return ewel ǝwǝl <> be sharp // turn / return ewel ǝwǝn + climb on / mount ewen ǝwăr + be on // be obligatory ewer ǝwǝr + be on // be obligatory ewer ǝwǝs <> boil ewes ǝwǝt + hit / strike // tewete + perform / play (instrument)
135 444.4...6666 Group IA7 (Tamaghit) ‘be covered / wear’ Imperative sg ăls mpl ălsăt fpl ǝlsǝmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative Cursive 1sg (ad) ălsăɣ lassăɣ wăr lǝssăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝlsǝd lassăd wăr lǝssǝd 3msg (ad) ăls ilass wǝr ilǝss 3fsg (ad) tăls lass wăr lǝss 1pl (ad) năls nǝlass wăr nǝlǝss 2mpl (ad) tǝlsǝm lassăm wăr lǝssǝm 2fpl (ad) tǝlsǝmăt lassămăt wăr lǝssǝmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝlsǝn lassăn wăr lǝssǝn 3fpl (ad) ǝlsǝnăt lassănăt wăr lǝssǝnăt (short form: ilăss etc.)
Participles msg maden ăls ilassăn wăren ilǝss fsg maden tăls lassăt wăren lǝss pl maden ăls lassănen wăren ilǝss
PerfPerfective ective Stative Negative 1sg ǝlseɣ ǝlsêɣ wǝr ǝlseɣ 2sg tǝlsed tǝlsêd wăr tǝlsed 3msg ilsa ilsâ wǝr ilsa 3fsg tǝlsa tǝlsâ wăr tǝlsa 1pl nǝlsa nǝlsâ wăr nǝlsa 2mpl tǝlsăm tǝlsâm wăr tǝlsem 2fpl tǝlsămăt tǝlsâmăt wăr tǝlsemăt 3mpl ǝlsăn ǝlsân wǝr ǝlsen 3fpl ǝlsănăt ǝlsânăt wǝr ǝlsenăt
Participles msg ilsăn ilsân wăren ilsa fsg tǝlsăt tǝlsât wăren tǝlsa pl ǝlsănen ǝlsânen wăren ilsa
Notes i) In the imperfective / cursive a ‘u’ may be added to the end of those forms which end in the stem consonant (e.g. ). ii) Where the second stem consonant is ‘l’ or ‘n’ some forms change for ease of pronunciation. e.g. becomes , and becomes , but is unchanged.
136 Group IA7 verbs (Tamaghit) Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ăbs + vomit ebsan (pl) ǝgǝl <> leave tagǝllawt ăɣǝn <> be started / be created eɣănni ăɣăr + read / call (# s.o. / + sth.) teɣăre ăɣǝw <> cry (an.) aɣăwi ǝkǝl + pass the day (in) ekălli / takǝllawt ǝkǝn + sort out / make / repair / be O.K. ekănni / ǝmukǝn ǝks <> receive rainy season // akăsa <> have good pasture ălh <> cry (cursive: etc.) tahăla ăls + wear / put on (clothes) // telăsse <> be covered ăŋɣ + hit / smite / kill tenăɣe ăŋŋ <> be ripe / be cooked tenăŋŋe ăns + pass the night (in) // <> lie down // tenăsse <> sleep // <> be in a place (object) // <> be put aside ănš + forgive // <> be bought / sold tenăšše ănt <> be started / begun sănto / enătti ărɣ <> catch fire / be burned terăɣe ărẓ + break // <> be broken terăẓẓe ǝsǝl # hear / + hear (of) măsălăt ăṣṭ <> laugh (cursive: etc.) taḍăẓẓa ǝtăr + inherit (quality / defect) etărri ăẓḍ + weave // embroider teẓăṭṭe
Several other important verbs have IA7 type endings:
IA9IA9IA9 This forms just like IA7 except for the cursive: ăkk + go to vn iki / tikawt 3msg (ad) ăkk itakk wǝr itǝkk (short form: ităkk) 3msg ikka ikkâ wǝr ikka ăll <> exist / be present tǝlla (Replaced by from group IA2 in the imperfective.)
IA11 ăǵ + do / make / put inside vn iǵi / tiǵawt 3msg (ad) ăǵ itaǵǵ wǝr itǝǵǵ (short form: ităǵǵ) 3msg iǵa iǵâ wǝr iǵa ăl + own / have tǝla (Replaced by from group IA1 in the imperfective / cursive.)
137 ăh + be in tihawt (Replaced by gg from group IA2 in the imperfective / cursive.)
Irregular verbs These verbs are only irregular in the way they form the cursive stem, otherwise they are perfectly regular as IA7 verbs, with short form of the cursive ‘itătt’ etc. ăkš + eat (cursive etc.) tetăte ăšk + eat (cursive etc.) tetăte ǝsǝw + drink (cursive etc.) tesăse ăkf + give (cursive etc.) ihuk ăff + give (cursive etc.) ihuk
The following verb deviates notably from the standard IA7 pattern in the cursive but is identical to it in the perfective / stative. ănnănnănn + say / tell Imperative sg ănn mpl ănnăt fpl ǝnnǝmăt
Imperfective CCCursive Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ănnăɣ ǵanneɣ wăr ǵǝnneɣ 2sg (ad) tǝnnǝd ǵanned wăr ǵǝnnǝd 3msg (ad) ănn iǵann wǝr iǵǝnn 3fsg (ad) tănn ǵann wăr ǵǝnn 1pl (ad) nănn nǝǵann wăr nǝǵǝnn 2mpl (ad) tǝnnǝm ǵannem wăr ǵǝnnǝm / wăr ǵǝnnim 2fpl (ad) tǝnnǝmăt ǵannemăt wăr ǵǝnnǝmăt / wăr ǵǝnnimăt 3mpl (ad) ǝnnǝn ǵannen wăr ǵǝnnǝn / wăr ǵǝnnin 3fpl (ad) ǝnnǝnăt ǵannenăt wăr ǵǝnnǝnăt / wăr ǵǝnninăt (short form: iǵănn etc.)
Participles msg maden ănn iǵannen wăren iǵǝnn fsg maden tănn ǵannet wăren ǵǝnn pl maden ănn ǵannănen wăren iǵǝnn
E.g.: ǝnneɣ-as a-dd-as I told him to come here ǝnneɣ-asăn ‘ălxer ăǵǵên’ I said to them ‘thanks very much’ ma tǝnned ? What did you say? as ăwadǝm ăba-ti, If someone passes away, ma ǵănnen ăddinăt e-hănn-is ? what do people say to his wife?
138 444.4...7777 Group IA8 (Tamaghit) ‘be useful’ Imperative sg ǝnfu mpl ǝnfuwăt fpl ǝnfumăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝnfoɣ niffoɣ wăr nǝffoɣ 2sg (ad) tǝnfud niffud wăr nǝffud 3msg (ad) ǝnfu iniffu wǝr inǝffu 3fsg (ad) tǝnfu niffu wăr nǝffu 1pl (ad) nǝnfu nǝniffu wăr nǝnǝffu 2mpl (ad) tǝnfum niffum wăr nǝffum 2fpl (ad) tǝnfumăt niffumăt wăr nǝffumăt 3mpl (ad) ǝnfun niffun wăr nǝffun 3fpl (ad) ǝnfunăt niffunăt wăr nǝffunăt
Participles msg maden ǝnfu iniffun wăren inǝffu fsg maden tǝnfu niffut wăren nǝffu pl maden ǝnfu niffunen wăren inǝffu
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝnfeɣ ǝnfâɣ wǝr ǝnfeɣ 2sg tǝnfed tǝnfâd wăr tǝnfed 3msg infa infâ wǝr infa 3fsg tǝnfa tǝnfâ wăr tǝnfa 1pl nǝnfa nǝnfâ wǝr nǝnfa 2mpl tǝnfăm tǝnfâm wǝr tǝnfem 2fpl tǝnfămăt tǝnfâmăt wǝr tǝnfemăt 3mpl ǝnfăn ǝnfân wăr ǝnfen 3fpl ǝnfănăt ǝnfânăt wăr ǝnfenăt
Participles msg infăn infân wăren infa fsg tǝnfăt tǝnfât wăren tǝnfa pl ǝnfănen ǝnfânen wăren infa
139 Group IA8 verbs (Tamaghit) Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ăbḍu # (Ar.) be different / distinguish // ebăḍḍi # separate ǝbšu <> be widespread / be everywhere ebăšši ǝkmu + hurt tăkmo ǝktu + remember tǝkǝttawt ǝmdu <> be finished / complete sămdo / tǝmǝddawt ǝnfu # (Ar.) be useful (for) tănfo ărḍu <> (Ar.) agree/ accept / receive tărăḍḍawt ărhu + love / like / want / need / will tărha ărnu + be stronger than / overcome tărna ǝšlu + occupy // <> be busy / occupied ešălli ăxlu <> (Ar.) be soiled with faeces exălli ǝzgu <> be calm ezăggi ǝznu # (Ar.) commit adultery ǝzzǝna ǝzru <> be overworked / be exhausted ezărri ăẓmu + wring out / squeeze out teẓămăwt
Variants There are a few other verbs that follow a similar pattern but are slightly different. (In each case only the 3msg is shown – suffixes and prefixes as IA8.) erdu + hope / think / suppose vn tărǝddawt 3msg (ad) erdu iriddu wǝr iriddu 3msg orda ordâ wăr orda ifu + be better than / be best vn tifut 3msg (ad) ifu itifu wǝr itifu 3msg ufa ufâ wǝr ufa eḍu <> fall vn teḍut / eǵăḍăl 3msg (ad) eḍu iteḍu wǝr iteḍu 3msg oḍa oḍâ wăr oḍa iwi <> be born vn tiwit 3msg (ad) iwi itiwi wǝr itiwi 3msg iwa iwâ wǝr iwa
140 444.4...8888 Group IA7 (Tudalt) ‘be covered / wear Imperative sg ălsu mpl ălsăt / ălsiwăt fpl ălsimăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative Cursive 1sg (ad) ălsăɣ lassăɣ wǝr lǝssăɣ 2sg (ad) tălsăd lassăd wǝr lǝssǝd 3msg (ad) ălsu ilassu wǝr ilǝssu 3fsg (ad) tălsu lassu wǝr lǝssu 1pl (ad) nălsu nǝlassu wǝr nǝlǝssu 2mpl (ad) tălsim lassim wǝr lǝssim 2fpl (ad) tălsimăt lassimăt wǝr lǝssimăt 3mpl (ad) ălsin lassin wǝr lǝssin 3fpl (ad) ălsinăt lassinăt wǝr lǝssinăt
Participles msg z-ălsin ilassin wǝr nǝlǝssu fsg za-tălsit lassit wǝr nǝlǝssu pl z-ălsinen lassinen wǝr nǝlǝssu c(neg) wǝr za-nălsu
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝlseɣ ǝlsêɣ wǝr ǝlseɣ 2sg tǝlsed tǝlsêd wǝr tǝlsed 3msg ilsa ilsâ wǝr ilsa 3fsg tǝlsa tǝlsâ wǝr tǝlsa 1pl nǝlsa nǝlsâ wǝr nǝlsa 2mpl tǝlsăm tǝlsâm wǝr tǝlsem 2fpl tǝlsămăt tǝlsâmăt wǝr tǝlsemăt 3mpl ǝlsăn ǝlsân wǝr ǝlsen 3fpl ǝlsănăt ǝlsânăt wǝr ǝlsenăt
Participles msg ilsăn ilsân wǝr nǝlsa fsg tǝlsăt tǝlsât wǝr nǝlsa pl ǝlsănen ǝlsânen wǝr nǝlsa
Note
Group IA8 does not exist as a separate group in Tudalt. Occasionally, for a few verbs, group IA8 forms of the cursive may also be heard, e.g.
141 Group IA7 verbs (Tudalt) Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ăbḍu # (Ar.) be different / distinguish // ebǝḍḍi separate ăbsu + vomit ebsan (pl) ăbzu <> be widespread / be everywhere ebǝzzi ăḍẓu <> laugh taḍăẓa ăgdu <> be enough migdăw ăglu <> leave egǝlli ăgru + understand egǝrri ăɣnu <> be created / be started taɣǝnnăwt ăɣru + read / call teɣăre ăɣwu <> cry / bleat (an.) taɣăwat ăklu + pass the day (in) ekǝlli / takǝllăwt ăkmu + hurt tǝkma ăknu + sort out / make / repair // <> be O.K. ekǝnni / amukǝn ăksu <> receive rainy season // akăsa <> have good pasture ăktu + remember takǝttăwt ălku + despise / reject mǝlka ălsu + wear / put on (clothes) // telăsse <> be covered ămdu <> be finished / complete tamǝddăwt ănfu + (Ar.) be useful (for) tǝnfa / tănfo ăŋɣu + hit / smite / kill tenăɣe ăŋŋu <> be ripe / be cooked tenăŋŋe ănsu <> lie down / sleep // tenăsse + pass the night (in) ănzu # forgive // <> be bought / sold tenăzze ăntu <> be started / begun sănto / enǝtti ărḍu <> (Ar.) agree / accept / receive tarǝḍḍăwt ărɣu <> catch fire / be burned terăɣe ărẓu + break // <> be broken terăẓe ăslu # hear // + hear (of) măsăllăt ătru + inherit (quality / defect) etǝrri ăxlu <> (Ar.) be soiled with faeces exǝlli ǝzgu <> be calm ezǝggi ăzlu + occupy // <> be busy / occupied ezǝlli ǝznu # (Ar.) commit adultery ǝzzǝna ăzru <> be overworked / exhausted ezǝrri ăẓḍu + weave // embroider teẓăṭe ăẓmu + wring out / squeeze out teẓămăwt
142 Several other important verbs have IA7 type endings.
IA9IA9IA9 This group forms just like IA7 except in the cursive: ăkku + go to vn iki 3msg (ad) ăkku itakku wǝr itǝkku 3msg ikka ikkâ wǝr ikka ăllu <> be present tǝlla (Replaced by (IA2) in the imperfective / cursive.) ăddu + pound tidăwt
IA11 ăgu + do / make / put inside vn igi 3msg (ad) ăgu itaggu wǝr itǝggu 3msg iga igâ wǝr iga ălu + own / have tǝla (Replaced by z (IA1) in the imperfective / cursive.) ălu <> cry (cursive: etc.) tala ăhu + be in tihăwt (Replaced by gg z (IA2) in the imperfective / cursive.) ăru + love / like / want / need tăra
Irregular group IA7 verbs These verbs are only irregular in the way they form the cursive stem, otherwise they are perfectly regular as group IA7 verbs. ăkšu + eat (cursive: etc.) teṭṭe ăšku + eat (cursive: etc.) teṭṭe ăsu + drink (cursive: etc.) teṣṣe ăkfu + give (cursive: etc.) tehăkkăwt ăffu + give (cursive: etc.) tehăkkăwt ănnu + say (cursive: g etc.) tǝnna
The following verb can be considered a variant of IA7: iḍu <> fall vn tiḍut / egăḍăl 3msg (ad) iḍu itiḍu wǝr itiḍu 3msg uḍa uḍâ wǝr uḍa
143 444.4...9999 Group IA10
Tamaghit ‘come’ Imperative sg as mpl asăt fpl asǝmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) asăɣ tisăɣ wăr tisăɣ 2sg (ad) tasǝd tisǝd wăr tisǝd 3msg (ad) as itis wǝr itis 3fsg (ad) tas tis wăr tis 2mpl (ad) tasǝm tisǝm wăr tisǝm 2fpl (ad) tasǝmăt tisǝmăt wăr tisǝmăt 3mpl (ad) asǝn tisǝn wăr tisǝn 3fpl (ad) asǝnăt tisǝnăt wăr tisǝnăt
Participles msg maden as itisǝn wăren itis fsg maden tas tisǝt wăren tis pl maden as tisnen wăren itis
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg oseɣ osêɣ wăr oseɣ 2sg tosed tosêd wăr tosed 3msg osa osâ wăr osa 3fsg tosa tosâ wăr tosa 1pl nosa nosâ wăr nosa 2mpl tosăm tosâm wăr tosem 2fpl tosămăt tosâmăt wăr tosemăt 3mpl osăn osân wăr osen 3fpl osănăt osânăt wăr osenăt
Participles msg osăn osân wăren osa fsg tosăt tosât wăren tosa pl osănen osânen wăren osa
144 Group IA10
Tudalt ‘come’ Imperative sg asu mpl asăt / asiwăt fpl asimăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) asăɣ tasăɣ wǝr tisăɣ 2sg (ad) tasăd tasăd wǝr tisăd 3msg (ad) asu itasu wǝr itisu 3fsg (ad) tasu tasu wǝr tisu 2mpl (ad) tasim tasim wǝr tisim 2fpl (ad) tasimăt tasimăt wǝr tisimăt 3mpl (ad) asin tasin wǝr tisin 3fpl (ad) asinăt tasinăt wǝr tisinăt
Participles msg z-asin itasin wǝr nǝtisu fsg za-tasit tasit wǝr nǝtisu pl za-asinen tasinen wǝr nǝtisu c(neg) wǝr za-nasu
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg oseɣ osêɣ wǝr oseɣ 2sg tosed tosêd wǝr tosed 3msg osa osâ wǝr osa 3fsg tosa tosâ wǝr tosa 1pl nosa nosâ wǝr nosa 2mpl tosăm tosâm wǝr tosem 2fpl tosămăt tosâmăt wǝr tosemăt 3mpl osăn osân wǝr osen 3fpl osănăt osânăt wǝr osenăt
Participles msg osăn osân wǝr nosa fsg tosăt tosât wǝr nosa pl osănen osânen wǝr nosa
145 Group IA10 Verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ak + light (a fire) / <> be lit tǝkkawt / takkawt ar + open / untie tarrawt as + come / arrive (at) tassawt aš + flay uš / taššawt aḍu + fold // <> be folded aḍḍa afu + be better than / be best tufut aku + light (a fire) / <> be lit akka alu & be the same as / resemble mila aru + open / untie arra asu + come assa azu + flay azza Note that the verb ‘come’ is most commonly used with the directional particle ‘dd’ (see Section 3.7 Directional particles), e.g.: os-id meɣ ? Has he come? os-ăddǝd meɣ ? Has he come? Note that ‘come (here)’ acts as the imperative of , e.g.: ăyăw diha Come here! ăyăw da Come here!
The following verbs follow the same pattern:
IB5IB5IB5 aǵǵ + be above / see from above / afar tiǵǵawt / iǵǵ ăyy + leave alone tăyyăwt aggu + be above / see from above / afar tiggăwt / iggi ăyyu + leave alone tiyăwt Note that the verb / has a short ‘ă’ in the imperfectives.
IB4(b) adǝw + travel in the afternoon tadwit aḍh + fold / be folded taḍhit alǝw <> be wide // be content / happy tălawit ašk <> get lost taškit adwu + travel in the afternoon tadwit agdu <> be equal tugdat / mǝgda alwu <> be wide // be content / happy ǝlwi ardu + hope / think / suppose tarǝddăwt arnu + be stronger than / overcome tărna ašku <> get lost taškit
146 444.4...10101010 Group II Group II verbs are characterised by the alternance of vowels. The group generally denotes unintentional states rather than deliberate actions. As with Group I these were all originally three consonant verbs, but due to the loss of gutterals have diversified into several sub-groups.
Group IIA The group is vocalised ‘iBCaD’ in the imperative and ‘ăBCiD’ in the perfective. The sub-groups have the following forms: IIA1 Has three consonant verbs analogous to group IA1, of the form ‘iBCaD’. IIA2 Has a doubled first consonant analogous to group IA2 of the form ‘iCCaD’ (derived from ‘iwCaD’ or ‘ihCaD’). IIA3 Has two consonant verbs analogous to group IA5 of the form ‘iBaD’ (derived from ‘iBhaD’). IIA4 Is a combination of the last two with a single first consonant in the imperfective / cursive but doubled in the perfective / stative. It is of the form ‘iBaD’ (but with perfective ‘ăBBid’).
Group IIB The group is vocalised ‘uBCaD’ in the imperative and ‘ăBCuD’ in the perfective. The sub-groups have the following forms: IIB1 Has three consonant verbs analogous to group IA1, of the form ‘uBCaD’. IIB2 Has a doubled first consonant analogous to group IA2 of the form ‘uCCaD’ (derived from ‘uwCaD’ or ‘uhCaD’). IIB3 Has two consonant verbs analogous to group IA5 of the form ‘uBaD’ (derived from ‘uBhaD’). IIB4 Is a combination of the last two with a single first consonant in the imperfective / cursive but doubled in the perfective / stative. It is of the form ‘uBaD’ (but with perfective ‘ăBBud’).
Irregular After the verbs of these groups are listed a number of other verbs that have similar vocalisation, and may be considered part of group II.
147 Group IIB
Tamaghit ‘be surprised’ Imperative sg ukan mpl ukanăt fpl ukanmăt
Projective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ukanăɣ tukanăɣ wăr tukanăɣ 2sg (ad) tukanăd tukanăd wăr tukanăd 3msg (ad) ukan itukan wǝr itukan 3fsg (ad) tukan tukan wăr tukan 1pl (ad) nukan nǝtukan wăr nǝtukan 2mpl (ad) tukanăm tukanăm wăr tukanăm 2fpl (ad) tukanmăt tukanmăt wăr tukanmăt 3mpl (ad) ukanăn tukanăn wăr tukanăn 3fpl (ad) ukannăt tukannăt wăr tukannăt
Participles msg maden ukan itukanăn wăren itukan fsg maden tukan tukanăt wăren tukan pl maden ukan tukannen wăren itukan
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ăkunăɣ ăkûnăɣ wăr ăkunăɣ 2sg tăkunăd tăkûnăd wăr tăkunăd 3msg ăkun ăkûn wăr ăkun 3fsg tăkun tăkûn wăr tăkun 1pl năkun năkûn wăr năkun 2mpl tăkunăm tăkûnăm wăr tăkunăm 2fpl tăkunmăt tăkûnmăt wăr ăkunmăt 3mpl ăkunăn ăkûnăn wăr ăkunăn 3fpl ăkunnăt ăkûnnăt wăr ăkunnăt
Participles msg ăkunăn ăkûnăn wăren ăkun fsg tăkunăt tăkûnăt wăren tăkun pl ăkunnen ăkûnnen wăren ăkun
148 Group IIB
TudaTudaltltltlt ‘be surprised’ Imperative sg ukan mpl ukanăt fpl ukanmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ukanăɣ tukanăɣ wǝr tukanăɣ 2sg (ad) tukanăd tukanăd wǝr tukanăd 3msg (ad) ukan itukan wǝr itukan 3fsg (ad) tukan tukan wǝr tukan 1pl (ad) nukan nǝtukan wǝr nǝtukan 2mpl (ad) tukanăm tukanăm wǝr tukanăm 2fpl (ad) tukanmăt tukanmăt wǝr tukanmăt 3mpl (ad) ukanăn tukanăn wǝr tukanăn 3fpl (ad) ukannăt tukannăt wǝr tukannăt
Participles msg z-ukanăn itukanăn wǝr nǝtukan fsg za-tukanăt tukanăt wǝr nǝtukan pl z-ukannen tukannen wǝr nǝtukan c(neg) wǝr za-nukan
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝkunăɣ ǝkûnăɣ wǝr ǝkunăɣ 2sg tǝkunăd tǝkûnăd wǝr tǝkunăd 3msg ikun ikûn wǝr ikun 3fsg tǝkun tǝkûn wǝr tǝkun 1pl nǝkun nǝkûn wǝr nǝkun 2mpl tǝkunăm tǝkûnăm wǝr tǝkunăm 2fpl tǝkunmăt tǝkûnmăt wǝr ǝkunmăt 3mpl ǝkunăn ǝkûnăn wǝr ǝkunăn 3fpl ǝkunnăt ǝkûnnăt wǝr ǝkunnăt
Participles msg ǝkunăn ǝkûnăn wǝr nǝkun fsg tǝkunăt tǝkûnăt wǝr nǝkun pl ǝkunnen ǝkûnnen wǝr nǝkun
149 Group IIA
Tamaghit ‘be ill’ Imperative sg irhan mpl irhanăt fpl irhanmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) irhanăɣ tirhanăɣ wăr tirhanăɣ 2sg (ad) tirhanăd tirhanăd wăr tirhanăd 3msg (ad) irhan itirhan wǝr itirhan 3fsg (ad) tirhan tirhan wăr tirhan 1pl (ad) nirhan nǝtirhan wăr nǝtirhan 2mpl (ad) tirhanăm tirhanăm wăr tirhanăm 2fpl (ad) tirhanmăt tirhanmăt wăr tirhanmăt 3mpl (ad) irhanăn tirhanăn wăr tirhanăn 3fpl (ad) irhannăt tirhannăt wăr tirhannăt
Participles msg maden irhan itirhanăn wăren itirhan fsg maden tirhan tirhanăt wăren tirhan pl maden irhan tirhannen wăren itirhan
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ărhinăɣ ărhînăɣ wăr ărhinăɣ 2sg tărhinăd tărhînăd wăr tărhinăd 3msg ărhin ărhîn wăr ărhin 3fsg tărhin tărhîn wăr tărhin 1pl nărhin nărhîn wăr nărhin 2mpl tărhinăm tărhînăm wăr tărhinăm 2fpl tărhinmăt tărhînmăt wăr ărhinmăt 3mpl ărhinăn ărhînăn wăr ărhinăn 3fpl ărhinnăt ărhînnăt wăr ărhinnăt
Participles msg ărhinăn ărhînăn wăren ărhin fsg tărhinăt tărhînăt wăren tărhin pl ărhinnen ărhînnen wăren ărhin
150 Group IIA
Tudalt ‘be ill’ ImpImperative erative sg iran mpl iranăt fpl iranmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) iranăɣ tiranăɣ wǝr tiranăɣ 2sg (ad) tiranăd tiranăd wǝr tiranăd 3msg (ad) iran itiran wǝr itiran 3fsg (ad) tiran tiran wǝr tiran 1pl (ad) niran nǝtiran wǝr nǝtiran 2mpl (ad) tiranăm tiranăm wǝr tiranăm 2fpl (ad) tiranmăt tiranmăt wǝr tiranmăt 3mpl (ad) iranăn tiranăn wǝr tiranăn 3fpl (ad) irannăt tirannăt wǝr tirannăt
Participles msg z-iranan itiranăn wǝr nǝtiran fsg za-tiranan tiranăt wǝr nǝtiran pl z-irannen tirannen wǝr nǝtiran c(neg) wǝr za-niran
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝrinăɣ ǝrînăɣ wǝr ǝrinăɣ 2sg tǝrinăd tǝrînăd wǝr tǝrinăd 3msg irin irîn wǝr irin 3fsg tǝrin tǝrîn wǝr tǝrin 1pl nǝrin nǝrîn wǝr nǝrin 2mpl tǝrinăm tǝrînăm wǝr tǝrinăm 2fpl tǝrinmăt tǝrînmăt wǝr ǝrinmăt 3mpl ǝrinăn ǝrînăn wǝr ǝrinăn 3fpl ǝrinnăt ǝrînnăt wǝr ǝrinnăt
Participles msg ǝrinăn ǝrînăn wǝr nǝrin fsg tǝrinăt tǝrînăt wǝr nǝrin pl ǝrinnen ǝrînnen wǝr nǝrin
151 Group II verbs
IIB1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun uǵrak <> belch tuǵrekk / tagrǝkk ugrak <> belch tugrek / tagrǝk ukmaš <> be scratched ukmaš ukmaz <> be scratched ukmaz uksaḍ <> be afraid tǝksǝḍa uxsad <> be afraid (local pronunciation) tăxsǝda unsaǵ + sniff / smell tunsakk unsag + sniff / smell tunsak urǵam <> be disappointed / unpleasantly surprised turǵamt urgam <> be disappointed / unpleasantly surprised turgamt usraǵ <> sneeze tusrekk / tasrǝkk ušrag <> sneeze tušrek / tašrǝk
IIB2 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun uḍḍan <> (Ar.) be counted tuḍḍant ukkal <> bother (about) tukkalt ullaẓ <> be hungry laẓ uttaǵ <> be for sale / be hawked tuttakk uttag <> be for sale / be hawked tuttak uzzar <> be winnowed / be purified tuzzart
IIB3 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun uhal + greet (someone not present) tǝhult / tuhalt uhaẓ + approach / be near ihaẓi ukaf <> be swollen / be inflated tăkuft Ša tǝkuft Za ukan <> be astonished / surprised tǝkunt umad <> pray (Islamic prayers) ămud Ša ǝmud Ša
umas + be tumast Za tǝmust (In the perfective / stative the ‘u’ is replaced by ‘o’, e.g. .) umay + give thanks (to God) tumayt (In the perfective / stative the ‘u’ is replaced by ‘o’, e.g. .) utab <> (Ar.) repent tătubt Ša tǝtubt Za oẓam <> (Ar.) fast (Ramadan) ăẓum uẓam <> (Ar.) fast (Ramadan) ǝẓum oẓan + distribute / share out tăẓunt / tăẓune uẓan + distribute / share out tǝẓunt / tăẓune oẓay + welcome warmly tăẓuyt uẓay + welcome warmly tăẓăyt oẓaẓ + be disgruntled / tăẓoẓt / toẓaẓt + complain about payment uẓaẓ + be disgruntled / tǝẓuẓt / tuẓaẓt + complain about payment
152 IIB4 In IIB4 perfective and stative the first consonant is doubled, e.g. . Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ufad <> be thirsty fad ugag + move away from / be a long way igǝg ukas <> be hot tăkusse Ša tukǝse Za uɣar <> be dry (pf. ‘ăqqor’ etc.) tăɣart oɣar <> be dry (pf. ‘iqqur’ etc.) tăɣart usaf <> prefer (cf ‘afu’ IA10) tăsafit (In the perfective / stative the ‘u’ becomes ‘o’, thus ‘issof’ etc.)
Irregular The following common verbs are similar to this group oẓad <> be sweet / be nice vn tăẓude 3msg (ad) oẓad itoẓad wǝr itoẓad 3msg ăẓed ăẓêd wǝr ăẓed
oẓay <> be heavy vn taẓẓayt 3msg (ad) oẓay itoẓay wǝr itoẓay 3msg ăẓẓay ăẓẓây wǝr + perfective
uẓay <> be heavy vn taẓẓăyt 3msg (ad) uẓay ituẓay wǝr ituẓay 3msg iẓẓay iẓẓây wǝr + perfective
IIA1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun irhan <> be ill torhǝnna isnan + hurt // <> be in pain tisnant
IIA2 IIImperativeImperative Meaning Verbal Noun irrad <> be washed tirrat eḍḍan <> (Ar.) be counted tăḍḍint eṭṭaḍ <> be battered (leather to soften it) ăṭṭeḍ iṭṭaḍ <> be battered (leather to soften it) ǝṭṭiḍ iwwaḍ <> increase tiwwaṭṭ
IIA3 Imperative MeaMeaning ning Verbal Noun iran <> be ill tărint iɣal + suppose / think (mistakenly) tăɣilt Ša tǝɣilt Za (In the perfective / stative the ‘i’ is replaced by ‘e’, e.g. .)
153 IIA4 In IIA4 perfective and stative the first consonant is doubled, e.g ‘ăllilăɣ’. Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun ilal # help // + follow / cross tilalt / tălilt inad <> have a fever / be ill tenăde idaw & travel with / accompany tidawt Ša tidăwt Za (In the perfective / stative the ‘i’ is replaced by ‘e’, e.g. .)
Irregular The following verbs are similar to Group IIA: iynay <> be new vn tinnǝya / tinya 3msg (ad) iynay itiynay wǝr itiynay 3msg ăynay ăynây wǝr + perfective izar # precede // <> be first / be leader vn tizarăt 3msg (ad) izar itizar wǝr itizar 3msg ăzzar ăzzâr wǝr + perfective 3msg izzar izzâr wǝr + perfective ifaw <> be day / be morning vn tifawt 3msg (ad) ifaw itifaw wǝr itifaw 3msg ăffew ăffêw wǝr + perfective 3msg ăffăw ăffâw wǝr + perfective
iẓaḍ <> be sweet vn tiẓaḍa 3msg (ad) iẓaḍ itiẓaḍ wǝr itiẓaḍ 3msg iẓoḍ iẓôḍ wǝr + perfective The following IIB verbs may sometimes be conjugated in a similar manner by Tudalt speakers: Impf. Cursive Perfective iksaḍ itiksaḍ iksuḍ ihaẓ itihaẓ ihoẓ imad itimad immod imas itimas imos igag itigag iggug iɣar itiɣar iqqur
This common verb is related to Group II (Prasse classes it as XVIII.A.2). aǵǝǵ <> be a long way / be far vn iǵǝǵ 3msg (ad) aǵǝǵ itiǵǝǵ wǝr itiǵǝǵ 3msg uǵǝǵ uǵǝ̂ǵ wǝr + perfective Note ‘ǝ̂’ is a stressed ‘ǝ’ sound. This is extremely rare and this verb in Tamaghit is the only place where it is commonly heard.
154 The following small set of similar verbs is related to group II, with a slightly different form. In these groups the Tamaghit usually shortens the 2nd and 3rd person plurals to etc. while the Tudalt tends to retain the full form etc. Remember that ‘ǝw’ becomes ‘u’ unless followed by a vowel. (Note ‘ûw’ = ‘ǝ̂w’, and ‘îy’ = ‘ǝ̂y’). irǝw <> be old / be long ago // <> bray vn tărut 3msg (ad) irǝw itirǝw wǝr itirǝw 3msg ărǝw ărûw wǝr + perfective 3msg irǝw irûw wǝr + perfective isǝw <> cough vn tăsut Ša tǝsut Za 3msg (ad) isǝw itisǝw wǝr itisǝw 3msg ăsǝw ăsûw wǝr + perfective 3msg isǝw isûw wǝr + perfective itǝy <> increase vn tătit 3msg (ad) itǝy ititǝy wǝr ititǝy 3msg ătǝy ătîy wǝr + perfective 3msg itǝy itîy wǝr + perfective (This verb is rarely used in Oudalan.) ǝnǵǝw <> bellow / moo / roar vn tǝnǝǵǵut 3msg (ad) inǵǝw iniǵǵǝw wǝr inǝǵǵǝw 3msg ănǵǝw ăngûw wăr ănǵǝw ǝngǝw <> bellow / moo / roar vn tǝnǝggut 3msg (ad) ingǝw iniggǝw wǝr inǝggǝw 3msg ingǝw ingûw wǝr ingǝw ǝqqǝw <> vomit vn tǝqqǝwt 3msg (ad) iqqǝw itiqqǝw wǝr itǝqquw 3msg ăqqǝw ăqqûw wǝr + perfective 3msg iqqǝw iqqûw wǝr + perfective ǝhǝw <> be born vn tǝhut 3msg (ad) ihǝw itihǝw wǝr itǝhǝw 3msg ihǝw ihûw wǝr + perfective
155 444.4...11111111 Group III (Includes Prasse VI, VIII) This set of groups have 3 or 4 stem consonants, with the following forms in the imperative. Group IIIA BăCăD Unique to Berber, but similar to Semitic passive. Group IIIB BăCDăF Unique to Berber, probably derived from three consonant root by addition of a consonant. Group VI BăCCăD The meaning is ‘intensified’. Group VIII BăCBăC Also in Semitic, the sense is iterative
Derived verbs e.g. măBăC măBCăD năBCăD tăBCăD The imperfective is vocalised ‘ă…ă…ă…’. The cursive is vocalised ‘ta…ă…a…’. The negative cursive is vocalised ‘tǝ…ǝ…i…’. The perfective is vocalised ‘ǝ…ǝ…ă…’. The stative is vocalised ‘ă…î…ă…’. These groups generally express emphasis, and have a much greater proportion of intransitive (descriptive) verbs than Group I. In each group the last consonant of certain verbs (originally a guttural) may be lost and replaced with a weak ‘t’ ending or simply a vowel ending. This is a pattern which will be seen in all the remaining verb groups. It has already been encountered in Groups IA7-11. However, it should be noted that the vowel endings of the later groups differ slightly from those of Group I.
156 Group III
Tamaghit ‘reply’ Imperative sg kăwăn mpl kăwănăt fpl kăwănmat
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăkkăwănăɣ takăwanăɣ wăr tǝkǝwinăɣ 2sg (ad) tăkkăwănăd takăwanăd wăr tǝkǝwinăd 3msg (ad) ăkkăwăn itakăwan wǝr itǝkǝwin 3fsg (ad) tăkkăwăn takăwan wăr tǝkǝwin 1pl (ad) năkkăwăn nǝtakăwan wăr nǝtǝkǝwin 2mpl (ad) tăkkăwănăm takăwanăm wăr tǝkǝwinăm 2fpl (ad) tăkkăwănmăt takăwanmăt wăr tǝkǝwinmăt 3mpl (ad) ăkkăwănăn takăwanăn wăr tǝkǝwinăn 3fpl (ad) ăkkăwănnăt takăwannăt wăr tǝkǝwinnăt (short form: ităkăwan etc.)
Participles msg maden ăkkăwăn itakăwanăn wăren itǝkǝwin fsg maden tăkkăwăn takăwanăt wăren tǝkǝwin pl maden ăkkăwăn takăwannen wăren itǝkǝwin
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝkkǝwănăɣ ăkkîwănăɣ 2sg tǝkkǝwănăd tăkkîwănăd 3msg ǝkkǝwăn ăkkîwăn 3fsg tǝkkǝwăn tăkkîwăn 1pl nǝkkǝwăn năkkîwăn wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝkkǝwănăm tăkkîwănăm 2fpl tǝkkǝwănmăt tăkkîwănmăt 3mpl ǝkkǝwănăn ăkkîwănăn 3fpl ǝkkǝwănnăt ăkkîwănnăt
Participles msg ǝkkǝwănăn ăkkîwănăn wăren ǝkkǝwăn fsg tǝkkǝwănăt tăkkîwănăt wăren tǝkkǝwăn pl ǝkkǝwănnen ăkkîwănnen wăren ǝkkǝwăn
157 Group III
Tudalt ‘reply’ Imperative sg kăwăn mpl kăwănăt fpl kăwănmat
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăkkăwănăɣ takăwanăɣ wǝr tǝkǝwinăɣ 2sg (ad) tăkkăwănăd takăwanăd wǝr tǝkǝwinăd 3msg (ad) ăkkăwăn itakăwan wǝr itǝkǝwin 3fsg (ad) tăkkăwăn takăwan wǝr tǝkǝwin 1pl (ad) năkkăwăn nǝtakăwan wǝr nǝtǝkǝwin 2mpl (ad) tăkkăwănăm takăwanăm wǝr tǝkǝwinăm 2fpl (ad) tăkkăwănmăt takăwanmăt wǝr tǝkǝwinmăt 3mpl (ad) ăkkăwănăn takăwanăn wǝr tǝkǝwinăn 3fpl (ad) ăkkăwănnăt takăwannăt wǝr tǝkǝwinnăt
Participles msg z-ăkkăwănăn itakăwanăn wǝr nǝtǝkǝwin fsg za-tăkkăwănăt takăwanăt wǝr nǝtǝkǝwin pl z-ăkkăwănnen takăwannen wǝr nǝtǝkǝwin c(neg) wǝr za-năkkăwăn
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝkkǝwănăɣ ǝkkîwănăɣ 2sg tǝkkǝwănăd tǝkkîwănăd 3msg ikkǝwăn ikkîwăn 3fsg tǝkkǝwăn tǝkkîwăn 1pl nǝkkǝwăn nǝkkîwăn wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝkkǝwănăm tǝkkîwănăm 2fpl tǝkkǝwănmăt tǝkkîwănmăt 3mpl ǝkkǝwănăn ǝkkîwănăn 3fpl ǝkkǝwănnăt ǝkkîwănnăt
Participles msg ikkǝwănăn ikkîwănăn wǝr nǝkkǝwăn fsg tǝkkǝwănăt tǝkkîwănăt wǝr nǝkkǝwăn pl ǝkkǝwănnen ǝkkîwănnen wǝr nǝkkǝwăn
158 Group III verbs
IIIA1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun băɣăr <> be lucky / rich / successful tabăɣort bărăḍ <> be brave ǝbbărăḍ / tǝbbărăḍa bărăḍ <> be brave ǝbbǝrǝḍ bărăǵ + boast abăraǵ bărăg + boast abărag ḍărăr + want / need ăḍḍăror ḍărăr + want / need ǝḍḍǝrur ǵătăɣ <> limp aǵătăɣ ɣărăs <> be frozen aɣǝris ɣătăs + cut off / <> be cut off // be valuable aɣǝtǝs kărăḍ + force (s.o.) // <> be forced akărăḍŠa akǝrǝḍ Za kăwăn # reply / answer / obey akǝwǝn mădăš & argue / discuss tamădašt mădăz & argue / discuss tamădast măḍăs <> be ritually unclean // be touched ămmăḍas măgăr & fight (a war) amǝgǝr măɣăd <> be a vassal ǝmmǝɣǝd mălăd <> be cursed/ afflicted // + curse mălad amǝlid mănăy & see each other / meet amǝnǝy măšăg & race tammăšăga măzăg & race tămmăzăga măzăɣ & argue / discuss tamăzaqq măẓăl + & make amends by payment amǝẓǝl năhăḍ # look after / rule over tanhaṭṭ năfăs <> be recounted (event) tanăfăs năwăl <> go around / wander anǝwǝl săbăb + (
The following groups include a number of Tudalt verbs for which the Tamaghit equivalents are in group XIV:
IIIB1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bănbăy <> be upside-down / back-to-front abǝnbǝy băytăl <> be disappointed // turn aside abǝytǝl dănkăy + pass by adǝnki ǵămšăk <> be triangular teǵămšăkk gămšăk <> be triangular tegămšăk găršăk + do ‘evil eye’ / curse by looking in envy tegăršăk lănkăm + ride pillion (camel / motorbike) alǝnkǝm măntăl + (Ar.) cause / make (sth.) happen timǝntal tănkăl <> be hidden from view atǝnkǝl
159 VI,1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun băllăn <> wrestle tăbbillant băllăn <> wrestle tabǝllant dăbbăr <> (Ar.) do what is needed / find a solution ăddăbara ḍărrăǵ <> escape / flee / desert aḍǝrrǝǵ ḍărrăg <> escape / flee / desert aḍǝrrǝg făkkăr <> be discovered / denounced afǝkkǝr făssăr + (Ar.) explain / interpret (text) afǝssǝr găyyăt + witness / bear witness tagǝyya ɣăzzăb <> (Ar.) suffer (in hell) / be tortured ălɣăzab ɣăssăr <> (Ar.) suffer loss(es) tăɣăssert hăggăg <> (Ar.) do pilgrimage ahǝggǝg hăššăl # be necessary / obligatory ahǝššǝl / ăššil kărrăs + swindle / trick akǝrrǝs / takǝrrest lăffăẓ + (Ar.) pronounce talǝffeẓt / ăttălfeẓ lămmăẓ + get / find / obtain talǝmmeẓt lăqqăw <> be poor ǝllăqqu Ša ǝllǝqqu Za lăyyăɣ <> be exhausted tălayyiq măkkăn <> be possible amǝkkǝn măttăy <> be changed amǝtti săggăl <> stray / go missing (an.) asǝggǝl wăllăb + (Ar.) turn (a screw) awǝllǝb wăžžăn <> be annoyed awǝžžǝn
VIII Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun băkbăk + shake / shake out abǝkbǝk bărbăr + go out / leave abărbăr bărbăr + go out / leave abǝrbǝr băšbăš <> be knocked off (fruit from tree) abǝšbǝš băzbăz <> be knocked off (fruit from tree) abǝzbǝz dăgdăg + (Ar.) crush / <> be crushed adǝgdǝg dăɣdăɣ + stab / prod (repeatedly) adăɣdăɣ dăɣdăɣ + stab / prod (repeatedly) adǝɣdǝɣ dămdăm <> be blunt (a point) adǝmdǝm fălfăl + give birth prematurely afǝlfǝl hăwhăw <> bark ahǝwhǝw kăwkăw + knock akǝwkǝw kăykăy <> be emptied / be empty akǝykǝy lăšlăš + shake out alǝšlǝš lăzlăz + shake out alǝzlǝz năǵnăǵ + vibrate (sth.) // <> be vibrating anǝǵnǝǵ năgnăg + vibrate (sth.) // <> be vibrating anǝgnǝg răyrăy + stretch out / recline // arǝyrǝy <> be stretched out tăftăf + crush atǝftǝf
160 IA1 / 2 reflexive / passive Reflexives (which may have a passive sense) form with ‘m’ or ‘n’: Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun măǵrăd & speak / talk / discuss măǵrăd măgrăd & speak / talk / discuss măgrăd măgrăẓ + regret / change one’s mind tǝmagriẓt măqqăs & meet / bump into amǝqqǝs măkkăs <> be removed amǝkkǝs măklăw + eat (midday) meal amǝklǝw măkrăs & be joined together amǝkrǝs mălkăw <> be given away amǝlkǝw mănsăw + eat (evening meal) amǝnsi mănkăd <> be tired tămankit mănhăy & meet / bump into / see amǝnhi mănžăɣ + envy / spoil through envy mănžaɣ mărwăs <> be loaned / bought on credit amǝrwǝs măskăl <> be mad / simple amăskăl mătkăl <> be taken up / exalted amǝtkǝl măzzăy & separate // be divorced (woman) amǝzzi măẓlăy <> be separated / distinguished amǝẓlǝy
năbhăl & push against (each other) anǝbhǝl nădbăɣ <> be tight (breathing) anǝdbǝɣ năflăs & trust (each other) anǝflǝs năflăy + abound anǝfli / tănaflit năfrăɣ & disagree anǝfrǝɣ năfrăn <> be chosen anǝfrǝn năfrăy <> feel / smell (sth.) anǝfri năftăɣ <> be a guest anǝftǝɣ năkmăm & be squashed together anǝkmǝm nălhăm & be angry (with each other) anǝlhǝm năntăf <> be re-opened (wound) anǝntǝf A few passives are formed with ‘t’: Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun tăllăm <> be turning // be dizzy atǝllǝm tălbăy <> be uprooted atǝlbǝy tălmăẓ <> be swallowed atǝlmǝẓ tălwăy <> be led atǝlwi tărmăs <> be seized // be arrested atǝrmǝs
161 Group III ––– weak ‘t’ ending
Tamaghit ‘carry on head’ Imperative sg lănǵăt mpl lănǵătăt fpl lănǵătmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăllănǵeɣ talănǵeɣ wăr tǝlǝnǵeɣ 2sg (ad) tăllănǵed talănǵed wăr tǝlǝnǵid 3msg (ad) ăllănǵăt italănǵat wǝr itǝlǝnǵit 3fsg (ad) tăllănǵăt talănǵat wăr tǝlǝnǵit 1pl (ad) năllănǵăt nǝtalănǵat wăr nǝtǝlǝnǵit 2mpl (ad) tăllănǵem talănǵem wăr tǝlǝnǵim 2fpl (ad) tăllănǵătmăt talănǵatmăt wăr tǝlǝnǵitmăt 3mpl (ad) ăllănǵen talănǵen wăr tǝlǝnǵin 3fpl (ad) ăllănǵătnăt talănǵatnăt wăr tǝlǝnǵitnăt (short form: itălănǵat etc.)
Participles msg maden ăllănǵăt italănǵen wăren itǝlǝnǵit fsg maden tăllănǵăt talănǵet wăren tǝlǝnǵit pl maden ăllănǵăt talănǵatnen wăren itǝlǝnǵit
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝllǝnǵeɣ ăllînǵeɣ 2sg tǝllǝnǵed tăllînǵed 3msg ǝllǝnǵăt ăllînǵăt 3fsg tǝllǝnǵăt tăllînǵăt 1pl nǝllǝnǵăt năllînǵăt wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝllǝnǵem tăllînǵem 2fpl tǝllǝnǵătmăt tăllînǵătmăt 3mpl ǝllǝnǵen ăllînǵen 3fpl ǝllǝnǵătnăt ăllînǵătnăt
Participles msg ǝllǝnǵen ăllînǵen wăren ǝllǝnǵăt fsg tǝllǝnǵet tǝllînǵet wăren tǝllǝnǵăt pl ǝllǝnǵătnen ǝllînǵătnen wăren ǝllǝnǵăt
Note There is a variant form for the cursive for the set listed as IIIA2 below, e.g.: 3msg itibkut itǝbkut 3mpl tibkun tǝbkun
This is only commonly encountered with the verb , where the form is or more usually .
162 Group III ––– weak ‘t’ ending
Tudalt g ‘carry on head’ Imperative sg lăngăt mpl lăngătăt fpl lăngătmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăllăngeɣ talăngeɣ wǝr tǝlǝngeɣ 2sg (ad) tăllănged talănged wǝr tǝlǝnged 3msg (ad) ăllăngăt italăngat wǝr itǝlǝngit 3fsg (ad) tăllăngăt talăngat wǝr tǝlǝngit 1pl (ad) năllăngăt nǝtalăngat wǝr nǝtǝlǝngit 2mpl (ad) tăllăngem talăngem wǝr tǝlǝngem 2fpl (ad) tăllăngătmăt talăngatmăt wǝr tǝlǝngitmăt 3mpl (ad) ăllăngen talăngen wǝr tǝlǝngen 3fpl (ad) ăllăngătnăt talăngatnăt wǝr tǝlǝngitnăt
Participles msg z-ăllăngen italăngen wǝr nǝtǝlǝngit fsg za-tăllănget talănget wǝr nǝtǝlǝngit pl z-ăllăngătnen talăngatnen wǝr nǝtǝlǝngit c(neg) wǝr za-năllăngăt
Perfective Stative NegNegative ative 1sg ǝllǝngeɣ ǝllîngeɣ 2sg tǝllǝnged tǝllînged 3msg illǝngăt illîngăt 3fsg tǝllǝngăt tǝllîngăt 1pl nǝllǝngăt nǝllîngăt wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝllǝngem tǝllîngem 2fpl tǝllǝngătmăt tǝllîngătmăt 3mpl ǝllǝngen ǝllîngen 3fpl ǝllǝngătnăt ǝllîngătnăt
ParticParticiplesiples msg illǝngen illîngen wǝr nǝllǝngăt fsg tǝllǝnget tǝllînget wǝr nǝllǝngăt pl ǝllǝngătnen ǝllîngătnen wǝr nǝllǝngăt
163 Group III weak ‘t’ ending verbs
IIIA2 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun dăwăt <> be happy tedăwit Ša tadǝwit Za dărăt <> be fat // be courageous ǝddǝri gălăt <> move camp / house tagle kălăt <> be a slave ǝkkǝlu kărăt <> be coagulated (milk) akru Ša akǝri Za lăɣăt + (
IIIB2 bărgăt <> be detached / be opened abǝrgi dănkăt <> duck / bow (head) adǝnki făskăt <> be sacrificed (an.) afǝski gănbăt + plait hair agǝnbi găršăt + do ‘evil eye’ / curse by looking in envy tegăršăt hărgăt + dream ahǝrgi kălmăt + accuse akǝlmi lănǵăt + carry (on head) alǝnǵi lăngăt + carry (on head) alǝngi măgnăt <> be ready amǝgni măẓlăt <> have a cold ămaẓla răyhăt <> have a rope in mouth arǝyhi šăyhăt + gather (wild fonio) eššăyhe tărkăt + attach (baggage) / pack atărki Ša atǝrki Za wăɣsăt <> be savage / wild awăɣsi Ša awǝɣsi Za wănšăt <> have rabies awǝnši
VI2VI2VI2 băqqăt <> explode abǝqqi dăttăt <> be certain (a fact) / be true adǝtti făqqăt <> sprout up / burst out afǝqqi gărrăt + drag // <> be dragged / possessed / mad agǝrri kămmăt + gather up // <> be gathered up akǝmmi lăllăt <> be a freeman / be honoured alǝlli măllăt # kiss amǝlli tăbbăt + sprinkle powder / + wash clothes atǝbbi zăbbăt + get down // stay with (s.o.) azǝbbi zăkkăt <> stop abruptly / spectate azǝkki tǝzakkit
164 Group III ––– vowel ending
Tamaghit ‘be rummaged through’ Imperative sg făyk mpl făykăt fpl făykămăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăffăykăɣ tafăykeɣ wăr tǝfǝykeɣ 2sg (ad) tăffăykăd tafăyked wăr tǝfǝykid 3msg (ad) ăffăyk itafăyka wǝr itǝfǝyki 3fsg (ad) tăffăyk tafăyka wăr tǝfǝyki 1pl (ad) năffăyk nǝtafăyka wăr nǝtǝfǝyki 2mpl (ad) tăffăykăm tafăykem wăr tǝfǝykim 2fpl (ad) tăffăykămăt tafăykemăt wăr tǝfǝykimăt 3mpl (ad) ăffăykăn tafăyken wăr tǝfǝykin 3fpl (ad) ăffăykănăt tafăykenăt wăr tǝfǝykinăt (short form: ităfăyka etc.)
Participles msg maden ăffăyk itafăyken wăren itǝfǝyki fsg maden tăffăyk tafăyket wăren tǝfǝyki pl maden ăffăyk tafăykenen wăren itǝfǝyki (also tafăykanen)
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝffǝykăɣ ăffîykăɣ 2sg tǝffǝykăd tăffîykăd 3msg ǝffǝyka ăffîyka 3fsg tǝffǝyka tăffîyka 1pl nǝffǝyka năffîyka wǝr + perfective 2msg tǝffǝykăm tăffîykăm 2fsg tǝffǝykămăt tăffîykămăt 3msg ǝffǝykăn ăffîykăn 3fsg ǝffǝykănăt ăffîykănăt
Participles msg ǝffǝykăn ăffîykăn wăren ǝffǝyka fsg tǝffǝykăt tăffîykăt wăren tǝffǝyka pl ǝffǝykănen ăffîykănen wăren ǝffǝyka
165 Group III ––– vowel ending
Tudalt ‘be rummaged through’ Imperative sg făyku mpl făykăt fpl făykimăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăffăykeɣ tafăykăɣ wǝr tǝfǝykăɣ 2sg (ad) tăffăyked tafăykăd wǝr tǝfǝykăd 3msg (ad) ăffăyku itafăyku wǝr itǝfǝyku 3fsg (ad) tăffăyku tafăyku wǝr tǝfǝyku 1pl (ad) năffăyku nǝtafăyku wǝr nǝtǝfǝyku 2mpl (ad) tăffăykim tafăykim wǝr tǝfǝykim 2fpl (ad) tăffăykimăt tafăykimăt wǝr tǝfǝykimăt 3mpl (ad) ăffăykin tafăykin wǝr tǝfǝykin 3fpl (ad) ăffăykinăt tafăykinăt wǝr tǝfǝykinăt
Participles msg z-ăffăykin itafăykin wǝr nǝtǝfǝyku fsg za-tăffăykit tafăykit wǝr nǝtǝfǝyku pl z-ăffăykinen tafăykinen wǝr nǝtǝfǝyku c(neg) wǝr za-năffăyku
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝffǝykăɣ ǝffîykăɣ 2sg tǝffǝykăd tǝffîykăd 3msg iffǝyka iffîyka 3fsg tǝffǝyka tǝffîyka 1pl nǝffǝyka nǝffîyka wǝr + perfective 2msg tǝffǝykăm tǝffîykăm 2fsg tǝffǝykămăt tǝffîykămăt 3msg ǝffǝykăn ǝffîykăn 3fsg ǝffǝykănăt ǝffîykănăt
Participles msg iffǝykăn iffîykăn wǝr nǝffǝyka fsg tǝffǝykăt tǝffîykăt wǝr nǝffǝyka pl ǝffǝykănen ǝffîykănen wǝr nǝffǝyka
166 Group III vowel ending verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun băbbu + carry on back (esp. baby) abǝbbi dăll + (Ar.) concern / be about ăddălil dăllu + (Ar.) concern / be about ǝddǝlil dărf <> be set free (slave) tădarfit dărfu <> be set free (slave) tǝdarfit făggu <> have congestion / chest pain afǝggi făllu + rely on / count on / entrust to afǝlli / fella făyk <> be rummaged through afǝyk făyku <> be rummaged through afǝyki făstu <> be quiet tǝfastit găggu + charge / load up agǝggi (vehicle or beast of burden) ǵăyh + witness / observe / testify taǵuhe ǵătt <> be sloped / inclined aǵǝtt găttu <> be sloped / inclined agǝtti hădd + lean on (sth.) ahǝdd hăddu + lean on (sth.) ahǝddi ɣăym <> sit / remain taɣimit taw + forget etăwi tăw + forget tătăwt E.g. ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-ǝnnes I have forgotten his / its name ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-nes I have forgotten his / its name
Passives of group IA7/8 etc. măkš <> be eaten amǝkš măkšu <> be eaten amǝkši măsw <> be drunk (consumed) amǝsǝw măswu <> be drunk (consumed) amǝswi mănd <> be finished / complete // worn out amǝnd măndu <> be finished / complete // worn out amǝndi
Similar is ɣam <> sit / remain vn taɣimit 3msg (ad) ăqqam itaɣam wǝr itǝɣim 3msg (ad) ăqqamu itaɣamu wǝr itǝɣimu 3msg iqqim iqqîm wǝr + perfective 3msg iqqima iqqîma wǝr + perfective
167 444.4...12121212 Group IV ––– qualitative verbs Tamasheq does not have adjectives. Instead it often uses verbs which have qualitative meanings. Verbs such as ‘be hot’, ‘be big’, ‘be red’. Many verbs with qualitative meanings fall into the ordinary verb classes, e.g. IA1 ‘be wet’. These behave as any other verb and are used in one of the following ways: As the simple verb (usually in the stative), e.g.: ăhalǝs wa ibdâǵ The man is wet alǝs wa ibdâg The man is wet (cf perfective: ăhalǝs wa ibdăǵ The man got wet) As a parparticipleticiple qualifying an indefinite noun, e.g.: ăkf-ahi tabdoqq tǝbdâǵăt Give me a wet cloth ăkf-i tabdoq tǝbdâgăt Give me a wet cloth (lit. ‘Give me a cloth which is wet’) As a participle qualifying a definite noun. In this case the participle is in the perfective rather than the stative, e.g.: ăkf-ahi tabdoqq ta tǝbdăǵăt Give me the wet cloth ăkf-i tabdoq ta tǝbdăgăt Give me the wet cloth (lit. ‘Give me the cloth which is wet’) As the participle in the nominal phrase, e.g.: tabdoqq ta ti tǝbdâǵăt The cloth is wet tabdoq ta ti tǝbdâgăt The cloth is wet (lit. ‘The cloth, one that is wet’) There is also a group of exclusively qualitative verbs which follows its own pattern. These are described as ‘Group IV – qualitative verbs’ and this section deals with them. These verbs are sometime used as the finite verb, but more often as the participle. They are notable by the fact that they begin with a consonant rather than a vowel in the perfective / stative and do not take prefixes. They are commonly used in the stative participle form and the example below illustrates the differences between this group and ordinary verbs, e.g.: Ordinary verb Group IV verb paralysed’ black’ msg ibdânăn kăwâlăn fsgfsgfsg tǝbdânăt kăwâlăt plplpl ǝbdânnen kăwâlnen Group IV qualitative verbs may be used in the same ways as ‘ordinary’ qualitative verbs just described:
168 As the simple verb (usually in the stative), e.g.: ăhalǝs wa kăwâl The / this / that man is black tamăṭṭ ta kăwâl The / this / that woman is black meddăn wi kăwâlăn The / these / those men are black ḍeḍen ti kăwâlnăt The / these / those women are black alǝs wa kăwâl The / this / that man is black tanṭuṭ ta kăwâl The / this / that woman is black meddăn wi kăwâlăn The / these / those men are black tiḍoḍen ti kăwâlnăt The / these / those women are black As a participle qualifying an indefinite noun, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs kăwâlăn I saw a black man ǝnhăyăɣ tamăṭṭ kăwâlăt I saw a black woman ǝnhăyăɣ meddăn kăwâlnen I saw some black men ǝnhăyăɣ ḍeḍen kăwâlnen I saw some black women ǝnăyăɣ alǝs kăwâlăn I saw a black man ǝnăyăɣ tanṭuṭ kăwâlăt I saw a black woman ǝnăyăɣ meddăn kăwâlnen I saw some black men ǝnăyăɣ tiḍoḍen kăwâlnen I saw some black women As a participle qualifying a definite noun. In this case the participle is in the perfective rather than the stative, e.g.: ǝnhăyăɣ ăhalǝs wa kăwalăn I saw the black man ǝnhăyăɣ tamăṭṭ ta kăwalăt I saw the black woman ǝnhăyăɣ meddăn wi kăwalnen I saw the black men ǝnhăyăɣ ḍeḍen ti kăwalnen I saw the black women ǝnăyăɣ alǝs wa kăwalăn I saw the black man ǝnăyăɣ tanṭuṭ ta kăwalăt I saw the black woman ǝnăyăɣ meddăn wi kăwalnen I saw the black men ǝnăyăɣ tiḍoḍen ti kăwalnen I saw the black women As a participle in the nominal phrase, e.g.: ăhalǝs wa i kăwâlăn That man is black tamăṭṭ ta ti kăwâlăt That woman is black meddăn wi i kăwâlnen Those men are black ḍeḍen ti ti kăwâlnen Those women are black alǝs wa i kăwâlăn That man is black tanṭuṭ ta ti kăwâlăt That woman is black meddăn wi i kăwâlnen Those men are black tiḍoḍen ti ti kăwâlnen Those women are black
Group IV verbs The formation of the cursive has not been made explicit in the lists that follow as it is rarely used with these verbs. it is formed regularly from the imperfective following the pattern of Group II, III or XII as appropriate. For practical language learning purposes it will suffice to learn the perfective forms and the verbal nouns, and the imperfective of key verbs. For some of these verbs the plural participle of the perfectives (simple and stative) has a special form (list 2). The verbs are listed in the masculine singular form unless otherwise indicated.
169 List 1
IVA,1 Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun (group II type) lăbâs ad ilbas evil / severe tăllăbăst kăwâl ad ikwal black tăkkăwălt xălâl ad ixlal lawful tăxǝlle Ša tǝxǝlle Za xărâm ad ixram unlawful tăxxărămt ărâɣ ad iwraɣ yellow tăroɣe Ša tǝruɣe Za (group III type) bărâg ad ăbbărăg grey (an.) tăbbărăk hărây ad ăhhărăy raw / crude tăhhărăyt
IVA,4 (group II type) sădîd ad isdad thin tǝsǝdde sǝdîd ad isdad thin tǝsǝdde rǝɣîs ad irɣas easy / cheap tǝrǝɣse
IVA,5 (group II type) dărrûs ad idras few tǝdrǝse dǝrûs ad idras few tǝdrǝse făsûs ad ifsas easy / light tǝfǝsse fǝsûs ad ifsas easy / light tǝfǝsse kărôẓ ad ikraẓ narrow tǝkărẓe kǝrûẓ ad ikraẓ narrow tǝkǝrẓe hărûw ad ihraw wide tǝhhǝrǝwt hǝrûw ad ihraw wide tǝhhǝrǝwt fărôr ad ifrar important / good tǝfărre fǝrûr ad ifrar important / good tǝfǝrre ɣăllûl ad eɣlal scruffy (clothes) taɣǝlle ɣǝllûl ad iɣlal scruffy (clothes) taɣǝlle
IVB,1 (group III type) băydâǵ ad ăbbăydăǵ white (camel) tăbbăydăkk băydâg ad ăbbăydăg white (camel) tăbbăydăk ẓăwẓâw ad ăẓẓăwẓăw beige / off-white tăẓẓăwẓăwt šărbây ad ăššărbăy black + white (an.) tăššărbăyt zărɣâf ad ăzzărɣăf blotchy tăzzărɣăft
IVB3 (group III like) fǝltâs ad ăffăltăs flat tǝffǝltǝst šǝmlâl ad ăššămlăl off-white tăššǝmlǝlt zǝmlâl ad ăzzămlăl off-white tǝzzǝmlǝlt kǝrdâd ad ăkkărdăd mean / greedy tăkkǝrdǝtt šǝllâǵ ad ăššăllăǵ abnormal / tăššǝllǝkk zǝllâg ad ăzzăllăg against custom tăzzǝllǝk Note: the perfective and negative of this set may also take the form etc.
170 IVC1 (group II like) šăggâɣ ad išwaɣ red tǝšoɣe zăggâɣ ad izwaɣ red tǝzuɣe wăššâr ad iwšar old tǝwšăre ɣăggâl ad iɣwal (dark) brown tăɣule Ša tăɣwălt Za
IVC,4 (group II like) šăddîǵ ad išdaǵ clean tǝšdǝǵe zǝddîg ad izdag clean tǝzdǝge sămmêḍ ad ismaḍ cold tǝsămḍe / esămeḍ sǝmmîḍ ad ismaḍ cold tǝsămḍe / esămeḍ răqqîs ad erɣas easy / cheap tărɣǝse lămmêḍ ad ilmaḍ soft tǝlămḍe lǝmmîḍ ad ilmaḍ soft tǝlmǝḍe lǝmmûḍ ad ilmaḍ soft tǝlmǝḍe (This variant also occurs with the other verbs in this group: z g , .)
Group XIII,1 (group XII like) kukâs ad ikukǝs of small build tăkkukǝst šuhâr ad išuhǝr thick / fat tăššuhărt zuwâr ad izuwǝr thick / fat tăzzuwărt Note: the perfective and negative of this set may also take the form etc.
List 2a (group II like) These verbs have a special form for the participle, etc. măqqâr ad imɣar big / important tǝmɣăre Ša tǝmɣǝre Za sǝmǝ̂m ad ismam bitter / sour tǝsǝmme mǝẓẓǝ̂ǵ ad imẓaǵ deaf tǝmmăẓẓǝkk mǝẓẓǝ̂g ad imẓag deaf tǝmmǝẓẓǝk rǝkkǝ̂m ad irkam weak rǝkkǝm gǝzzǝ̂l ad igzal short tǝgǝzle gǝzzûl ad igzal short tǝgǝzle
List 2b ––– ‘ ‘----ăt’ăt’ endings The forms of the perfective / stative participle are given in full for the following verbs as there are contractions and irregularities that need special attention. Stative Imperfective Meaning VeVeVerbal Ve rbal noun šǝǵrǝ̂t ad ăššăǵrăt tall / long tǝššǝǵrǝt Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg šǝǵren šǝǵrên wăren šǝǵrǝt fsg šǝǵret šǝǵrêt wăren šǝǵrǝt pl šǝǵrotnen šǝǵrôtnen wăren šǝǵrǝt Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun zǝgrǝ̂t ad ăzzăgrăt tall / long tǝzzǝgrǝt Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg zǝgren zǝgrên wǝr nǝzǝgrǝt fsg zǝgret zǝgrêt wǝr nǝzǝgrǝt pl zǝgrotnen zǝgrôtnen wǝr nǝzǝgrǝt
171 Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun ǝǵǵǝ̂t ad uǵat many ăǵut ParParParticiples:Par ticiples: Perfective Stative Negative msg ăǵǵen ăǵǵên wăren ǝǵǵǝt fsg tăǵǵet tăǵǵêt wăren tǝǵǵǝt pl ăǵǵotnen ăǵǵôtnen wăren ǝǵǵǝt Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun iggǝ̂t ad igat many igǝt Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg ăggen ăggên wǝr nǝggǝt fsg tăgget tăggêt wǝr nǝggǝt pl ăggotnen ăggôtnen wǝr nǝggǝt Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun dalât ad ăddalăt green tăddalăt Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg dalen dalên wăren dalat Ša fsg dalet dalêt wăren dalat Ša pl dalatnen dalâtnen wăren dalat Ša c(neg) wǝr nǝdalat Za Similar but with short ‘ă’ (e.g. ) are: kăšăt be coloured tăkkăšăt dărăt be brown tăddărăt (Not to be confused with ‘be fat’ which is in group IIIA2)
Other stative verbs These verbs are very common. It should be noted that each has two forms for the singular participle, the second of which is much more common. Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun măḍrî ad ămmăḍrăy small / young tǝmmăḍrit Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg măḍrǝyăn măḍrîyăn wăren măḍrǝy ănḍărrăn ănḍârrăn fsg măḍrǝyăt măḍrîyăt wăren măḍrǝy ănḍărrăt ănḍârrăt pl măḍroynen măḍrôynen wăren măḍrǝy Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun mǝḍrî ad ămmăḍrăy small / young tǝmmǝḍrit Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg mǝḍrǝyăn mǝḍrîyăn wǝr nǝmǝḍrǝy ǝnḍǝrrăn ǝnḍǝ̂rrăn fsg mǝḍrǝyăt mǝḍrîyăt wǝr nǝmǝḍrǝy ǝnḍǝrrăt ǝnḍǝ̂rrăt pl măḍroynen măḍrôynen wǝr nǝmǝḍrǝy See section 4.25 for some examples of usage.
172 Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun mǝtkî ad ămmătkăy small / young tǝmmǝtkit Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg mǝtkǝyăn mǝtkîyăn wăren mǝtkǝy ǝntǝkkăn ǝntûkkăn fsg mǝtkǝyăt mǝtkîyăt wăren mǝtkǝy tǝntǝkkăt tǝntûkkăt pl mătkoynen mătkôynen wăren mǝtkǝy The following verb contracts in the participle: Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun măllûl ad imlal white tǝmǝlle Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg măllăn măllăn wăren măllul fsg măllăt măllăt wăren măllul pl măllolnen măllôlnen wăren măllul Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun mǝllûl ad imlal white tǝmǝlle Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg măllăn măllăn wǝr nǝmǝllul fsg măllăt măllăt wǝr nǝmǝllul pl măllolnen măllôlnen wǝr nǝmǝllul The verb ‘to die’ also contracts in the participle (optionally in Tudalt): Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun ămmût ad ămmăt dead tamăttant Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg ămmun ămmûn wăren ămmut fsg tămmut tămmût wăren tămmut pl ămmutnen ămmûtnen wăren ămmut Stative Imperfective Meaning Verbal noun immût ad ămmăt dead tamăttant Participles: Perfective Stative Negative msg immutăn / immûtăn / wǝr nǝmmut ămmen ămmên fsg tǝmmutăt / tǝmmûtăt / wǝr nǝmmut tămmet tammêt pl ămmutnen ămmûtnen wǝr nǝmmut E.g.: ămmût He / it is dead immût He / it is dead ămmûtăn They (m) are dead ǝmmûtăn They (m) are dead ešeḍ-in ămmut My donkey died ažăḍ-in immut My donkey died ešeḍ-in ămmût My donkey is dead ažăḍ-in immût My donkey is dead ǝnhăyăɣ ešeḍ ămmûn I saw a dead donkey ǝnăyăɣ ažăḍ immûtăn / ămmên I saw a dead donkey
173 The cursive of this verb is also of unusual form. It is used in talking about generalities of death or when death is used as a metaphor, e.g.: itamăttat He / it dies dăɣ ăzzămănăn win mănna In times of drought irǝzzegăn tamătten herds die wǝr itǝmǝttit He / it does not die efew wan tămse wǝr itǝmǝttit The fire of hell does not die The verbs meaning ‘other’ seem only to exist in the participle: wa yăḍăn The other one (m) wa hăḍăn The other one (m) ta yăḍăt The other one (f) ta hăḍăt The other one (f) wi / ti yăḍnen The others wi / ti hăḍnen The others
E.g.: ḍeḍen sănatăt osănăt-id ǝyyăt Two women came, one tokăy ǝs-Băyga, continued towards Beyga, ta yăḍăt tokăy ǝs-Mărkoy the other towards Markoye tiḍoḍen sănatăt osănăt-dǝd, ǝyyăt Two women came, one tokăy ǝs-Băyga, continued towards Beyga, ta hăḍăt tokăy ǝs-Mărkoy the other towards Markoye The following verb was originally a group IV A1 verb of the form , etc. iba + be lacking, be lost vn iba 3msg (ad) iba itiba wǝr itiba 3msg ăba ăbâ wǝr + perfective This verb is almost always used in the 3msg (impersonally), e.g.: abba ăbâ-ti My father is dead abba ăbâ-tăy My father is dead ulli-nin ăbâ-tănăt My goats are missing wǝlli-nin ăbâ-tănăt My goats are missing ti-s ăb-has-ti His father is dead ti-s ăb-as-tăy His father is dead (lit. ‘His father, it lacks for him him’)
Tudalt Plural Variant There is a special form of the 3 rd person plural perfect that is sometimes heard in Tudalt. It affects verbs that have ‘i’, ‘u’, ‘o’ or ‘ǝ’ at the last vowel of the perfect, e.g.: ăggota (= ǝggǝtăn/ǝggǝtnăt) They are numerous sămmoḍa (= sǝmmuḍăn/sǝmmuḍnăt) They are cold zăddoga (= zǝddigăn/zǝddignăt) They are clean măllola (= măllolăn/măllolnăt) They are white găzzola (= gǝzzulăn/gǝzzulnăt) They are short măqqora (= măqqărăn/măqqărnăt) They are big măḍroya (= măḍrǝyăn/măḍrǝynăt) They are small
174 444.4...13131313 Group V (Includes Prasse V, VII, IX, X, XI) This set of groups contains verbs of four or more stem consonants, including the following major forms in the imperative. Group V BǝCǝDFǝG Probably formed by a combination of two roots or the addition of extra consonants to a triletter. Group VII BǝCǝDBǝCǝD Unique to Berber, and no doubt increased in frequency in Tamasheq by analogy with neighbouring African languages, these verbs indicate iterative action. Group IX BǝCǝDCǝD Like the previous it has an iterative sense. Group XA BǝCǝDDǝF Group XB BǝCDǝFFǝG Formed by the combination of two roots or by repetition to give an intensive or iterative. Derived verbs e.g. nǝmǝBǝC nǝmǝBCǝD tǝwǝBǝC tǝwǝBCǝD mǝsǝBCǝD tǝwǝsǝBCǝD The imperfective is vocalised ‘ǝ…ǝ…(ǝ)…ǝ…’. The cursive is vocalised ‘ti…ǝ…ǝ…(ǝ)…i…’. The negative cursive is vocalised ‘tǝ…ǝ…ǝ…(ǝ)…i…’. The perfective is vocalised ‘ă…ă…(ă)…ă…’. The stative is vocalised ‘ă…î…ă…(ă)…ă…’. The group generally denotes a connotation of meaning or a stress. In general the meanings are quite detailed giving an adverbial feel to the group. There are few verbs here of interest to the language learner at the early stages, but many that show a linguistic competence when used appropriately. Many of the ideas in these verbs would be expressed by a phrase in English.
175 Group V
Tamaghit ‘rant / talk rubbish’ Imperative sg kǝlǝntǝf mpl kǝlǝntǝfăt fpl kǝlǝntǝfmăt
ImImImperfective Im perfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝklǝntǝfăɣ tiklǝntifăɣ wăr tǝklǝntifăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝklǝntǝfăd tiklǝntifăd wăr tǝklǝntifăd 3msg (ad) ǝklǝntǝf itiklǝntif wǝr itǝklǝntif 3fsg (ad) tǝklǝntǝf tiklǝntif wăr tǝklǝntif 1pl (ad) nǝklǝntǝf nǝtiklǝntif wăr nǝtǝklǝntif 2mpl (ad) tǝklǝntǝfăm tiklǝntifăm wăr tǝklǝntifăm 2fpl (ad) tǝklǝntǝfmăt tiklǝntifmăt wăr tǝklǝntifmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝklǝntǝfăn tiklǝntifăn wăr tǝklǝntifăn 3fpl (ad) ǝklǝntǝfnăt tiklǝntifnăt wăr tǝklǝntifnăt
Participles msg maden ǝklǝntǝf itiklǝntifăn wăren itǝklǝntif fsg maden tǝklǝntǝf tiklǝntifăt wăren tǝklǝntif pl maden ǝklǝntǝf tiklǝntifnen wăren itǝklǝntif
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ăklăntăfăɣ ăkîlăntăfăɣ 2sg tăklăntăfăd tăkîlăntăfăd 3msg ăklăntăf ăkîlăntăf 3fsg tăklăntăf tăkîlăntăf 1pl năklăntăf năkîlăntăf wăr + perfective 2mpl tăklăntăfăm tăkîlăntăfăm 2fpl tăklăntăfmăt tăkîlăntăfmăt 3mpl ăklăntăfăn ăkîlăntăfăn 3fpl ăklăntăfnăt ăkîlăntăfnăt
Participles msg ăklăntăfăn ăkîlăntăfăn wăren ăklăntăf fsg tăklăntăfăt tăkîlăntăfăt wăren tăklăntăf pl ăklăntăfnen ăkîlăntăfnen wăren ăklăntăf
176 Group V
Tudalt ‘rant / talk rubbish’ Imperative sg kǝlǝntǝf mpl kǝlǝntǝfăt fpl kǝlǝntǝfmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝklǝntǝfăɣ tiklǝntifăɣ wǝr tǝklǝntifăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝklǝntǝfăd tiklǝntifăd wǝr tǝklǝntifăd 3msg (ad) iklǝntǝf itiklǝntif wǝr itǝklǝntif 3fsg (ad) tǝklǝntǝf tiklǝntif wǝr tǝklǝntif 1pl (ad) nǝklǝntǝf nǝtiklǝntif wǝr nǝtǝklǝntif 2mpl (ad) tǝklǝntǝfăm tiklǝntifăm wǝr tǝklǝntifăm 2fpl (ad) tǝklǝntǝfmăt tiklǝntifmăt wǝr tǝklǝntifmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝklǝntǝfăn tiklǝntifăn wǝr tǝklǝntifăn 3fpl (ad) ǝklǝntǝfnăt tiklǝntifnăt wǝr tǝklǝntifnăt
Participles msg z-iklǝntǝfăn itiklǝntifăn wǝr nǝtǝklǝntif fsg za-tǝklǝntǝfăt tiklǝntifăt wǝr nǝtǝklǝntif pl z-ǝklǝntǝfnen tiklǝntifnen wǝr nǝtǝklǝntif c(neg) wǝr za-nǝklǝntǝf
The non-condensed forms of the imperfective / cursive may also be heard: 3msg (ad) ikǝlǝntǝf itikǝlǝntif wǝr itǝkǝlǝntif
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg kălăntăfăɣ kîlăntăfăɣ 2sg tăkălăntăfăd tǝkîlăntăfăd 3msg ikălăntăf ikîlăntăf 3fsg tǝkălăntăf tǝkîlăntăf 1pl nǝkălăntăf nǝkîlăntăf wǝr+perfective 2mpl tǝkălăntăfăm tǝkîlăntăfăm 2fpl tǝkălăntăfmăt tǝkîlăntăfmăt 3mpl kălăntăfăn kîlăntăfăn 3fpl kălăntăfnăt kîlăntăfnăt
Participles msg ikălăntăfăn ikîlăntăfăn wǝr nǝkălăntăf fsg tǝkălăntăfăt tǝkîlăntăfăt wǝr nǝkălăntăf pl kălăntăfnen kîlăntăfnen wǝr nǝkălăntăf
177 Group V verbs
V1V1V1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bărǝǵwǝl <> be overturned / turn (oneself) around abrǝǵwǝl bǝrǝgwǝl <> be overturned / turn (oneself) around abǝrǝgwǝl bărăɣwǝl <> be overturned / be turned toward abrăɣwǝl bǝrǝɣwǝl <> be overturned / be turned toward abǝrǝɣwǝl dǝwǝylǝl <> be high / be balanced high up adwǝylǝl dǝwǝylǝl <> be high / be balanced high up adǝwǝylǝl kǝlǝntǝf <> rant / talk rubbish aklǝntǝf kǝlǝntǝf <> rant / talk rubbish akǝlǝntǝf kărǝnbǝy <> be curved akrǝnbǝy kǝrǝnbǝy <> be curved akǝrǝnbǝy nǝhǝkwǝl <> feel nauseated ahnǝkwǝl mǝsǝndǝd <> be lazy / hesitate amsǝndǝd mǝsǝndǝd <> be lazy / hesitate amǝsǝndǝd mǝšăršăr <> be scattered amšăršăr mǝšărwǝy <> be scattered amšărwǝy mǝtǝkwǝy <> move (oneself) // set off amtǝkwǝy mǝtǝkwǝy <> move (oneself) // set off amǝtǝkwǝy mǝtărwăɣ <> shine brightly amtărwăɣ mǝtǝrwǝɣ <> shine brightly amǝtǝrwǝɣ mǝtǝttǝy <> move (oneself) // change amtǝttǝy mǝtǝttǝy <> move (oneself) // change amǝtǝttǝy šǝbǝrḍǝl <> convulse ašbǝrḍǝl šǝǵǝylǝl <> float // be stagnant (water) ašǵǝylǝl wǝlǝnkǝn <> dance awlǝnkǝn wǝlǝnkǝn <> dance awǝlǝnkǝn wǝšǝnkǝl <> swarm awšǝnkǝl wǝšǝnkǝl <> swarm awǝšǝnkǝl wǝšǝnšǝǵ <> emit odour / smell awšǝnšǝǵ wǝžǝnžǝg <> emit odour / smell awǝžǝnžǝg zǝgǝylǝl <> float // be stagnant (water) azǝgǝylǝl
VII,1 dǝmărdǝmăr <> crawl admărdǝmăr dǝmǝrdǝmǝr <> crawl adǝmǝrdǝmǝr făḍărfăḍăr <> bubble afḍărfăḍăr fǝḍǝrfǝḍǝr <> bubble afǝḍǝrfǝḍǝr fărǝsfărǝs + slice up / chop up afrǝsfărǝs fǝrǝsfǝrǝs + slice up / chop up afǝrǝsfǝrǝs ɣǝlǝwɣǝlǝw <> be agitated aɣlǝwɣǝlǝw ɣǝlǝwɣǝlǝw <> be agitated aɣǝlǝwɣǝlǝw ɣǝlǝyɣǝlǝy + surround / go around aɣlǝyɣǝlǝy ɣǝlǝyɣǝlǝy + surround / go around aɣǝlǝyɣǝlǝy hǝtǝghǝtǝg <> have palpitations / race (heart) ahtǝghǝtǝg hǝtǝghǝtǝg <> have palpitations / race (heart) ahǝtǝghǝtǝg
178 kǝlǝwkǝlǝw + gather everything together aklǝwkǝlǝw kǝlǝwkǝlǝw + gather everything together akǝlǝwkǝlǝw lǝkǝslǝkǝs + pound (in a double beat) // pound (sth. wet) alkǝslǝkǝs lǝkǝslǝkǝs + pound (in a double beat) // pound (sth. wet) alǝkǝslǝkǝs mǝgǝrmǝgǝr <> be discarded / be homeless and helpless amgǝrmǝgǝr mǝgǝrmǝgǝr <> be discarded / be homeless and helpless amǝgǝrmǝgǝr nǝgǝynǝgǝy <> run in all directions / tremble (earth) anǝgǝynǝgǝy nǝhǝynǝhǝy <> run in all directions / tremble (earth) anhǝynǝhǝy nǝtǝšnǝtǝš + devour / tear apart antǝšnǝtǝš nǝtǝznǝtǝz + devour / tear apart anǝtǝznǝtǝz sǝrǝmsǝrǝm + trim / clean (stick / tree) asrǝmsǝrǝm sǝrǝmsǝrǝm + trim / clean (stick / tree) asǝrǝmsǝrǝm wărăɣwărăɣ <> look around / be restless awrăɣwărăɣ wǝrǝɣwǝrǝɣ <> look around / be restless awǝrǝɣwǝrǝɣ
IX,1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bǝǵǝlǵǝl <> flare up abǵǝlǵǝl bǝlǝglǝg <> flare up abǝlǝglǝg bǝlǝwlǝw <> be very runny (liquid) ablǝwlǝw bǝlǝwlǝw <> be very runny (liquid) abǝlǝwlǝw bǝlǝzlǝz <> shine brightly ablǝzlǝz bǝlǝzlǝz <> shine brightly abǝlǝzlǝz bǝrăɣrăɣ <> clatter / rumble / rattle abrăɣrăɣ bǝrǝɣrǝɣ <> clatter / rumble / rattle abǝrǝɣrǝɣ fǝtǝktǝk <> fall vertically (rain / fruit etc.) aftǝktǝk fǝtǝktǝk <> fall vertically (rain / fruit etc.) afǝtǝktǝk hǝdǝndǝn <> stutter ahdǝndǝn hǝdǝwdǝw <> stutter ahǝdǝwdǝw hǝlǝylǝy <> rejoice ahlǝylǝy kǝlǝwlǝw + rebuke / reprimand / denounce aklǝwlǝw kǝlǝwlǝw + rebuke / reprimand / denounce akǝlǝwlǝw kǝnǝynǝy <> ring / chime / clang (a bell) aknǝynǝy kǝnǝynǝy <> ring / chime / clang (a bell) akǝnǝynǝy kǝrǝyrǝy <> dangle / hang down akrǝyrǝy kǝrǝyrǝy <> dangle / hang down akǝrǝyrǝy lǝkǝnkǝn + pile up alkǝnkǝn lǝkǝnkǝn + pile up alǝkǝnkǝn mǝḍǝnḍǝn & grumble / mutter (together) amǝḍǝnḍǝn mǝǵǝnǵǝn & grumble / mutter (together) amǵǝnǵǝn mǝlǝwlǝw <> shine / be lit up amlǝwlǝw mǝlǝwlǝw <> shine / be lit up amǝlǝwlǝw mǝtărtăr <> go too quickly amtărtăr mǝtǝrtǝr <> go too quickly amǝtǝrtǝr sǝmăɣmăɣ <> shine / be shiny asmăɣmăɣ sǝmǝɣmǝɣ <> shine / be shiny asǝmǝɣmǝɣ sǝrǝyrǝy <> slide / slip asrǝyrǝy
179 sǝrǝyrǝy <> slide / slip asǝrǝyrǝy šǝkăḍkăḍ <> tremble / shake (cold / fear etc.) aškăḍkăḍ žǝgǝdgǝd <> tremble / shake (cold / fear etc.) ažǝgǝdgǝd ẓărǝwrǝw <> be poured (tea) aẓrǝwrǝw ẓǝrǝwrǝw <> be poured (tea) aẓǝrǝwrǝw
IX,3 hăḍăḍǝy <> be inflamed / be swollen // swell ahḍăḍǝy hǝḍǝḍǝy <> be inflamed / be swollen // swell ahǝḍǝḍǝy
XAXAXA,1XA ,1,1,1 bǝdǝyyǝk <> be piled up abdǝyyǝk bǝdǝyyǝk <> be piled up abǝdǝyyǝk mǝdăqqǝs <> be sticky tămădăqqăst mǝdǝqqǝs <> be sticky tămădăqqăst măɣǝnnǝn & argue / discuss tamɣǝnnant mǝɣǝnnǝn & argue / discuss tamǝɣǝnnant mǝlǝllǝy <> be turned over // amlǝllǝy <> turn around / over mǝlǝllǝy <> be turned over // amǝlǝllǝy <> turn around / over wǝlǝllǝǵ <> roam / wander (close to home) awlǝllǝǵ wǝlǝllǝg <> roam / wander (close to home) awǝlǝllǝg
XB,1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bǝlǝnbǝllǝs <> be round and smooth ablǝnbǝllǝs bǝlǝnbǝllǝs <> be round and smooth abǝlǝnbǝllǝs ǵărtǝttǝf <> stumble aǵărtǝttǝf (Perfective: , stative: etc.) gǝrtǝttǝf <> stumble agǝrtǝttǝf ǵărtăqqǝl <> stumble aǵărtăqqǝl (Perfective: , stative: etc.) gǝrtǝqqǝl <> stumble agǝrtǝqqǝl ɣărwǝššǝn <> be annoyed aɣărwǝššǝn (Perfective: , stative: etc.) kăršǝššǝn <> be rough (object) // be irritable akăršǝššǝn (Perfective: , stative: etc.) kǝršǝššǝn <> be rough (object) // be irritable akǝršǝššǝn
Derived verbs nǝmǝwǝt & hit each other anmǝwǝt nǝmǝwǝt & hit each other anǝmǝwat nǝmǝllǝl & help one another // be parallel anǝmǝllal nǝmǝḍgăẓ & oppress / crush each other anmăḍgăẓ nǝmǝḍgǝẓ & oppress / crush each other anǝmăḍgaẓ nǝmǝdrǝǵ & not understand each other anmǝdrǝǵ nǝmǝdrǝg & not understand each other anǝmǝdrag nǝmǝǵǵǝǵ & be a long way apart anmǝǵǵǝǵ
180 nǝmǝggǝg & be a long way apart anǝmǝggag nǝmǝgzăr & oppose (each other) anmǝgzǝr nǝmǝgzǝr & oppose (each other) anǝmǝgzar nǝmǝksǝn & hate (each other) anmǝksǝn nǝmǝksǝn & hate (each other) anǝmǝksan nǝmǝkwăr & insult each other anmǝkwăr nǝmǝkwǝr & insult each other anǝmǝkwar nǝmǝnkǝš & be / move apart anmǝmkaš nǝmǝnkǝš & be / move apart anǝmǝmkaz nǝmǝnnǝk & be united / agree anmǝnnak nǝmǝnnǝk & be united / agree anǝmǝnnak nǝmǝswăḍ & overlook each other (places) anmǝswǝḍ nǝmǝswǝḍ & overlook each other (places) anǝmǝswaḍ nǝmǝšrǝy + transgress (God’s law) anmǝšrǝy & miss (each other) // disagree nǝmǝzrǝy + transgress (God’s law) anǝmǝzray & miss (each other) // disagree Most verbs that form the passive with ‘tw’ follow the group V pattern. tǝwǝkrǝs <> be tied atwǝkrǝs tǝwǝkrǝs <> be tied atǝwǝkras tǝwǝnhǝy <> be seen atwǝnhǝy tǝwǝnǝy <> be ridden atwǝnǝy tǝwǝnǝy <> be ridden // <> be seen atǝwǝnay tǝwǝkrǝš <> be owned atwǝkrǝš tǝwǝkrǝz <> be owned atǝwǝkraz tǝwǝktǝb <> be written atwǝktǝb tǝwǝktǝb <> be written atǝwǝktab tǝwǝggǝš <> be entered atwǝggǝš tǝwǝggǝz <> be entered atǝwǝggǝz tǝwǝlkăh <> be despised atwǝlkăh tǝwǝḍgăẓ <> be oppressed atwǝḍgăẓ tǝwǝḍgǝẓ <> be oppressed atǝwǝḍgaẓ tǝwǝzzǝy <> be known (person / place) // atwǝzzǝy <> be healed tǝwǝzzǝy <> be known (person / place) // atǝwǝzzay <> be healed tǝwǝssǝn <> be known (fact / skill) atwǝssǝn tǝwǝssǝn <> be known (fact / skill) atǝwǝssan tǝwǝksǝn <> be hated atwǝksǝn tǝwǝksǝn <> be hated atǝwǝksan tǝwăṭṭǝf <> be held / be kept / be upheld atwăṭṭǝf tǝwǝṭṭǝf <> be held / be kept / be upheld atǝwǝṭṭaf tǝwăqqǝn <> be attached / be hung atwăqqǝn tǝwǝqqǝn <> be attached / be hung atǝwǝqqan tǝwăṣlǝb <> be crucified atwăṣlǝb tǝwǝṣlǝb <> be crucified atǝwǝṣlab tǝwǝffăr <> be hidden atwǝffăr tǝwǝffǝr <> be hidden atǝwǝffar
181 Multiple derivatives also follow this pattern. The passive of the causative gives verbs like the following. tǝwǝsǝnkăr <> be raised up atwǝsǝnkăr tǝwǝsǝnkǝr <> be raised up atǝwǝsǝnkar tǝwǝsǝstǝn <> be questioned atwǝsǝstǝn tǝwǝsǝstǝn <> be questioned atǝwǝsǝstan tǝwǝsǝdwǝl <> be brought up atwǝsǝdwǝl tǝwǝsǝdwǝl <> be brought up atǝwǝsǝdwal tǝwǝšǝšdǝǵ <> be cleansed / be purified atwǝšǝšdǝǵ tǝwǝzǝzdǝg <> be cleansed / be purified atǝwǝzǝzdag tǝwǝzǝgzǝl <> be shortened atwǝzǝgzǝl tǝwǝzǝgzǝl <> be shortened atǝwǝzǝgzal tǝwǝsăṭkăr <> be filled // be fulfilled atwǝsăṭkăr tǝwǝsǝṭkǝr <> be filled // be fulfilled atǝwǝsǝṭkar tǝwǝsǝnǝfrǝn <> be chosen atwǝsǝnǝfrǝn tǝwǝsǝnǝfrǝn <> be chosen atǝwǝsǝnǝfran tǝwǝsǝnǝmǝǵǵǝǵ & be moved apart atwǝsǝnǝmǝǵǵǝǵ tǝwǝsǝnǝmǝggǝg & be moved apart atǝwǝsǝnǝmǝggag Reciprocals of causatives also follow this pattern. nǝmǝsǝstǝn & ask each other anmǝsǝstǝn nǝmǝsǝstǝn & ask each other anǝmǝsǝstan mǝsǝstǝn & ask (each other) amsǝstǝn mǝsǝstǝn & ask (each other) amǝsǝstan mǝsǝwăr & be on top of each other amsǝwăr mǝsǝwǝr & be on top of each other amǝsǝwar mǝsǝdăɣ & sit side by side amsǝdăɣ mǝsǝdǝɣ & sit side by side amǝsǝdaɣ mǝsǝgdǝl & discuss / argue amsǝgdǝl mǝsǝgdǝl & discuss / argue amǝsǝgdal mǝsǝqqǝd & burn (with fever / impatience) amsǝqqǝd mǝsǝqqǝd & burn (with fever / impatience) amǝsǝqqad mǝšǝrǵǝš & visit (each other) amšǝrǵǝš mǝsǝssǝǵrǝh & make (each other) understand amsǝssǝǵrăh mǝsǝksǝḍ & frighten (each other) amsǝksăḍ mǝsǝksǝḍ & frighten (each other) amǝsǝksaḍ mǝsǝdǝw & meet together amsǝdǝw mǝsǝnăhăḍ & consult / decide (together) amsǝnăhăḍ
182 Group V weak ‘t’ ending
Tamaghit ‘chat’ Imperative sg dǝwǝnnǝt mpl dǝwǝnnǝtăt fpl dǝwǝnnǝtmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdwǝnneɣ tidwǝnneɣ wăr tǝdwǝnneɣ 2sg (ad) tǝdwǝnnid tidwǝnnid wăr tǝdwǝnnid 3msg (ad) ǝdwǝnnǝt itidwǝnnit wǝr itǝdwǝnnit 3fsg (ad) tǝdwǝnnǝt tidwǝnnit wăr tǝdwǝnnit 1pl (ad) nǝdwǝnnǝt nǝtidwǝnnit wăr nǝtǝdwǝnnit 2mpl (ad) tǝdwǝnnim tidwǝnnim wăr tǝdwǝnnim 2fpl (ad) tǝdwǝnnǝtmăt tidwǝnnitmăt wăr tǝdwǝnnitmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdwǝnnin tidwǝnnin wăr tǝdwǝnnin 3fpl (ad) ǝdwǝnnǝtnăt tidwǝnnitnăt wăr tǝdwǝnnitnăt
Participles msg maden ǝdwǝnnǝt itidwǝnnin wăren itǝdwǝnnit fsg maden tǝdwǝnnǝt tidwǝnnit wăren tǝdwǝnnit pl maden ǝdwǝnnǝt tidwǝnnitnen wăren itǝdwǝnnit
Perfective Stative NeNeNegative Ne gative 1sg ădwănneɣ ădîwănneɣ 2sg tădwănned tădîwănned 3msg ădwănnăt ădîwănnăt 3fsg tădwănnăt tădîwănnăt 1pl nădwănnăt nădîwănnăt wăr + perfective 2mpl tădwănnem tădîwănnem 2fpl tădwănnătmăt tădîwănnătmăt 3mpl ădwănnen ădîwănnen 3fpl ădwănnătnăt ădîwănnătmăt
Participles msg ădwănnen ădîwănnen wăren ădwănnăt fsg tădwănnet tădîwănnet wăren tădwănnăt pl ădwănnătnen ădîwănnătnen wăren ădwănnăt
183 Group V weak ‘t’ ending
Tudalt ‘chat (in the evening)’ Imperative sg dǝwǝnnǝt mpl dǝwǝnnǝtăt fpl dǝwǝnnǝtmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdwǝnneɣ tidwǝnneɣ wǝr tǝdwǝnneɣ 2sg (ad) tǝdwǝnned tidwǝnned wǝr tǝdwǝnned 3msg (ad) idwǝnnǝt itidwǝnnit wǝr itǝdwǝnnit 3fsg (ad) tǝdwǝnnǝt tidwǝnnit wǝr tǝdwǝnnit 1pl (ad) nǝdwǝnnǝt nǝtidwǝnnit wǝr nǝtǝdwǝnnit 2mpl (ad) tǝdwǝnnem tidwǝnnem wǝr tǝdwǝnnem 2fpl (ad) tǝdwǝnnǝtmăt tidwǝnnitmăt wǝr tǝdwǝnnitmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdwǝnnen tidwǝnnen wǝr tǝdwǝnnen 3fpl (ad) ǝdwǝnnǝtnăt tidwǝnnitnăt wǝr tǝdwǝnnitnăt
Participles msg z-idwǝnnen itidwǝnnin wǝr nǝdwǝnnit fsg za-tǝdwǝnnet tidwǝnnit wǝr nǝdwǝnnit pl z-ǝdwǝnnǝtnen tidwǝnnitnen wǝr nǝdwǝnnit c(neg) wǝr za-nǝdwǝnnǝt
The non-condensed forms of the imperfective / cursive may also be heard: 3msg (ad) idǝwǝnnǝt itidǝwǝnnit wǝr itǝdǝwǝnnit
Perfective Stative NegatiNegative veveve 1sg dăwănneɣ dîwănneɣ 2sg tǝdăwănned tǝdîwănned 3msg idăwănnăt idîwănnăt 3fsg tǝdăwănnăt tǝdîwănnăt 1pl nǝdăwănnăt nǝdîwănnăt wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝdăwănnem tǝdîwănnem 3fpl tǝdăwănnătmăt tǝdîwănnătmăt 3mpl dăwănnen dîwănnen 3fpl dăwănnătnăt dîwănnătnăt
Participles msg idăwănnen idîwănnen wǝr nǝdăwănnăt fsg tǝdăwănnet tǝdîwănnet wǝr nǝdăwănnăt pl dăwănnătnen dîwănnătnen wǝr nǝdăwănnăt
184 Group V verbs with weak ‘t’ endings
Note According to Prasse (private correspondance) some of these verbs have a ‘u’ in the place of the final ‘i’ in the contracted forms of the imperfectives. I have not been able to verify this for the Oudalan dialects and so have not noted which verbs it may affect.
V,2V,2V,2 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun dǝlǝnfǝt <> be viscous / sticky (liquid) adlǝnfi dǝlǝnfǝt <> be viscous / sticky (liquid) adǝlǝnfi măɣǝlsǝt <> be upset / mourn amɣǝlsi mǝɣǝlšǝt <> be upset / mourn amǝɣǝlši lǝkǝnsǝt <> be prostrate (dead or as if dead) alkǝnsi lǝkǝnsǝt <> be prostrate (dead or as if dead) alǝkǝnsi rǝkǝndǝt <> be dirty arǝkǝndi šǝlǝnkǝt + comb ašlǝnki žǝlǝnkǝt + comb ažǝlǝnki
V,4 / IX,2 fǝrǝrǝt <> fly off afrări wǝšăɣǝt <> be irritated awšăɣi ẓǝkǝkǝt <> creak / squeak / grind (noise) aẓkǝki ẓǝkǝkǝt <> creak / squeak / grind (noise) aẓǝkǝki
VII,2 dǝbǝndǝbǝt <> be thick (wood etc.) adbǝndǝbi dǝbǝndǝbǝt <> be thick (wood etc.) adǝbǝndǝbi kǝbǝnkǝbǝt + cover completely // <> hide away akbǝnkǝbi kǝbǝnkǝbǝt + cover completely // <> hide away akǝbǝnkǝbi kǝmǝnkǝmǝt <> be wrapped up (in a ball / roll) akmǝnkǝmi kǝmǝnkǝmǝt <> be wrapped up (in a ball / roll) akǝmǝnkǝmi ɣǝtǝnɣǝtǝt <> cough aɣǝtǝnɣǝti sǝkǝnsǝkǝt + sift / sieve (with a sieve) askǝnsǝki sǝkǝnsǝkǝt + sift / sieve (with a sieve) asǝkǝnsǝki sǝlǝnsǝlǝt <> be smooth aslǝnsǝli sǝlǝnsǝlǝt <> be smooth asǝlǝnsǝli tǝkǝntǝkǝt + sift / winnow (with a sifting plate) atkǝntǝki tǝkǝntǝkǝt + sift / winnow (with a sifting plate) atǝkǝntǝki
X,2X,2X,2 bǝlǝzzǝt <> shine brightly ablǝzzi bǝlǝzzǝt <> shine brightly abǝlǝzzi bărǝttǝt <> shout / talk loudly abrǝtti bǝrǝttǝt <> shout / talk loudly abǝrǝtti bărăqqǝt + pound to flour abrăqqi bǝrǝqqǝt + pound to flour abǝrǝqqi
185 bărǝzzǝt <> break apart / collapse / explode abrǝzzi bǝrǝžžǝt <> break apart / collapse / explode abǝrǝžži bǝtăqqǝt <> stop dead // fall over abtăqqi bǝtǝqqǝt <> stop dead // fall over abǝtǝqqi dǝkǝyyǝt <> sink to the bottom (of liquid) adǝkǝyyi dǝwǝnnǝt + chat (in the evening) adwǝnni dǝwǝnnǝt + chat (in the evening) adǝwǝnni fărǝššǝt <> be mad afrǝšši fǝrǝššǝt <> be mad afǝrǝšši ǵărǝffǝt <> kneel aǵrǝffi gǝrǝffǝt <> kneel agǝrǝffi ǵǝbărrǝt <> be hugged // have a cold aǵbărri gǝbǝrrǝt <> be hugged // have a cold agǝbǝrri ǵǝtăqqǝt + sip aǵtăqqi gǝtǝqqǝt + sip agǝtǝqqi hǝdǝrrǝt <> calm down ahǝdǝrri hǝnǝffǝt <> grunt / groan tahnǝffet hǝnǝffǝt <> grunt / groan tahǝnǝffet hǝnǝnnǝt <> neigh (horse) ahnǝnni hǝnǝnnǝt <> neigh (horse) ahǝnǝnni kǝbăẓẓǝt + grab / grip akbăẓẓi kǝbǝẓẓǝt + grab / grip akǝbǝẓẓi kǝdǝmmǝt + pinch akdǝmmi kǝdǝmmǝt + pinch akǝdǝmmi kărǝbbǝt + taste // faint akrǝbbi kǝrǝbbǝt + taste // faint akǝrǝbbi kărǝmmǝt + break / cut in two / cut off end akrǝmmi kǝrǝmmǝt + break / cut in two / cut off end akǝrǝmmi kărǝššǝt <> be split / broken akrǝšši kǝrǝššǝt <> be split / broken akǝrǝšši kărǝttǝt + scratch (s.o.’s palm as a warning) akrǝtti kǝrǝttǝt + scratch (s.o.’s palm as a warning) akǝrǝtti kǝtǝyyǝt <> go away / pass away (die) // faint aktǝyyi kǝtǝyyǝt <> go away / pass away (die) // faint akǝtǝyyi lǝkǝyyǝt <> sink to the bottom (of liquid) alkǝyyi mǝdăqqǝt & be stuck together amdăqqi mǝdǝqqǝt & be stuck together amǝdǝqqi mǝšǝkkǝt & dispute / resist amšǝkki mǝžǝkkǝt & dispute / resist amǝžǝkki mǝzǝyyǝt & coincide with each other amzǝyyi mǝzǝyyǝt & coincide with each other amǝzǝyyi rǝbăqqǝt <> hide / duck / dip (terrain) arbăqqi rǝbǝkkǝt <> hide / duck / dip (terrain) arǝbǝkki sǝbǝkkǝt <> defecate asbǝkki mǝzǝyyǝt & coincide with each other amzǝyyi sărǝmmǝt + sip asrǝmmi sǝrǝmmǝt + sip asǝrǝmmi sǝwǝkkǝt <> squat aswǝkki šǝbǝkkǝt <> defecate ašǝbǝkki
186 šǝfǝllǝt <> blink / flash ašfǝlli šǝrǝkkǝt + dig (sth.) up / extract ašrǝkki šǝwǝkkǝt <> squat ašǝwǝkki tǝlǝbbǝt <> sink (in mud, etc.) atlǝbbi tǝlǝbbǝt <> sink (in mud, etc.) atǝlǝbbi tǝlǝkkǝt <> be deep (hole / well) atlǝkki tǝlǝkkǝt <> be deep (hole / well) atǝlǝkki tǝrǝǵǵǝt <> jump down / fall vertically atrǝǵǵi tǝrǝggǝt <> jump down / fall vertically atǝrǝggi tărǝkkǝt <> fall vertically atrǝkki tǝrǝkkǝt <> fall vertically atǝrǝkki zǝlǝbbǝt + undo (knot, etc.) azǝlǝbbi zǝlǝmmǝt + embrace azǝlǝmmi žǝrǝkkǝt + dig (sth.) up / extract ažǝrǝkki
XB,2 dǝmǝndǝmmǝt <> hurry for admǝndǝmmi dǝmǝndǝmmǝt <> hurry for adǝmǝndǝmmi hǝnǵǝmmǝt <> bellow (with mouth closed) ahǝnǵǝmmi (Perfective: , stative: etc.) hǝngǝmmǝt <> bellow (with mouth closed) ahǝngǝmmi
XIAXIAXIA bǝbbǝgǝt + flame (sth.) / scorch the surface abǝbbǝgi lǝllǝwǝt + wash alǝllǝwi nǝnnǝɣǝt + rub between hands anǝnnǝɣi zǝzzǝwǝt + file azǝzzǝwi The two Tamaghit verbs also have a second form more like group III, e.g.: , cursive: etc. The perfective has only one form: etc.
XIBXIBXIB hǝlǝllǝmǝt + remove top or surface of (sth.) ahlǝllǝmi kărărrǝwǝt + fasten tightly inside a skin akrărrǝwi kǝrǝrrǝwǝt + fasten tightly inside a skin akǝrǝrrǝwi šǝlǝllǝkǝt <> slide / slip ašlǝllǝki
Derived verbs tǝwǝšǝšǝǵrǝt <> be lengthened atwǝšǝšǝǵri tǝwǝzǝzǝgrǝt <> be lengthened atǝwǝzǝzǝgri
187 Group V ––– vowel ending
Tamaghit ‘make a mistake’ Imperative sg mǝtǝll mpl mǝtǝllăt fpl mǝtǝllǝmăt
Imperfective Cursive NeNeNegative Ne gative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝmtǝllăɣ timtǝlleɣ wăr tǝmtǝlleɣ 2sg (ad) tǝmtǝllǝd timtǝllid wăr tǝmtǝllid 3msg (ad) ǝmtǝll itimtǝlli wǝr itǝmtǝlli 3fsg (ad) tǝmtǝll timtǝlli wăr tǝmtǝlli 1pl (ad) nǝmtǝll nǝtimtǝlli wăr nǝtǝmtǝlli 2mpl (ad) tǝmtǝllǝm timtǝllim wăr tǝmtǝllim 2fpl (ad) tǝmtǝllǝmăt timtǝllimăt wăr tǝmtǝllimăt 3mpl (ad) ǝmtǝllǝn timtǝllin wăr tǝmtǝllin 3fpl (ad) ǝmtǝllǝnăt timtǝllinăt wăr tǝmtǝllinăt
Participles msg maden ǝmtǝll itimtǝllin wăren itǝmtǝlli fsg maden tǝmtǝll timtǝllit wăren tǝmtǝlli pl maden ǝmtǝll timtǝllinen wăren itǝmtǝlli
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ămtăllăɣ ămîtăllăɣ 2sg tămtăllăd tămîtăllăd 3msg ămtălla ămîtălla 3fsg tămtălla tămîtălla 1pl nămtălla nămîtălla wǝr + perfective 2msg tămtăllăm tămîtăllăm 2fsg tămtăllămăt tămîtăllămăt 3msg ămtăllăn ămîtăllăn 3fsg ămtăllănăt ămîtăllănăt
Participles msg ămtăllăn ămîtăllăn wăren ămtălla fsg tămtăllăt tămîtăllăt wăren tămtălla pl ămtăllănen ămîtăllănen wăren ămtălla
188 Group V ––– vowel ending
Tudalt ‘make a mistake’ Imperative sg mǝtǝllu mpl mǝtǝllăt fpl mǝtǝllimăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝmtǝllăɣ timtǝllăɣ wǝr tǝmtǝllăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝmtǝllăd timtǝllăd wǝr tǝmtǝllăd 3msg (ad) imtǝllu itimtǝllu wǝr itǝmtǝllu 3fsg (ad) tǝmtǝllu timtǝllu wǝr tǝmtǝllu 1pl (ad) nǝmtǝllu nǝtimtǝllu wǝr nǝtǝmtǝllu 2mpl (ad) tǝmtǝllim timtǝllim wǝr tǝmtǝllim 2fpl (ad) tǝmtǝllimăt timtǝllimăt wǝr tǝmtǝllimăt 3mpl (ad) ǝmtǝllin timtǝllin wǝr tǝmtǝllin 3fpl (ad) ǝmtǝllinăt timtǝllinăt wǝr tǝmtǝllinăt
Participles msg z-imtǝllin itimtǝllin wǝr nǝtǝmtǝllu fsg za-tǝmtǝllit timtǝllit wǝr nǝtǝmtǝllu pl z-ǝmtǝllinen timtǝllinen wǝr nǝtǝmtǝllu c(neg) wǝr za-nǝmtǝllu
An alternative imperfective form is sometimes heard: etc. Also the non-condensed forms of the imperfective / cursive may be heard: 3msg (ad) imǝtǝllu itimǝtǝllu wǝr itǝmǝtǝllu
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg mătăllăɣ mîtăllăɣ 2sg tǝmătăllăd tǝmîtăllăd 3msg imătălla imîtălla 3fsg tǝmătălla tǝmîtălla 1pl nǝmătălla nǝmîtălla wǝr + perfective 2msg tǝmătăllăm tǝmîtăllăm 2fsg tǝmătăllămăt tǝmîtăllămăt 3msg mătăllăn mîtăllăn 3fsg mătăllănăt mîtăllănăt
Participles msg imătăllăn mîtăllăn wǝr nǝmătălla fsg tǝmătăllăt tǝmîtăllăt wǝr nǝmătălla pl mătăllănen mîtăllănen wǝr nǝmătălla
189 Group V vowels ending verbs (mainly passives and reciprocals)reciprocals) Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun mǝtǝll <> make a mistake (in speaking) amtǝll mǝtǝllu <> make a mistake (in speaking) amǝtǝlla nǝhǝǵǵ <> be usual / be fitting // & be worthy of anhǝǵǵ nǝhǝggu <> be usual / be fitting // & be worthy of anǝhǝgga nǝfăqq & resemble / be like ifăqqan nǝfǝqqu & resemble / be like ifăqqan nǝbǝš <> fall apart / be scattered anbǝš nǝmăh & + be in (sth.) together anmăh nǝmǝhu & + be in (sth.) together anǝmǝha nǝmărh & love each other anmărh(a) nǝmǝru & love each other anǝmǝra nǝmărḍ & agree with each other anmărḍ nǝmǝrḍu & agree with each other anǝmǝrḍa nǝmǝnf & be useful to each other anmǝnf nǝmǝnfu & be useful to each other anǝmǝnfa nǝmǝns & pass the night together / anmǝns & (euph) have sex with // <> be placed together nǝmǝnsu & pass the night together / anǝmǝnsa & (euph) have sex with // <> be placed together nǝmǝnš & forgive each other anmǝnša nǝmǝkš & eat each other (lit. or fig.) anmǝkš nǝmǝkšu & eat each other (lit. or fig.) anǝmǝkša nǝmǝnn & say to each other anmǝnn nǝmǝnnu & say to each other anǝmǝnna nǝmǝšǝkš & feed (each other) anmǝšǝkš nǝmǝšǝkšu & feed (each other) anǝmǝšǝkša mǝsǝns & be put down together amsǝns mǝsǝnsu & be put down together amǝsǝnsa nǝsǝb + lose (each others) things ansǝbi nǝsǝbi + lose (each others) things anǝsǝba mǝsǝssǝgru <> make (each other) understand amǝsǝssǝgra tǝwǝkf <> be given (away) atwǝkf tǝwǝkfu <> be given (away) atǝwǝkfa tǝwǝšǝkš <> be fed atwǝšǝkš tǝwǝšǝkšu <> be fed atǝwǝšǝkša tǝwǝsl <> be heard atwǝsǝl tǝwǝslu <> be heard atǝwǝsla tǝwǝsǝsǝw <> be watered / given (sth.) to drink atwǝsǝswa tǝwǝsǝswu <> be watered / given (sth.) to drink atǝwǝsǝswa tǝwăɣăr <> be called / be invited / be read atwăɣăr tǝwǝɣru <> be called / be invited / be read atǝwǝɣra tǝwǝsǝns <> be put down / be put to bed atwǝsǝns tǝwǝsǝnsu <> be put down / be put to bed atǝwǝsǝnsa
190 tǝwǝls <> be worn (être porté) atwǝls tǝwǝlsu <> be worn (être porté) atǝwǝlsa tǝwǝsǝls <> be dressed (by someone else) atwǝsǝls tǝwǝsǝlsu <> be dressed (by someone else) atǝwǝsǝlsa tǝwǝnš <> be forgiven atwǝnš tǝwǝsǝbu <> be mislaid / be lost atǝwǝsǝba tǝwǝmǝdd <> be oppressed / be ganged up on atwǝmǝdd tǝwǝmǝdd <> be oppressed / be ganged up on atǝwǝmǝdda tǝwǝnn <> be said atwǝnn tǝwǝnnu <> be said atǝwǝnna tǝwǝyy <> be left (alone) atwǝyy tǝwǝyyu <> be left (alone) atǝwǝyya tǝwǝǵǵ <> be done atwǝǵǵ tǝwǝggu <> be done atǝwǝgga tǝwǝl <> be owned ǝttǝwǝla / atwǝla tǝwǝlu <> be owned ǝttǝwǝla / atǝwǝla
191 444.4...14141414 Group XII This set of groups (which includes Prasse XII, XIV, XV and XVI) have 3 or 4 stem consonants. It is in many ways analogous to Group III but with vocalisation with a long vowel (usually ‘u’). It has the following forms in the imperative: Group XIIA BuCǝD Group XIIB BuCDǝF Unique to Berber, probably derived from three consonant root by addition of a consonant. Group XIV BuCCǝD Unique to Berber, this form is perhaps derived from group VI (cf Tudalt). Group XV BuCBǝC Not attested in Oudalan. Group XVI BuBBǝCǝD Rare. Derived from group IX. Derived verbs e.g. muBCǝD nuBCǝD The imperfective is vocalised ‘ǝ…u…ǝ…’. The cursive is vocalised ‘ti…u…u…’ or ‘ti…ǝ…u…’. The negative cursive is vocalised ‘tǝ…u…u…’ or ‘tǝ…ǝ…u…’. The perfective is vocalised ‘ǝ…o…ă…’ or ‘ǝ…u…ă…’. The stative is vocalised ‘ǝ…ô…ă…’ or ‘ǝ…û…ă…’. In each group the last consonant of certain verbs (originally a guttural) may be lost and replaced with a weak ‘t’ ending or simply a vowel ending. The endings encountered are similar to those in Group V.
192 Group XIIA
Tamaghit ‘be married / marry’ Imperative sg duben mpl dubǝnăt fpl dubǝnmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdubǝnăɣ tidubunăɣ wăr tǝdubunăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝdubǝnăd tidubunăd wăr tǝdubunăd 3msg (ad) ǝdubǝn itidubun wǝr itǝdubun 3fsg (ad) tǝdubǝn tidubun wăr tǝdubun 1pl (ad) nǝdubǝn nǝtidubun wăr nǝtǝdubun 2mpl (ad) tǝdubǝnăm tidubunăm wăr tǝdubunăm 2fpl (ad) tǝdubǝnmăt tidubunmăt wăr tǝdubunmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdubǝnăn tidubunăn wăr tǝdubunăn 3fpl (ad) ǝdubǝnnăt tidubunnăt wăr tǝdubunnăt
Participles msg maden ǝdubǝn itidubunăn wăren itǝdubun fsg maden tǝdubǝn tidubunăt wăren tǝdubun pl maden ǝdubǝn tidubunnen wăren itǝdubun
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ădobănăɣ ădôbănăɣ 2sg tădobănăd tădôbănăd 3msg ădobăn ădôbăn 3fsg tădobăn tădôbăn 1pl nădobăn nădôbăn wǝr + perfective 2mpl tădobănăm tădôbănăm 2fpl tădobănmăt tădôbănmăt 3mpl ădobănăn ădôbănăn 3fpl ădobănnăt ădôbănnăt
Participles msg ădobănăn ădôbănăn wăren ădobăn fsg tădobănăt tădôbănăt wăren tădobăn pl ădobănnen ădôbănnen wăren ădobăn
Note : In Tamaghit the first consonant is generally not doubled but the doubled form may be heard, ‘ad ǝddubǝn’, ‘ăddobăn’ etc.
193 Group XIIA
Tudalt ‘be married / marry’ Imperative sg duben mpl dubǝnăt fpl dubǝnmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝddubǝnăɣ tidubunăɣ wăr tǝdubunăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝddubǝnăd tidubunăd wăr tǝdubunăd 3msg (ad) iddubǝn itidubun wǝr itǝdubun 3fsg (ad) tǝddubǝn tidubun wăr tǝdubun 1pl (ad) nǝddubǝn nǝtidubun wăr nǝtǝdubun 2mpl (ad) tǝddubǝnăm tidubunăm wăr tǝdubunăm 2fpl (ad) tǝddubǝnmăt tidubunmăt wăr tǝdubunmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝddubǝnăn tidubunăn wăr tǝdubunăn 3fpl (ad) ǝddubǝnnăt tidubunnăt wăr tǝdubunnăt
Participles msg z-iddubǝnăn itidubunăn wǝr nǝtǝdubun fsg za-tǝddubǝnăt tidubunăt wǝr nǝtǝdubun pl z-ǝddubǝnnen tidubunnen wǝr nǝtǝdubun c(neg) wǝr za-nǝddubǝn
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝddobănăɣ ǝddôbănăɣ 2sg tǝddobănăd tǝddôbănăd 3msg iddobăn iddôbăn 3fsg tǝddobăn tǝddôbăn 1pl nǝddobăn nǝddôbăn wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝddobănăm tǝddôbănăm 2fpl tǝddobănmăt tǝddôbănmăt 3mpl ǝddobănăn ǝddôbănăn 3fpl ǝddobănnăt ǝddôbănnăt
Participles msg iddobănăn iddôbănăn wǝr nǝddobăn fsg tǝddobănăt tǝddôbănăt wǝr nǝddobăn pl ǝddobănnen ǝddôbănnen wǝr nǝddobăn
194 Group XII verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun budăr + be disrespectful to a superior abudăr budǝr + be disrespectful to a superior abudǝr buyǝn <> (Ar.) be evident / be clear abuyǝn buyǝs <> be injured abuyǝs dubǝn + marry adubǝn dukǝl <> have a blister on one’s foot adukǝl dukǝl <> be high / be exalted adukǝl dumǝm + worship (an idol) adumǝm goḍǝl <> be lame tǝggoḍǝlt guḍǝl <> be lame tǝgguḍǝlt goḍǝy # give thanks / thank (God) agoḍǝy guḍǝy # give thanks / thank (God) aguḍǝy ǵuhǝl <> be an ‘orphan’ / be illegitimate aǵuhǝl <> have only one functioning parent guhǝl <> be an ‘orphan’ / be illegitimate aguhǝl <> have only one functioning parent ǵulǝy <> be a step-(child / father / mother) aǵulǝy gulǝy <> be a step-(child / father / mother) agulǝy ǵulǝš <> be left over / be a remnant aǵulǝš gulǝz <> be left over / be a remnant agulǝz kukǝl + stand on akukǝl lulǝy <> (Ar.) speak inspired words (saint) alulǝy mumǝn <> (Ar.) believe (in God) amumǝn morǝd <> crawl on knees amorǝd murǝd <> crawl on knees amurǝd mušăɣ <> be Tuareg / be noble tămmušăɣa mužǝɣ <> be Tuareg / be noble tămmužăɣa nulǝm <> crawl (insect / reptile / rodent) anulǝm rorǝd <> hurry / be rushed arorǝd rurǝd <> hurry / be rushed arurǝd toɣăr <> be salt deficient atoɣăr tuɣǝr <> be salt deficient atuɣǝr In the following verb ‘i’ replaces ‘u’ and ‘e’ replaces ‘o’: šiwǝǵ <> struggle to escape ašiwǝǵ ziwǝg <> struggle to escape aziwǝg
Very similar is another set of verbs (Groups XIIB and XIV) This group is almost entirely exclusive to Tamaghit. Tudalt places all of these verbs in group III. tunkǝl <> be hidden from view 3msg (ad) ǝttunkǝl ititǝnkul wǝr itǝtǝnkul 3msg ăttunkăl ăttûnkăl wǝr + perfective
195 XIIB,1 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bunbǝy <> be upside-down / back-to-front abunbǝy ɣorhǝs <> freeze / solidify aɣorhǝs hunšăr <> have a nosebleed (cf Za IB1) ahunšăr sundǝd <> be lazy / feeble sendad tunǵăr <> be inflamed, sore and infected atunǵăr tunkǝl <> be hidden from view atunkǝl
XIV,1 buddǝl <> be lazy abuddǝl bukkăḍ <> commit sin / + have illicit sex ăbăkkaḍ buššăr <> (Ar.) promise / preach tăbuššert boṭṭǝl <> (Ar.) give in // work uselessly aboṭṭǝl ḍoḍḍǝǵ <> be cowardly aḍoḍḍǝǵ dukkǝl + gather together / <> be gathered adukkǝl fukkăr <> be denounced / exposed afukkăr ɣuddăr <> (Ar.) have an accident ălɣǝddăr ɣussăr <> (Ar.) suffer loss(es) tăɣăssert kuddǝl + betray / deny tăkaddilt kurrǝs + swindle / trick takărrest koṭṭǝy <> be sloped / be tilted akoṭṭǝy huššǝl + be necessary / obligatory tăhaššilt luyyăɣ <> be exhausted tălayyeqq mukkǝn <> be possible amukkǝn muttǝy <> be changed tămottăyt suǵǵǝl <> stray / go missing (an.) asuǵǵǝl šoqqăɣ <> (Ar.) be related (distantly) asoqqăɣ zubbăr <> (Ar.) be adult / be large azubbăr The only Tudalt verb in this group is: huṣṣǝy <> be beautiful / good tihussay In Tamaghit some reciprocals derived from Group I also fall into this pattern: moqqǝs & meet / bump into tamoqqest mugrăẓ + regret / change one’s mind tămagreẓt mukkǝs <> be removed amukkǝs munšăɣ + envy / spoil through envy munšăɣi / tămanšeqq nuflǝy <> abound anuflǝy nufrǝy & smell (sth.) / feel / notice (sth.) anufri noṭṭǝf + support / maintain / look after tanǝṭṭuft noḍfǝs <> multiply anoḍfǝs nuftăɣ <> be a guest / lodge anuftăɣ
196 Group XII ––– weak ‘t’ ending
Tamaghit ‘be able’ Imperative sg dubǝt mpl dubǝtăt fpl dubǝtmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝdduboɣ tiduboɣ wăr tǝduboɣ 2sg (ad) tǝddubud tidubud wăr tǝdubud 3msg (ad) ǝddubǝt itidubut wǝr itǝdubut 3fsg (ad) tǝddubǝt tidubut wăr tǝddubut 1pl (ad) nǝddubǝt nǝtidubut wăr nǝtǝdubut 2mpl (ad) tǝddubum tidubum wăr tǝdubum 2fpl (ad) tǝddubǝtmăt tidubutmăt wăr tǝdubutmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝddubun tidubun wăr tǝdubun 3fpl (ad) ǝddubǝtnăt tidubutnăt wăr tǝdubutnăt
Participles msg maden ǝddubǝt itidubun wăren itǝdubut fsg maden tǝddubǝt tidubut wăren tǝdubut pl maden ǝddubǝt tidubutnen wăren itǝdubut
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ăddobeɣ ăddôbeɣ 2sg tăddobed tăddôbed 3msg ăddobăt ăddôbăt 3msg tăddobăt tăddôbăt 1pl năddobăt năddôbăt wǝr + perfective 2mpl tăddobem tăddôbem 2fpl tăddobătmăt tăddôbătmăt 3mpl ăddoben ăddôben 3fpl ăddobătnăt ăddôbătnăt Participles msg ăddoben ăddôben wăren ăddobăt fsg tăddobet tăddôbet wăren tăddobăt pl ăddobătnen ăddôbătnen wăren ăddobăt
197 Group XII ––– weak ‘t’ ending
Tudalt ‘be able’ Imperative sg dubǝt mpl dubǝtăt fpl dubǝtmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝddubeɣ tidubeɣ wǝr tǝdubeɣ 2sg (ad) tǝddubed tidubed wǝr tǝdubed 3msg (ad) iddubǝt itidubut wǝr itǝdubut 3fsg (ad) tǝddubǝt tidubut wăr tǝddubut 1pl (ad) nǝddubǝt nǝtidubut wăr nǝtǝdubut 2mpl (ad) tǝddubem tidubem wǝr tǝdubem 2fpl (ad) tǝddubǝtmăt tidubutmăt wăr tǝdubutmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝdduben tiduben wǝr tǝduben 3fpl (ad) ǝddubǝtnăt tidubutnăt wăr tǝdubutnăt
PaPaParticiplesPa rticiples msg z-idduben itiduben wǝr nǝtǝdubut fsg za-tǝddubet tidubut wǝr nǝtǝdubut pl z-ǝddubǝtnen tidubutnen wǝr nǝtǝdubut c(neg) wǝr za-nǝddubǝt
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝddobeɣ ǝddôbeɣ 2sg tǝddobed tǝddôbed 3msg iddobăt iddôbăt 3fsg tǝddobăt tǝddôbăt 1pl nǝddobăt nǝddôbăt wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝddobem tǝddôbem 2fpl tǝddobătmăt tǝddôbătmăt 3mpl ǝddoben ǝddôben 3fpl ǝddobătnăt ǝddôbătnăt
Participles msg iddoben iddôben wǝr nǝddobăt fsg tǝddobet tǝddôbet wǝr nǝddobăt pl ǝddobătnen ǝddôbătnen wǝr nǝddobăt
198 Group XII verbs with weak ‘t’ endings Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bušǝt + grind / file (to sharpen blade) ăbašu bužǝt + grind / file (to sharpen blade) ăbažu dubǝt + be able ădabu / tudabăt dumǝt + sow ădamu forǝt + rub ăfaru furǝt + rub ăfaru ǵufǝt + wrong (s.o.) / do wrong / <> be foolish ǵafa gufǝt + wrong (s.o.) / do wrong / <> be foolish gafa hubǝt + drag / <> be dragged ăhabu hoɣǝt + grill ăhaɣu hukǝt <> get up and go ăhaku horǝt + imitate / follow ăharu hurǝt + imitate / follow ăharu kulǝt + put rope in mouth ăkalu rubǝt + avoid / miss / pass by ărabu ṣohǝt <> (Ar.) be strong / difficult ăṣṣahăt ṣuhǝt <> (Ar.) be strong / difficult ăṣṣahăt soxǝt <> (Ar.) be healthy ăssexăt suxǝt <> (Ar.) be healthy ăssexăt šufǝt + pass by at speed ăšafu tulǝt + put (sth.) onto (sth.) ătalu zuyǝt + coincide / happen at same time ăzayu žufǝt + pass by at speed ăžafu Very similar to this is Group XIV weak ‘t’ endings. This group is almost entirely exclusive to Tamaghit. Tudalt places all of these verbs in group III. Note that the central ‘u’ is lost in the condensed forms of the imperfective as shown below. mullǝt # kiss 3msg (ad) ǝmmullǝt itimǝllut wǝr itǝmǝllut 3mpl (ad) ǝmmǝllun timǝllun wǝr tǝmǝllun 3msg ămmullăt ămmûllăt wǝr + perfective
XIIB,2 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun dunkǝt <> duck / bow (head) adǝnku huskǝt <> be beautiful / good tihussay horǵǝt <> dream tahorǵit muǵnǝt <> be ready amǝǵnu
XIV,2 boqqǝt <> explode abăqqu buzzǝt <> be thin abǝzzu duttǝt <> be certain / be true adǝttu / tidǝt foqqǝt <> sprout up / burst out afăqqu fukkǝt + remove husks (by pounding grain) afǝkku forrǝt <> fly afărru
199 gorrǝt <> be dragged // be possessed / be mad agărru huyyǝt + hunt ahǝyyu kummǝt + gather up akǝmmu lullǝt <> be a freeman / be honoured ǝllǝllu / ǝllǝlli mullǝt # kiss amǝllu ṣorrǝt <> be split / cracked aṣărru zubbǝt + get down / off // stay (with s.o.) azǝbbu zukkǝt <> stop abruptly // spectate azǝkku / tǝzakkit Only one common Tudalt verb falls in this group: fumbǝt <> smell rotten vn afǝmbi 3msg (ad) iffumbǝt itifǝmbut wǝr itǝfǝmbut 3msg iffumbăt iffûmbăt wǝr + perfective
Group XVI (Tam(Tamaghitaghit only) fuffǝrǝt + rub vn afǝffǝru 3msg (ad) ǝffuffǝrǝt itifǝffǝrut wǝr itǝfǝffǝrut 3msg ăffuffărăt ăffûffărăt wǝr + perfective bubbǝgǝt + flame the surface abǝbbǝgu kukkǝrǝt + extract akǝkkǝru muttǝsǝt <> be afraid amǝttǝsu nunnǝɣǝt + rub between hands anǝnnǝɣu nusrǝfǝt <> be slightly worn / second-hand anǝsrǝfu ṣoṣṣǝbǝt + pound to remove bran aṣăṣṣǝbu
Group XII ––– vowel ending These work just as group V vowel ending but in the cursive the final ‘i’ is replaced by ‘u’.
XIIA,XIIA,3333 buy <> bud vn tăboyt 3msg (ad) ibuy itibuyu wǝr itǝbuyu 3msg ăboya ăbôya wǝr + perfective buyu <> bud vn tăboyt 3msg (ad) ibbuyu itibuyu wǝr itǝbuyu 3msg ibboya ibbôya wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun huh <> emit smoke / give off vapour ăho / ihohăn huhu <> emit smoke / give off vapour ǝhu / ihohan lul <> be dry (well) / fail to find water ălul lulu <> be dry (well) / fail to find water ălul kuk <> be weak / fragile ăkuk kuku <> be weak / fragile ăkuk kus + inherit tăkasit kusu + inherit tăkasit suf + prefer (cf usaf IIB4) tăsafit sut <> be pregnant (animal) ăsut sutu <> be pregnant (animal) ăsut
200 XIIB,3 and XIV,3 This group is exclusive to Tamaghit. Tudalt places all of these verbs in group III. full + rely on / count on / entrust to vn afull / fella 3msg (ad) iffull itifǝllu wǝr itǝfǝllu 3msg ăffulla ăffûlla wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bubb + carry on back (esp. baby) abubb borǵ <> be opened / be detached aborǵ fugg <> have congestion / chest pain afugg ǵuǵǵ + load up (beast of burden) // aǵuǵǵ <> be burdened ǵuǵr <> be sterile / childless (person or an.) aǵuǵǝr ǵunf <> observe (get a good look at) aǵunf ǵuyy <> work but gain nothing tăǵayut mudd & + unite against / gang up on timudda sunf <> rest tăsonfat (cursive alternatively: etc.)
201 444.4...15151515 Group XVII This group is rather like a version of group V with a long vowel ‘u, i, a’ inserted before the penultimate consonant. It has the following forms in the imperative: XVIIA BǝCuDǝF XVIIB BǝCiDǝF XVIICa BǝCDuFǝG XVIICb BǝCǝDBuCǝD XVIID BǝCǝDBiCǝD Derivatives of group XII also fall in this group. e.g. nǝsǝBuCǝD The imperfective has the vocalisation ‘ǝ…(ǝ)…u…ǝ…’ or ‘ǝ…(ǝ)…i…ǝ…’. The cursive has the vocalisation ‘ti…(ǝ)…u…u…’ or ‘ti…(ǝ)…i…i…’. The negative cursive has the vocalisation ‘tǝ…(ǝ)…u…u…’ or ‘tǝ…(ǝ)…i…i…’. The perfective has the vocalisaton ‘ă…(ă)…a…ă…’. The decriptive has the vocalisation ‘ă…î…(ă)…a…ă…’.
Group XVIII This group is similar to group XII but with ‘a’ in the imperative giving the form: XVIIIA BaCăD Passives of group IA3 also fall in this group. e.g. maBăC The imperfective is vocalised ‘ă…a…a…’. The cursive is vocalised ‘ta…a…a…’. The negative cursive is vocalised ‘tǝ…i…i…’. The perfective is vocalised ‘ă…e…ă…’ or ‘ă…o…ă…’. The stative is vocalised ‘ă…ê…ă…’ or ‘ă…ô…â…’.
202 Group XVII This group is similar to group XII. mǝnukǝl <> be chief / rule 3msg (ad) ǝmnukǝl itimnukul wǝr itǝmnukul 3msg (ad) imǝnukǝl itimǝnukul wǝr itǝmǝnukul 3msg ămnakăl ămînakăl wǝr + perfective 3msg imănakăl imînakăl wǝr + perfective
Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun bǝlulăɣ <> be spherical // + follow (with eyes) ablulăɣ bǝlulǝɣ <> be spherical // + follow (with eyes) abǝlulǝɣ dǝkukǝm <> tread carefully adkukǝm dǝkukǝm <> tread carefully adǝkukǝm dărumǝs <> smile adrumǝs dǝrumǝs <> smile adǝrumǝs ɣǝnunǝs <> hum / moan aɣnunǝs ɣǝnunǝs <> hum / moan aɣǝnunǝs ɣărorǝd <> be rolled aɣrorǝd ɣǝrurǝd <> be rolled aɣǝrurǝd hăruhăɣ <> flee in panic tihǝruhăɣ hǝruhǝɣ <> flee in panic tihǝruhǝɣ kărukăḍ <> be ashamed tăkrakeṭṭ kǝrukǝḍ <> be ashamed takărakeṭ lǝfufăɣ <> have blisters talfufăqq lǝfufǝɣ <> have blisters talǝfufǝq lǝmumǝs <> be full to the brim // sneak almumǝs lǝmumǝs <> be full to the brim // sneak alǝmumǝs mǝkukǝs <> be patched (clothing) amkukǝs mǝkukǝs <> be patched (clothing) amǝkukǝs mǝnukǝl <> rule tamǝnukǝla mărumăr <> move / shake amrumăr mǝrumǝr <> move / shake amǝrumǝr sǝlulǝm <> slide / slip / slither / sail aslulǝm sǝlulǝm <> slide / slip / slither / sail asǝlulǝm šǝnunǝǵ <> slip away quietly / go quietly around ašnunǝǵ ẓǝmumǝg <> slip away quietly aẓǝmumǝg Derived verbs from group XII also follow this pattern: mǝsusǝn + teach each other amsusǝn mǝsusǝn + teach each other amǝsusǝn nǝsǝdubǝn & intermarry ansǝdubǝn
In the following verbs ‘i’ replaces ‘u’ in each case: kǝnihăr + detest / abhor aknihăr măɣilǝd + be curious / confused amɣilǝd mǝɣilǝd + be curious / confused amǝɣilǝd măɣităr <> (Ar.) be in need / difficulties tamăɣatert
203 mǝɣitǝr <> (Ar.) be in need / difficulties tamăɣatirt mǝšidǝw & assemble / gather amǝšidǝw mǝzizăr & be in line / be in order of rank amzizăr mǝzizǝr & be in line / be in order of rank amǝzizǝr nǝfilǝl <> appear anfilǝl nǝfilǝl <> appear anǝfilǝl wǝšiwǝš <> be scattered awǝšiwǝš wǝžiwǝž <> be scattered awǝžiwǝž Passives and reciprocals of groups IA3, IA4 and XII, XIV etc. are also in this group. Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun nǝmikăr & steal from each other anmikăr nǝmikǝr & steal from each other anǝmikar nǝmiǵăr & be of different amounts / sizes anmiǵăr nǝmigǝr & be of different amounts / sizes anǝmigar nǝmilǝl & help one another // be parallel anmilǝl nǝmirǝk & be close to one another anmirǝk nǝmirǝk & be close to one another anǝmirak tǝwigăẓ <> be guarded / inherited / preserved atwigăẓ tǝwigǝẓ <> be guarded / inherited / preserved atǝwigaẓ tǝwimǝd <> be gathered (fruits etc.) atwimǝd tǝwimǝl <> be praised atwimǝl tǝwimǝl <> be praised atǝwimal tǝwimăr <> be ordered atwimăr tǝwimǝr <> be ordered atǝwimar tǝwiḍǝn <> be missed / be felt to be lacking atwiḍǝn tǝwiḍǝn <> be missed / be felt to be lacking atǝwiḍan tǝwiwǝḍ <> be arrived at (e.g. limit of patience) atwiwǝḍ tǝwiwǝḍ <> be arrived at (e.g. limit of patience) atǝwiwaḍ tǝwiẓǝy <> be oppressed / ganged up on atwiẓi mǝsilǝy & be hanging in one place amsilǝy mǝšilǝy & be hanging in one place amǝšilay mǝsinǝy & be new (to each other) amsini mǝšinǝy & be new (to each other) amǝšinay mǝsiwǝy & send (things) to each other amsiwǝy mǝšiwǝy & send (things) to each other amǝšiway tǝwǝsilǝy <> be hung atwǝsilǝy tǝwǝšilǝy <> be hung atǝwǝšilay tǝwǝšǝmišǝl <> be sent atwǝšǝmišǝl tǝwǝžǝmižǝl <> be sent atǝwǝzǝmizal The passives of causatives of Group IA2 follow a group XVII pattern but sometimes replace the ‘a’ of the perfective with an ‘o’: tǝwǝzuzǝy <> be healed / be made well vn atwǝzuzǝy 3msg (ad) ǝtwǝzuzǝy ititwǝzuzǝy wǝr itǝtwǝzuzǝy 3msg ătwăzazăy ătîwăzazăy wǝr + perfective or 3msg ătwăzozăy ătîwăzozăy wǝr + perfective
204 tǝwǝzuzǝy <> be healed / be made well vn atǝwǝzuzay 3msg (ad) itǝwǝzuzǝy ititwǝzuzǝy wǝr itǝtwǝzuzǝy 3msg ităwăzazăy itîwăzazăy wǝr + perfective or 3msg ităwăzozăy itîwăzozăy wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun tǝwǝsusǝn <> be made known atwǝsusǝn tǝwǝsusǝn <> be made known atǝwǝsusan tǝwǝšuǵǝš <> be put inside atwǝšuǵǝš tǝwǝzugǝz <> be put inside atǝwǝzugaz tǝwǝsudăr <> be nourished atwǝsudăr tǝwǝsudăr <> be nourished atǝwǝsudar tǝwǝsoɣǝl <> be returned atwǝsoɣǝl tǝwǝsuɣǝl <> be returned atǝwǝsuɣal tǝwǝsumǝm <> be sucked atwǝsumǝm tǝwǝsumǝm <> be sucked atǝwǝsumam tǝwǝsurǝf <> be forgiven atǝwǝsurǝf
Group XVII weak ‘t’ ending mǝǵorǝt <> receive hospitality amǵoru mǝgurǝt <> receive hospitality amǝguri ǵǝlubǝt + gather things in the bush aǵlubu kărurǝt <> be burned / suffer akruru / takărarit kǝrurǝt <> be burned / suffer akǝruri / takărarit lǝmẓuyǝt <> be tepid / lukewarm alǝmẓuyu lǝmẓuyǝt <> be tepid / lukewarm alǝmẓuyi ẓǝnbubǝt + suck aẓǝnbubu sǝnbubǝt + suck asǝnbubi zărgutǝt <> get up abruptly // react quickly azărgutu zǝrgutǝt <> get up abruptly // react quickly azǝrguti zǝngugǝt <> look up / stretch out to reach azǝngugu zǝngugǝt <> look up / stretch out to reach azǝngugi šǝlǝnšulǝt + cut (with a sawing action) ašǝlǝnšulu kǝdǝnkudǝt + ask insistently akdǝnkudu kǝdǝnkudǝt + ask insistently akǝdǝnkudi
The following are similar but with ‘i’ replacing ’u’. wǝnifǝt + desire intensly (to see s.o. / sth.) awnifi wǝnifǝt + desire intensly (to see s.o. / sth.) awǝnifi šăriwǝt + search ašriwi žǝriwǝt + search ažǝriwi ɣărriwǝt <> be torn aɣărriwi ɣǝrriwǝt <> be torn aɣǝrriwi wǝlǝnwilǝt <> spin around awlǝnwǝli wǝlǝnwilǝt <> spin around awǝlǝnwǝli
205 Group XVII vowel ending nǝyuf & be of different qualities vn anyuf 3msg (ad) inyuf itinyuf wǝr itǝnyuf 3msg ănyafa ănîyafa wǝr + perfective nǝyufu & be of different qualities vn anǝyufa 3msg (ad) inyufu itinyufu wǝr itǝnyufu 3msg inăyafa inîyafa wǝr + perfective tăror + descend to atror nǝmišk & miss (each other) / disagree anmišk tǝwis <> be found / be arrived at atwis tǝwisu <> be found / be arrived at atǝwisa tǝwǝsibi <> be mislaid / be lost atwǝsibi
444.4...16161616 Group XVIII The simple verbs of this class (i.e. Prasse’s Group XVIIIA1) are almost entirely resticted to Tamaghit, but the derived verbs belong to both dialects. sakăl <> travel 3msg (ad) ăsakăl itasakal wǝr itǝsikil 3msg ăsekăl ăsêkăl wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun fadăy <> be chaffed afidi ǵawăḍ <> flee aǵiwăḍ harăǵ & be the neighbour of ahăroǵ hawăl <> speak / rant / # rebuke (s.o.) ahiwǝl kawăn <> reply / answer / obey akiwǝn sakăl <> travel asikǝl žawăb <> (Ar.) reply / preach ălžăwab This verb has the weak ‘t’ ending: lawăt <> rejoice tălawit This common verb has an irregular formation: dabăt + be able (to do) vn ădabu / tădabit 3msg udabăt itudabăt wǝr itudabăt 3msg ăddobăt ăddôbăt wǝr + perfective
Passives of 1A3 Both Tamaghit and Tudalt follow this pattern but with some differences: makăr <> be stolen 3msg (ad) ămakăr itamakar wǝr itǝmikir 3msg ămekăr ămêkăr wǝr + perfective makăr <> be stolen 3msg (ad) ămmakăr itamakar wǝr itǝmikir 3msg immokăr immôkăr wǝr + perfective (Sometimes Tudalt verbs have ‘e’ in place of ‘o’.)
206 Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun madăw <> be / become (s.o.’s) friend tǝmmidwa madăw <> be / become (s.o.’s) friend tǝmmidǝwa nahăẓ & be near to each other anehăẓ nahăẓ & be near to each other anihǝẓ makăr <> be stolen amikăr makăr <> be stolen amikǝr nalăm <> be open anilǝm nalăs <> be repeated anilǝs malăy <> be cut (with knife) / be harvested // amilǝy <> be circumcised / be castrated mahăɣ <> be taken by force / pillaged amehăɣ nahăɣ <> be / get used to anehăɣ mašăl <> be sent / do (good) work ămašal mawăḍ <> arrive (at adulthood) ămmiwăḍ mawăḍ <> arrive (at adulthood) ǝmmiwǝḍ mawăy <> be taken amiwǝy mazăl <> be sent / do (good) work ămazal The passives in ‘t’ form on the same pattern. Tudalt also has ‘e’ in the perfective with all these. tarăw <> be parent of tǝttirǝwa talăm <> be open atilǝm tamăl <> be praised atimǝl
Vowel Endings The following verbs have vowel endings (like group III vowel endings). fat <> be deprived / waste (time) ăfit Ša ăfiti Za mar <> be open amer maru <> be open amiri naf <> yield a good harvest ănaf nafu <> yield a good harvest ănaf maɣu <> be taken by force / pillaged amiɣi
Irregular The following verbs are similar to this group: haǵ + stay a long time vn tăhaǵit 3msg (ad) ăhaǵ itahaǵ(a) wǝr itǝhiǵ(i) 3msg ăhoǵa ăhôǵa wǝr + perfective han <> move house / move camp ihinan This set is considered part of this group as it has similar vocalisation: ẓawwăt <> be expensive / difficult vn ăẓẓǝwi / aẓwi 3msg (ad) ăẓẓawwăt itaẓăwwat wǝr itǝẓǝwwit 3msg ăẓẓuwwăt ăẓẓûwwăt wǝr + perfective
207 444.4...17171717 Group IA1 causative (includes IA5 and group III)
Tamaghit ‘teach’ Imperative sg sǝlmǝd mpl sǝlmǝdăt fpl sǝlmǝdmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) sǝlmǝdăɣ salmadăɣ wăr sǝlmidăɣ 2sg (ad) sǝlmǝdăd salmadăd wăr sǝlmidăd 3msg (ad) isǝlmǝd isalmad wǝr isǝlmid 3fsg (ad) sǝlmǝd salmad wăr sǝlmid 1pl (ad) nǝsǝlmǝd nǝsalmad wăr nǝsǝlmid 2mpl (ad) sǝlmǝdăm salmadăm wăr sǝlmidăm 2fpl (ad) sǝlmǝdmăt salmadmăt wăr sǝlmidmăt 3mpl (ad) sǝlmǝdăn salmadăn wăr sǝlmidăn 3fpl (ad) sǝlmǝdnăt salmadnăt wăr sǝlmidnăt (short form: isălmad etc.)
Participles msg maden isǝlmǝd isalmadăn wăren isǝlmid fsg maden sǝlmǝd salmadăt wăren sǝlmid pl maden isǝlmǝd salmadnen wăren isǝlmid
The perfective / stative forms just like group III, so only two examples are given here: Perfective Stative Negative 3msg ǝssǝlmăd ăssîlmăd wǝr ǝssǝlmăd 3mpl ǝssǝlmădăn ăssîlmădăn wǝr ǝssǝlmădăn
Note: There is a second form used with a few verbs. Occasionally the two forms differ in meaning. This form seems to be restricted to Tamaghit for IA1 verbs, I know of no Tudalt examples, e.g.: sssǝssǝlmǝd sǝssǝlmǝd ‘teach’ IIImperfective Imperfective Cursive Negative Cursive 3msg (ad) isǝssǝlmǝd isasălmad wǝr isǝsǝlmid 3mpl (ad) sǝssǝlmǝdăn sasălmadăn wăr sǝsǝlmidăn (short form: isăsălmad’ etc.)
Perfective Stative Negative 3msg ăssălmăd ăsîsălmăd 3mpl ăssălmădăn ăsîsălmădăn wǝr + perfective
208 Group IA1 causative (includes IA5 and group III)
Tudalt ‘teach’ Imperative sg sǝlmǝd mpl sǝlmǝdăt fpl sǝlmǝdmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ǝssǝlmǝdăɣ salmadăɣ wǝr sǝlmidăɣ 2sg (ad) tǝssǝlmǝdăd salmadăd wǝr sǝlmidăd 3msg (ad) issǝlmǝd isalmad wǝr isǝlmid 3fsg (ad) tǝssǝlmǝd salmad wǝr sǝlmid 1pl (ad) nǝssǝlmǝd nǝsalmad wǝr nǝsǝlmid 2mpl (ad) tǝssǝlmǝdăm salmadăm wǝr sǝlmidăm 2fpl (ad) tǝssǝlmǝdmăt salmadmăt wǝr sǝlmidmăt 3mpl (ad) ǝssǝlmǝdăn salmadăn wǝr sǝlmidăn 3fpl (ad) ǝssǝlmǝdnăt salmadnăt wǝr sǝlmidnăt
Participles msg z-issǝlmǝdăn isalmadăn wǝr nǝsǝlmid fsg za-tǝssǝlmǝdăt salmadăt wǝr nǝsǝlmid pl z-ǝssǝlmǝdnen salmadnen wǝr nǝsǝlmid c(neg) wǝr za-nǝssǝlmǝd
The perfective / stative forms just like group III, so only two examples are given here: Perfective Stative Negative 3msg issǝlmăd issîlmăd 3mpl ǝssǝlmădăn ǝssîlmădăn wǝr + perfective etc.
209 Group IA1 Causative verbs Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝbdǝd + make (s.o.) stand up / stop asǝbdǝd sǝbdǝǵ + wet / dampen (sth.) asǝbdǝǵ sǝbdǝg + wet / dampen (sth.) asǝbdǝg sǝbdǝn + cause paralysis asǝbdǝn sǝbdăr + give a souvenir (gift after a journey) asǝbdăr sǝbdǝr + give a souvenir (gift after a journey) asǝbdǝr sǝbrăr + disregard / disrespect asǝbrăr sǝbrǝr + disregard / disrespect asǝbrǝr sǝbsǝy + melt (metal) / dismantle (sth.) asǝbsǝy sǝdnǝs + calm (s.o. / sth.) down asǝdnǝs sǝdrăr + calm (s.o. / sth.) down asǝdrăr sǝdrǝr + calm (s.o. / sth.) down asǝdrǝr sǝdwǝl + bring up (children) / grow (plants) asǝdwǝl săṭkăr + have (sth.) filled asăṭkăr sǝṭkǝr + have (sth.) filled asǝṭkǝr săḍlǝm + make (s.o.) do wrong // + accuse asăḍlǝm sǝḍlǝm + make (s.o.) do wrong // + accuse as,ḍlǝm sǝfhǝm + make (s.o.) understand asǝfhǝm sǝfrăḍ + sweep asǝfrăḍ sǝfrǝḍ + sweep asǝfrǝḍ sǝfrăɣ + bend (sth.) // slander (s.o.) asǝfrăɣ sǝfrǝɣ + bend (sth.) // slander (s.o.) asǝfrǝɣ sǝfrăr + honour/ exalt // sweep asǝfrăr sǝfrǝr + honour/ exalt // sweep asǝfrǝr sǝfsǝs + make (sth.) light / lighten asǝfsǝs sǝǵbăr + copy asǝǵbăr sǝgbǝr + copy asǝgbǝr sǝgdǝl + retort / reply / parry / block asǝgdǝl sǝǵrăh + look at / consider / see to asǝǵrăh sǝssǝǵrăh + make (sth.) understood / clear asǝssǝǵrăh sǝǵrǝw + cause to get / give (illness etc.) asǝǵrǝw sǝgrǝw + cause to get / give (illness etc.) asǝgrǝw šǝǵyǝš + immunise / inject / scar ašǝǵyǝš zǝgyǝz + immunise / inject / scar azǝgyǝz zǝgzǝl + make (sth.) short / shorten azǝgzǝl ẓǝgẓǝn + believe (in God) / accept (fate) aẓǝgẓǝn săɣlǝf ++ entrust (sth. to s.o.) asăɣlǝf sǝɣlǝf ++ entrust (sth. to s.o.) asǝɣlǝf săɣlǝs + save / rescue / protect asăɣlǝs sǝɣlǝs + save / rescue / protect asǝɣlǝs săɣlǝy + take a detour / avoid asăɣlǝy sǝɣlǝy + take a detour / avoid asǝɣlǝy šăɣšǝd + spoil (sth.) / discourage (s.o.) ašăɣšǝd šǝɣšǝd + spoil (sth.) / discourage (s.o.) ašǝɣšǝd sǝktǝb + have (sth.) written / asǝktǝb ++ get (s.o.) to write (sth.) zǝkmǝz + scratch (an itch) azǝkmǝz
210 sǝknǝw + have twins asǝknǝw sǝkrǝs + have (sth.) built asǝkrǝs sǝksǝḍ + scare / be dangerous asǝksǝḍ sǝkwǝl + blacken (sth.) / make (sth.) black asǝkwǝl sǝlkăḍ # go out to meet (s.o.) asǝlkăḍ sǝlkǝḍ # go out to meet (s.o.) asǝlkǝḍ sǝlmǝd + teach asǝlmǝd sǝlmăḍ + soften asǝlmăḍ sǝlmǝḍ + soften asǝlmǝḍ sǝlmăɣ + dip (in liquid) / baptise asǝlmăɣ sǝlmǝɣ + dip (in liquid) / baptise asǝlmǝɣ zǝlzǝm + oblige (s.o. to do sth.) azǝlzǝm sǝmbăr + shepherd (animals) at night asǝmbăr sǝmbǝr + shepherd (animals) at night asǝmbǝr sǝmɣăr + respect / honour s.o. asǝmɣăr sǝmɣǝr + respect / honour s.o. asǝmɣǝr sǝmlǝl + whiten / bleach (sth.) / asǝmlǝl + make (sth.) white sǝmrǝw <> be pregnant (woman) asǝmrǝw sǝmsǝd + sharpen asǝmsǝd sǝngǝy + make (s.o.) refuse asǝngǝy săŋɣǝl + pour / spill asăŋɣǝl sǝnɣǝl + pour / spill asǝnɣǝl zǝnɣǝz + cough up / spit out (phlegm) azǝnɣǝz sǝnkǝl + dirty / make (sth.) dirty asǝnkǝl sǝnkăr + get (s.o.) up / rouse / raise asǝnkăr sǝnkǝr + get (s.o.) up / rouse / raise asǝnkǝr sǝssǝnkăr + get up / set off (for) before dawn asǝssǝnkăr sǝssǝnkǝr + get up / set off (for) before dawn asǝssǝnkǝr sǝssǝnkǝy + send a gift (of food etc.) asǝssǝnkǝy šǝnkǝš + move (sth.) / <> move (oneself) ašǝnkǝš zǝnkǝz + move (sth.) / <> move (oneself) azǝnkǝz sǝnkǝs + breast feed / give suck asǝnkǝs šǝnšǝš + sieve / strain ašǝnšǝš zǝnzǝz + sieve / strain azǝnzǝz šărgǝš + make (s.o.) walk // # visit (lover or friend) ašărgǝš sărɣǝs + make (sth.) easy // + facilitate asărɣǝs sǝrɣǝs + make (sth.) easy // + facilitate asǝrɣǝs sărhǝn + make (s.o.) ill asărhǝn sǝrkǝm + make (sth.) weak / brittle asǝrkǝm sǝrkǝn + stop (sth.) abruptly asǝrkǝn sărmăɣ + scare / shock (s.o.) asărmăɣ sǝrmǝɣ + scare / shock (s.o.) asǝrmǝɣ sǝrmǝm + tighten, attach / fit (sth. into sth.) asǝrmǝm sǝrwǝɣ + make (sth.) yellow asǝrwǝɣ sǝrtǝy + mix together / add (sth. to sth.) asǝrtǝy sǝsdǝd + make (sth.) thin asǝsdǝd sǝskăr + sit (sth.) on its base asǝskăr sǝskǝr + sit (sth.) on its base asǝskǝr
211 sǝslǝl + make (sth.) smooth asǝslǝl sǝslǝy + curdle (milk) / leave to curdle asǝslǝy sǝstǝn + ask (question) asǝstan sǝsmăḍ + cool asǝsmăḍ sǝsmǝḍ + cool asǝsmǝḍ sǝsmǝm + make (sth.) bitter asǝsmǝm sǝsnǝn + cause pain / hurt (s.o.) asǝsnǝn šǝšdǝǵ + clean / cleanse ašǝšdǝǵ šǝšlǝy + miss (target etc.) ašǝšlǝy šǝšwăɣ + redden (sth.) / make (sth.) red ašǝšwăɣ sǝtbǝt + be sure / confirm asǝtbǝt sǝwrăɣ + make (sth.) yellow asǝwraɣ šǝwšăr + make (sth.) old / age (sth.) ašǝwšăr šǝwšǝr + make (sth.) old / age (sth.) ašǝwšǝr săxrǝk + deceive / lead astray asăxrǝk sǝxrǝk + deceive / lead astray asǝxrǝk săxsǝl + assure / ensure // put (s.o.) in extremis asăxsǝl sǝxsǝl + assure / ensure // put (s.o.) in extremis asǝxsǝl zǝzdǝg + clean / cleanse azǝzdǝg zǝzlǝy + miss (target etc.) azǝzlǝy zǝzwǝɣ + redden (sth.) / make (sth.) red azǝzwǝɣ žǝžwǝl + brand (sth.) / mark (sth.) ažǝžwǝl ẓăẓlǝy + separate / distinguish / marry aẓăẓlǝy ẓǝẓlǝy + separate / distinguish / marry aẓǝẓlǝy
In Tamaghit there is a second form of the verbal noun with ‘a’, etc. (which is the usual form in Tadghaq). Note: has this form for both Tamaghit and Tudalt.
Causative IA5/6 This is of the same form as as IA1: sǝgǝd # listen 3msg (ad) isǝgǝd isagad wǝr isǝgid 3msg ăsgăd ăsîgăd wǝr + perfective 3msg (ad) issǝgǝd isagad wǝr isǝgid 3msg issǝgăd issîgăd wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝdǝw + gather together / save up asǝdǝw săḍǝn + give pasture / shepherd asăḍǝn sǝḍǝn + give pasture / shepherd asǝḍǝn sǝfǝl + put a roof on (sth.) asǝfǝl sǝgǝd # listen / obey // # wait for asǝgǝd sǝǵǝn + cause to kneel (e.g. camel) asǝǵǝn sǝgǝn + cause to kneel (e.g. camel) asǝgǝn săɣăr + dry (sth.) asăɣăr sǝɣǝr + dry (sth.) asǝɣǝr săɣǝf + annoy (s.o.) asăɣǝf
212 sǝɣǝf + annoy (s.o.) asǝɣǝf săɣǝl <> yawn asăɣǝl sǝɣǝl <> yawn asǝɣǝl săhăḍ + blow asăhăḍ sǝhǝḍ + blow asǝhǝḍ sǝrǝg + allow / <> be allowed asǝrǝg sǝrǝn + make (s.o.) sick / cause illness asǝrǝn sǝrǝs + lower (sth.) / put (sth.) inside asǝrǝs sǝtǝg + hawk (goods) asǝtǝg sǝwǝl + chew (cud) // cause (sth.) to turn asǝwǝl sǝwăr + put (sth.) onto (sth.) / cover // asǝwăr + wear (headscarf) // ++ oblige (s.o.) to … sǝwǝr + put (sth.) onto (sth.) / cover // asǝwǝr + wear (headscarf) // ++ oblige (s.o.) to … sǝwǝs + boil (water) // exact tribute asǝwǝs zǝzăr + appoint as leader azǝzăr sǝžǝd <> (Ar.) worship / bow down asǝžǝd
Group III causative This also follows the IA1 pattern: sǝbbǝlǝl + provide for (generously) 3msg (ad) isǝbbǝlǝl isabălal wǝr isǝbǝlil 3msg ăsbălăl ăsîbălăl wǝr + perfective sǝbbǝlǝl + provide for (generously) 3msg (ad) isǝbbǝlǝl isabălal wǝr isǝbǝlil 3msg isăbbălăl isîbălăl wǝr + perfective 3mpl săbbălălăn sîbălălăn wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝbbăhǝw + contradict (s.o.) / expose (s.o.’s) lies asǝbbăhǝw sǝbbǝhǝw + contradict (s.o.) / expose (s.o.’s) lies asǝbbǝhǝw sǝbbǝlǝl + provide for (generously) asǝbbǝlǝl sǝbbărǝk + return a greeting asǝbbărǝk
săqqǝsǝn + clean teeth (with stick) asăqqǝsǝn sǝqqǝsǝn + clean teeth (with stick) asǝqqǝsǝn šăqqǝšǝm + clear throat (menacingly) ašăqqǝšǝm sǝkkǝdǝw + prepare food / cook asǝkkǝdǝw sǝkkǝlǝl <> cry / wail / bawl asǝkkǝlǝl sǝllǝkǝn # submit asǝllǝkǝn sǝmmăḍǝs + make (s.o.) ritually unclean asǝmmăḍǝs sǝmmǝḍǝs + make (s.o.) ritually unclean asǝmmǝḍǝs sǝmmǝgǝl + look after / treat (with medicine) asǝmmǝgǝl sǝmmăhăḍ + vow // threaten asǝmmăhăḍ sǝmmǝhǝḍ + vow // threaten asǝmmǝhǝḍ sǝmmǝnǝy + & make (s.o.) meet (s.o.) asǝmmǝnǝy sǝmmǝtăr + counsel / order asǝmmǝtăr sǝmmǝtǝr + counsel / order asǝmmǝtǝr
213 sǝnnǝfǝs + recount (an event / story) asǝnnǝfǝs sǝnnăhǝl + make ones way towards / approach asǝnnăhǝl sǝnnǝhǝl + make ones way towards / approach asǝnnǝhǝl sǝbbǝnnǝn + reject (s.o.) asǝbbǝnnǝn sǝbbǝytǝl + let (s.o.) down // disappoint (s.o.) asǝbbǝytǝl sǝddǝrgǝn # listen to / obey asǝddǝrgǝn sǝffǝkkǝr + expose / denounce asǝffǝkkǝr sǝffǝnnǝy + boast / exaggerate asǝffǝnnǝy žǝqqǝžǝm <> clear throat (menacingly) ažǝqqǝžǝm šǝhhǝššǝl ++ oblige (s.o.) to do (sth.) ašǝhhǝššǝl šǝkkǝmbǝš <> be veiled // + put on headscarf ăšǝkkǝmbǝš ẓǝkkǝnẓăr <> be troubled / sad / upset aẓǝkkǝnẓăr ẓǝkkǝnẓǝr <> be troubled / sad / upset aẓǝkkǝnẓǝr sǝllăqqǝw + make (s.o.) poor asǝllăqqǝw sǝllǝqqǝw + make (s.o.) poor asǝllǝqqǝw sǝmmăḍrǝy + make (sth.) small // humiliate (s.o.) asǝmmăḍrǝy sǝmmǝḍrǝy + make (sth.) small // humiliate (s.o.) asǝmmǝḍrǝy sǝmmǝttǝy + change (sth.) asǝmmǝtti sǝssǝggǝl + look for (missing an.) asǝssǝggǝl sǝttǝnkǝl + hide (sth.) from view asǝttǝnkǝl ẓăẓẓǝydăr + be patient / calm aẓăẓẓǝydăr ẓǝẓẓǝydǝr + be patient / calm aẓǝẓẓǝydǝr sǝrrǝwrǝw <> cry out (cry of alarm) asǝrrǝwrǝw
The causative of the reflexive of group IA1 These are also like group III causative: sǝmmǝkrǝs + join together/ knot // join in marriage asǝmmǝkrǝs sǝnnǝǵrăh + explain asǝnnǝǵrăh sǝmmǝǵrǝw + do magic asǝmmǝǵru sǝmmǝgrǝw + do magic asǝmmǝgru sǝnnǝfrǝn + choose asǝnnǝfrǝn sǝmmǝlkǝw + give (sth.) away asǝmmǝlku sǝmmǝnhǝy + & make (s.o.) meet (s.o.) asǝmmǝnhi sǝmmǝnkǝd + make tired / punish asǝmmǝnkǝd sǝmmǝnkăḍ + circumcise / castrate asǝmmǝnkăḍ sǝmmǝnkǝḍ + circumcise / castrate asǝmmǝnkǝḍ ẓǝmmăẓlǝy + separate / distinguish aẓǝmmăẓli ẓǝmmǝẓlǝy + separate / distinguish aẓǝmmǝẓli zǝmmǝzzǝy + divorce azǝmmǝzzi sǝnnǝmmăr + give thanks / praise asǝnnǝmmăr sǝnnǝmmǝr + give thanks / praise asǝnnǝmmǝr sǝmmărwǝs + give / take a loan // buy on credit asǝmmărwǝs sǝmmǝrwǝs + give / take a loan // buy on credit asǝmmǝrwǝs sǝmmǝskǝl + exchange (e.g. money for goods) asǝmmǝskǝl sǝnnǝšlǝm <> glance behind ašǝnnǝšlǝm zǝnnǝzlǝm <> glance behind azǝnnǝzlǝm sǝttǝrmǝs <> have (s.o.) arrested asǝttǝrmǝs
214 Group III verbs with weak ‘t’ endings These follow the same pattern (see group III weak ‘t’ endings for details). sǝddǝwǝt + make (s.o.) happy 3msg (ad) isǝddǝwǝt isadăwat wǝr isǝdǝwit 3msg ăsdăwăt ăsîdăwăt wǝr + perfective 3msg isăddăwăt isîdăwăt wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝddǝwǝt + make (s.o.) happy asǝddǝwi sǝmmǝkǝt + put out / extinguish (fire) asǝmmǝki săqqărǝt + shout / cry out asăqqări sǝqqǝrǝt + shout / cry out asǝqqǝri sǝssǝllǝt + venerate asǝssǝlli
sǝllǝnǵǝt ++ put (e.g. bucket) on (s.o.’s) head asǝllǝnǵi sǝllǝngǝt ++ put (e.g. bucket) on (s.o.’s) head asǝllǝngi sǝwwǝyhǝt + marry (captive) / take a concubine asǝwwǝyhi šǝššǝǵrǝt + lengthen ašǝššǝǵri zǝzzǝgrǝt + lengthen azǝzzǝgri sǝbbǝrgǝt + lift (lid) / detach asǝbbǝrgi sǝmmǝgnǝt + get (things) ready asǝmmǝgni sǝbbǝqqǝt + burst (sth.) / make (sth.) explode asǝbbǝqqi sǝddǝttǝt + be sure (of sth.) / ensure (sth.) asǝddǝtti zǝzzǝbbǝt + unload / take things down azǝzzǝbbi sǝllǝllǝt + honour (s.o.) asǝllǝlli
Group III causative vowel ending The vowel ending works similarly (see group III vowel ending for details of endings). sǝddǝrf + set free (a slave) asǝddǝrf sǝddǝrfu + set free (a slave) asǝddǝrfi sǝffǝyk + rummage through (sth.) asǝffǝyk sǝffǝyku + rummage through (sth.) asǝffǝyki săqqǝym + make (s.o.) sit / make (s.o.) stay asăqqǝym sǝqqǝymu + make (s.o.) sit / make (s.o.) stay asǝqqǝymi săhhǝdd + count on / lean on asăhhǝdd sǝhhǝddu + count on / lean on asǝhhǝddi zǝggǝzz + examine (sth.) carefully azǝggǝzz zǝggǝzzu + examine (sth.) carefully azǝggǝzzi sănnăgru ++ make (s.o.) understand (sth.) asǝnnǝgri sǝmmǝkt + bring (sth.) to mind asǝmmǝkti sǝmmǝktu + bring (sth.) to mind asǝmmǝkti sǝggǝnfu ++ give (s.o.) a large share in (sth.) asǝggǝnfi sǝmmǝnd + finish / complete (sth.) // asmǝnd + wear (sth.) out sǝmmǝndu + finish / complete (sth.) // asmǝndi + wear (sth.) out sǝnnǝbḍ + divide / separate asnǝbḍ sǝnnǝbḍu + divide / separate asnǝbḍi
215 444.4...18181818 Group IA2 causative The unusual form of this group is best understood on the basis of Prasse’s hypothesis that group IA2 verbs are derived from the form ‘ǝwBǝC’, e.g. was originally from which its causative would be hence . susǝm <> say nothing / shut up / be quiet 3msg (ad) isusǝm isisum wǝr isisum 3msg ăssosăm ăssôsăm wǝr + perfective 3msg (ad) issusǝm isusum wǝr isusum 3msg issosăm issôsăm wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sudăr + nourish / give life / look after asudăr sudǝr + nourish / give life / look after asudǝr sufǝd + lend / borrow (an item) asufǝd šugǝš + put inside ašugǝš zugǝz + put inside azugǝz soɣǝl + put back / repeat / report asoɣǝl suɣǝl + put back / repeat / report asuɣǝl sukǝs ++ have (s.o.) remove (sth.) asukǝs sukǝs + heat (sth.) (Group II caus.) asukǝs sumǝm + suck asumǝm surǝf # forgive asurǝf susǝn * + teach / make known / declare asusǝn susǝm <> say nothing / shut up / be quiet asusǝm sutǝf + spit asutǝf sutăr + ask in marriage asutăr sutǝr + ask in marriage asutǝr zuzǝy * + heal azuzǝy zuzǝr + winnow azuzǝr ẓoẓǝǵ * + milk aẓoẓǝǵ ẓuẓǝg + milk aẓuẓǝg ẓuẓǝr + cause pain / make (sth.) hurt aẓuẓǝr The verbs marked * do not geminate the first consonant in the perfective / stative forms in Tamaghit (and Tadghaq). Thus : , z z , etc. Rarely a doubled ‘s’ form may be encountered. Note the similarity between this form and group XII causative: sǝssukǝs ++ make (s.o.) remove (sth.) 3msg (ad) isǝssukǝs isisukus wǝr isǝsukus 3msg ăssakăs ăsîsakăs wǝr+ perfective sǝssukǝs ++ make (s.o.) remove (sth.) 3msg (ad) isǝssukǝs isisukus wǝr isǝsukus 3msg isăssakăs isîsakăs wǝr+ perfective
216 Group IA9 verbs follow this pattern too but with vowel endings. In Tamaghit, they form like group III vowel endings except in the cursive where they are like group 1A8. In Tudalt, they are like group IA7 causative. suk ++ send (s.o. or sth.) to 3msg (ad) isuk isiku wǝr isiku 3msg ăssoka ăssôka wăr ăssoka suku ++ send (s.o. or sth.) to 3msg (ad) isuku isuku wǝr isuku 3msg issoka issôka wǝr issoka Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun suk ++ send (s.o. or sth.) to asuk suku ++ send (s.o. or sth.) to asuki sǝssuk ++ send (s.o or sth.) to asǝssuk suf + prefer (sth.) (# to sth. else) tăsafit sǝssuf ++ make (sth.) better // prefer (sth.) asǝssuf sǝssufu ++ make (sth.) better // prefer (sth.) asǝssufi suǵ + look (down) into / look in on (s.o.) asuǵ sugu + look (down) into / look in on (s.o.) asugi sord ++ cause (s.o.) to believe (sth.) asord šuš + have (sth.) flayed ašuš zuzu + have (sth.) flayed azuzi šorš <> wail tăšoršat These verbs follow the same pattern in the cursive and perfective: seḍu + throw down / make (s.o.) fall aseḍu siḍu + throw down / make (s.o.) fall asiḍu siǵnu + rebuke / correct asiǵnu šignu + rebuke / correct ašignu
IB1 causative This group is all Tamaghit. Tudalt equivalents are in group IA1 causative. sunsǝǵ + sniff / smell (sth.) 3msg (ad) isunsǝǵ isinsuǵ wǝr isinsuǵ 3msg ăssunsăǵ ăssûnsăǵ wǝr + perfective sudmăr # reply asudmăr šukmǝš + scratch (an itch) ašukmǝš suksăḍ + scare / be dangerous asuksăḍ soxsǝd + scare / be dangerous asoxsǝd sunfǝs <> breathe asunfǝs šonɣǝš + cough up / spit out (phlegm) ašonɣǝš sunsǝǵ + sniff / smell (sth.) asunsǝǵ šunšăr + blow (nose) ašunšăr sorhǝǵ + allow // <> be allowed asorhǝǵ zuzzăr + winnow azuzzăr sunǵǝy + make (s.o.) refuse asunǵǝy
217 444.4...19191919 Group IA3 causative The Tamaghit and Tudalt forms for this group are somewhat different.
Tamaghit silǝy + hang (sth.) 3msg (ad) isilǝy isalay wǝr isiliy 3msg ăsselăy ăssêlăy wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun silǝy + hang (sth.) asilǝy šišǝl + draw (water) / make (s.o.) run ašišǝl ẓigăẓ + protect / look after aẓigăẓ siwǝs + exact / receive tribute / tax asiwǝs seḍǝn + count // settle accounts aseḍǝn silăh + compare asilăh sirǝd + wash asirǝd siwăḍ + increase asiwăḍ sifǝl + tan (leather) asifǝl silǝl + lob / put (sth.) on (sth. high) asilǝl ẓeẓăr + cause pain / make (sth.) hurt aẓeẓăr In Tamaghit causatives of some group II verbs also follow this pattern: sigdăh + make equal asigdăh šišwǝl + brand (sth.) / mark (sth.) ašišwǝl seṭṭǝd + batter (leather) (to soften it) aseṭṭǝd sitǝǵ + hawk (goods) asitǝǵ
Tudalt šilǝy hang (sth.) 3msg (ad) iššilǝy išalay wǝr išiliy 3msg iššolăy iššôlăy wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun šilǝy + hang (sth.) ašilǝy žižǝl + draw (water) / make (s.o.) run ažižǝl širǝd + wash aširǝd šikǝl <> travel ašikǝl šiḍǝn + count // settle accounts ašiḍǝn šinǝn + train / break in (animal) ašinǝn šifǝl + tan (leather) ašifǝl
Tudalt group IA4 verbs are similar but have ‘e’ in the place of ‘o’ in the perfective (like Tamaghit), e.g. . Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun šiwǝl <> speak ašiwǝl šiwǝḍ + increase ašiwǝḍ The following verb (group II causative) also has ‘e’ in the perfective: šidǝw + gather together / assemble / ašidǝw + save up
218 In both dialects there is an alternative form with double ‘s’. Note the similarity between this group and Group XVIII causative: sǝssiwǝl + play (radio) 3msg (ad) isǝssiwǝl isasawal wǝr isǝsiwil 3msg ăssawăl ăsîsawăl wăr + perfective sǝssiwǝl + have (sth.) watched 3msg (ad) isǝssiwǝl isasawal wǝr isǝsiwil 3msg isăssawăl isîsawăl wǝr + perfective sǝssiwǝl + play (radio) / make (s.o.) speak asǝssiwǝl sǝssiwǝl + have (sth.) guarded / asǝssiwǝl + have (an.) shepherded šǝššiwǝl + play (radio) / make (s.o.) speak ašǝššiwǝl sǝsseɣǝd + correct / make straight asǝsseɣǝd sǝssiɣǝd + correct / make straight asǝssiɣǝd sǝssilăh + compare asǝssilăh sǝssiwăḍ + cause to arrive asǝssiwăḍ sǝssiwǝḍ + cause to arrive asǝssiwǝḍ sǝssiwǝy + send (something) asǝssiwǝy sǝssikǝy + boast / exagerate // asǝssikǝy + cause to pass by / exceed sǝssiǵǝl ++ cause (s.o.) to abstain asǝssiǵǝl šǝššigǝl ++ cause (s.o.) to abstain ašǝššigǝl ẓǝẓẓihăẓ + bring near / approach aẓǝẓẓihăẓ Causatives of group IA10 etc. are like the simple or double form of this group but with vowel endings (like group III vowel endings): siǵǵ ++ place (sth.) above (sth.) asiǵǵ sǝssiǵǵ ++ place (sth.) above (sth.) asǝssiǵǵ sǝssiggu ++ place (sth.) above (sth.) asǝssiggi šišk + lead astray ašišk šišku + lead astray ašiški sis + make (s.o.) come asis sisu + make (s.o.) come asisi sit + increase (sth.) asit šitu + increase (sth.) ašiti sǝsser ++ make (s.o.) open (sth.) asǝsser šǝšširu ++ make (s.o.) open (sth.) ašǝšširi šǝššilu + compare // make equal ašǝššili
219
444.4...20202020 Group IA7 causative (Tamaghit)
Tamaghit ‘buy / sell’ Imperative sg šănš mpl šănšăt fpl šǝnšǝmăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) šănšăɣ šanšeɣ wăr šǝnšeɣ 2sg (ad) šǝnšǝd šanšed wăr šǝnšid 3msg (ad) išănš išanša wǝr išǝnši 3fsg (ad) šănš šanša wăr šǝnši 1pl (ad) nǝšănš nǝšanša wăr nǝšǝnši 2mpl (ad) šǝnšǝm šanšem wăr šǝnšim 2fpl (ad) šǝnšǝmăt šanšemăt wăr šǝnšimăt 3mpl (ad) šǝnšǝn šanšen wăr šǝnšin 3fpl (ad) šǝnšǝnăt šanšenăt wăr šǝnšinăt (short form: išănša etc.) Participles msg maden išănš išanšen wăren išǝnši fsg maden šănš šanšet wăren šǝnši pl maden išănš šanšanen wăren išǝnši
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝššǝnšăɣ ăššînšăɣ 2sg tǝššǝnšăd tăššînšăd 3msg ǝššǝnša ăššînša 3fsg tǝššǝnša tăššînša 1pl nǝššǝnša năššînša wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝššǝnšăm tăššînšăm 2fpl tǝššǝnšămăt tăššînšămăt 3mpl ǝššǝnšăn ăššînšăn 3fpl ǝššǝnšănăt ăššînšănăt
Participles msg ǝššǝnšăn ăššînšăn wăren ǝššǝnša fsg tǝššǝnšăt tăššînšăt wăren tǝššǝnša pl ǝššǝnšănen ăššînšănen wăren ǝššǝnša
Note There is an alternative form with double ‘s’ etc. sǝssǝls +clothe 3msg (ad) isǝssǝls isasălsa wǝr isǝsǝlsi 3msg ăssălsa ăsîsălsa wǝr + perfective
220 Useful IA7 causative verbs (Tamaghit) ImperativImperativeeee Meaning Verbal Noun săns + put down / put to bed asǝns šănš + buy / sell ašǝnš săls + clothe asǝls sǝssǝls + clothe asǝssǝls sǝkǝn + show (sth.) (# s.o.) asǝkǝn sǝssǝkǝn + have (sth.) made // have a hairdo asǝssǝkǝn sărăɣ + set fire to / burn (sth.) asărăɣ săɣăr ++ teach (s.o.) (sth.) asăɣăr sǝssăɣăr ++ teach (s.o.) (sth.) asǝssăɣăr sǝgǝl + send out / send away asǝgǝl sǝssănɣ + have (sth. / s.o.) killed asǝssănɣ săŋŋ + cook asǝŋŋ sănt + begin sănto ẓărẓ + shave (s.o. else) aẓărẓ ṣăṣṭ + make (s.o.) laugh aṣăṣṭ šǝkš ++ feed (s.o.)(sth.) ašǝkš sǝsǝw + water / give to drink asǝsǝw sǝsǝl + make (sth.) heard asǝsǝl sălh + make (s.o.) cry asǝlh săɣǝn + begin (sth.) asăɣǝn
Note In the Tadghaq group IA8 causatives are have their own pattern (Prasse 1985, p. 49) but in Tamaghit they follow the pattern of IA7: sǝmd + finish sămdo sǝkt + remind asǝkt zǝzǝr + overwork / wear (s.o.) out azǝzǝr sǝssǝrǝn + establish / make (sth.) strong asǝssǝrǝn Similar to the ‘ss’ pattern is the rare ‘sw’ pattern: sǝwǝnn + have (sth.) said / announced vn aswǝnn 3msg (ad) isǝwǝnn isawănna wǝr isǝwǝnni 3msg ăswănna ăsîwănna wǝr + perfective sǝwǝnn + have (sth.) said / announced aswǝnn sǝwǝǵǵ + have (sth.) done /++ make (s.o.) do (sth.) aswǝǵǵ
The causative of the reflexive of IA7/8 (SM) could also be included here but is better classed as group III causative vowel ending.
221 444.4...21212121 Group IA7 causative (Tudalt)
Tudalt z z ‘buy / sell’ Imperative sg zănzu mpl zănzăt fpl zănzimăt
Imperfective Cursive Negative cursive 1sg (ad) ăzzănzăɣ zanzăɣ wǝr zǝnzăɣ 2sg (ad) tăzzănzăd zanzăd wǝr zǝnzăd 3msg (ad) ăzzănzu izanzu wǝr izǝnzu 3fsg (ad) tăzzănzu zanzu wǝr zǝnzu 1pl (ad) năzzănzu nǝzanzu wǝr nǝzǝnzu 2mpl (ad) tăzzănzim zanzim wǝr zǝnzim 2fpl (ad) tăzzănzimăt zanzimăt wǝr zǝnzimăt 3mpl (ad) ăzzănzin zanzin wǝr zǝnzin 3fpl (ad) ăzzănzinăt zanzinăt wǝr zǝnzinăt
Participles msg z-ăzzănzin izanzin wǝr nǝzǝnzu fsg za-tăzzănzit zanzit wǝr nǝzǝnzu pl z-ăzzănzinen zanzinen wǝr nǝzǝnzu c(neg) wǝr za-năzzănzu
Perfective Stative Negative 1sg ǝzzǝnzăɣ ǝzzînzăɣ 2sg tǝzzǝnzăd tǝzzînzăd 3msg izzǝnza izzînza 3fsg tǝzzǝnza tǝzzînza 1pl nǝzzǝnza nǝzzînza wǝr + perfective 2mpl tǝzzǝnzăm tǝzzînzăm 2fpl tǝzzǝnzămăt tǝzzînzămăt 3mpl ǝzzǝnzăn ǝzzînzăn 3fpl ǝzzǝnzănăt ǝzzînzănăt
Participles msg izzǝnzăn ǝzzînzăn wǝr nǝzzǝnza fsg tǝzzǝnzăt tǝzzînzăt wǝr nǝzzǝnza pl ǝzzǝnzănen ǝzzînzănen wǝr nǝzzǝnza
Note: There is an alternative form with double ‘s’ etc.: săssăknu + have (sth.) made 3msg (ad) isăssăknu isasăknu wǝr isǝsǝknu 3msg isăssăkna isîsăkna wǝr + perfective
222 Useful IIA7A7 causative verbs (Tudalt) Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sănsu + put down / put to bed asǝnsi zănzu + buy / sell azǝnzi sălsu + clothe asǝlsi săknu ++ show (sth.) (to s.o.) asǝkni săssăknu + have (sth.) made asǝssǝkni sărɣu + set fire to / burn (sth.) asǝrɣi săɣru + teach asǝɣri săssăɣru + teach asǝssǝɣri săglu + send out / send away asǝgli săŋŋu + cook asǝŋŋi săntu + begin sănto ẓărẓu + shave (s.o. else) aẓǝrẓi ẓăḍẓu + make (s.o.) laugh aẓǝḍẓi šăkšu ++ feed (s.o.) (sth.) ašǝkši săswu + water / give to drink asǝswi săgru + look at / examine asǝgri sănfu + rest tasănfăwt sămdu + finish sămdo săktu + remind asǝkt zărzu + wail azǝrzi zăzru + overwork / wear (s.o.) out azǝzri săgdu + make equal asǝgdi săssănnu + have (sth.) said / announced asǝssǝnni săssănɣu + have (sth. or s.o.) killed asǝssǝnɣi săssărdu ++ cause (s.o.) to believe (sth.) /+ promise asǝssǝrdi săssărnu + strengthen / establish asǝssǝrni
Similar to the ‘ss’ pattern is the rare ‘sw’ pattern: sǝwǝggu + have (sth.) said / announced vn asǝwǝggi 3msg (ad) isǝwǝggu isawăgga wǝr isǝwǝggi 3msg isăwăgga isîwăgga wǝr + perfective
The causative of the reflexive of IA7/8 (SM) could also be incuded here but is better classed as group III causative vowel ending.
223 444.4...22222222 Group V causative The pattern is just like Group V except that ‘ti-’ in the cursive is replaced by ‘si-’. Most causatives of derived verbs also follow this pattern. sǝmmǝtǝkwǝy+ move (sth.) 3msg (ad) isǝmmǝtǝkwǝy isimtǝkwiy wǝr isǝmtǝkwiy 3msg ăsmătăkwăy ăsîmătăkwăy wǝr + perfective 3msg (ad) isǝmmǝtǝkwǝy isimǝtǝkwiy wǝr isǝmǝtǝkwiy 3msg isămmătăkwăy isîmătăkwăy wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝddǝwǝylǝl + balance (sth.) high up asǝddǝwǝylǝl sǝmmǝlǝllǝy + turn (sth.) over asǝmmǝlǝllǝy sǝmmǝsǝwăr + put (things) on top of each other asǝmmǝsǝwăr sǝmmǝsǝwǝr + put (things) on top of each other asǝmmǝsǝwǝr sǝmmǝtǝktǝk <> whisper asǝmmǝtǝktǝk ẓăẓẓărǝwrǝw + pour (tea) through a spout aẓăẓẓărǝwrǝw ẓǝẓẓǝrǝwrǝw + pour (tea) through a spout aẓǝẓẓǝrǝwrǝw sǝnnǝmǝgzăr + cause to oppose (each other) asǝnnǝmǝgzăr sǝnnǝmǝgzǝr + cause to oppose (each other) asǝnnǝmǝgzǝr sǝnnǝmǝksǝn + make (people) hate each other asǝnnǝmǝksǝn sǝnnǝmǝdrǝǵ + confound / ++ cause to misunderstand asǝnnǝmǝdrǝǵ sǝnnǝmǝdrǝg + confound / ++ cause to misunderstand asǝnnǝmǝdrǝg sǝmmǝtǝkwǝy + move (sth.) asǝmmǝtǝkwǝy sǝnnǝmǝǵǵǝǵ + move apart / separate asǝnnǝmǝǵǵǝǵ sǝnnǝmǝggǝg + move apart / separate asǝnnǝmǝggǝg sǝnnǝmǝnnǝk + unite / reunite / cause to agree asǝnnǝmǝnnǝk sǝmmǝlǝwlǝw + light (sth.) up / cause to shine asǝmmǝlǝwlǝw šǝmmǝšăršăr + scatter ašǝmmǝšăršăr šǝmmǝšărwǝy + scatter ašǝmmǝšărwǝy sǝmmǝsǝdǝw + get ready / pack bags asǝmmǝsǝdǝw sǝmmǝnǝnnăḍ + twist // make (s.o.) dizzy asǝmmǝnǝnnăḍ sǝmmǝnǝnnǝḍ + twist // make (s.o.) dizzy asǝmmǝnǝnnǝḍ sǝnnǝmǝswǝḍ + place facing each other asǝnnǝmǝswǝḍ The following verbs are similar but with ‘-ăt’ ending: sǝssărăqqǝt + wash (clothes) asǝssărăqqi šǝffǝrǝššǝt + drive (s.o.) mad asǝffărǝšši sǝggǝdǝlsǝt <> lie in / sleep to mid-morning asǝggǝdǝlsi šǝggǝdǝlšǝt <> lie in / sleep to mid-morning ašǝggǝdǝlši sǝmmǝdăqqǝt + stick (things) together asǝmmǝdăqqi sǝmmǝdǝqqǝt + stick (things) together asǝmmǝdǝqqi The next two are similar but have vowel endings: sǝnnǝmǝns + put down together asǝnnǝmǝns sǝnnǝmǝnsu + put down together asǝnnǝmǝnsi sǝnnǝfăqq + compare asǝnnǝfăqq sǝnnǝfǝqqu + compare asǝnnǝfǝqqi
224 444.4...23232323 Group XII / XVII causative Group XII causatives follow a typical group XII pattern but ‘ti’ is replaced by ‘si’ in the cursive. Group XVII causatives also follow this pattern. sǝddubǝn + cause to marry / marry (s.o.) off 3msg (ad) isǝddubǝn isidubun wǝr isǝdubun 3msg ăsdabăn ăsîdabăn wǝr + perfective sǝddugǝn + signal (with hand) 3msg (ad) isǝddugǝn isidugun wǝr isǝdugun 3msg isăddagăn isîdagăn wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝbbuyǝn + prove (sth.) / make (sth.) clear asǝbbuyǝn sǝbbuyǝs + injure asǝbbuyǝs sǝddubǝn + marry (s.o.) off asǝddubǝn sǝddugǝn + signal (with hand) asǝddugǝn sǝggoḍǝl + limp asǝggoḍǝl sǝgguḍǝl + limp asǝgguḍǝl sǝǵǵulǝy + treat as a step-child // maltreat asǝǵǵulǝy sǝggulǝy + treat as a step-child // maltreat asǝggulǝy sǝnnufǝy + mix (liquids) by pouring asǝnnufǝy sǝttufǝy + signal (with hand) asǝttufǝy sǝddǝkukǝm + handle (sth.) carefully asǝddǝkukǝm šăqqărušǝm + rinse mouth ašăqqărušǝm sǝkkǝlulǝf + feel around / grope asǝkkǝlulǝf sǝkkărukăḍ + put (s.o.) to shame asǝkkărukăḍ sǝkkǝrukǝḍ + put (s.o.) to shame asǝkkǝrukǝḍ sǝllǝfufăɣ + cause blisters asǝllǝfufăɣ sǝllǝfufǝɣ + cause blisters asǝllǝfufǝɣ sǝllǝmumǝs + sneak // <> be full to the brim asǝllǝmumǝs sǝmmǝkukǝs + patch (clothing) asǝmmǝkukǝs sǝddǝrumǝs + make (s.o.) smile asǝddǝrumǝs sǝmmǝsoɣǝl + remake // repeat (sth.) asǝmmǝsoɣǝl sǝmmǝsuɣǝl + remake // repeat (sth.) asǝmmǝsuɣǝl sǝddirǝn + want to (do sth.) / covet (sth.) asǝddirǝn šǝššiǵǝl <> dance (as part of possession cult) ašǝššiǵǝl žǝžžigǝl <> dance (as part of possession cult) ažǝžžigǝl sǝmmăɣităr + cause difficulties asǝmmăɣităr sǝmmǝɣitǝr + cause difficulties asǝmmǝɣitǝr sǝnnǝfilǝl + make (sth.) appear asǝnnǝfilǝl sǝwwǝliwǝl + spin (sth.) asǝwwǝliwǝl šǝwwǝšiwǝš + scatter (sth.) ažǝwwǝžiwǝž žǝwwǝžiwǝž + scatter (sth.) ažǝwwǝžiwǝž
225 The following verbs follow this pattern but with weak ‘t’ endings: sǝmmǝǵurǝt + give hospitality ăsǝmmǝǵuru sǝmmǝgurǝt + give hospitality ăsǝmmǝguru ṣăṣṣohǝt + strengthen aṣăṣṣohu ṣǝṣṣuhǝt + strengthen aṣǝṣṣuhu zǝnnǝzgumǝt+ worry (about sth.) / azǝnnǝzgumu + think (about sth.) ẓǝllǝmẓuyǝt + make tepid aẓǝllǝmẓuyu săqqărriwǝt + tear (sth.) asăqqărriwi sǝqqǝrriwǝt + tear (sth.) asǝqqǝrriwi And these follow the same pattern but with vowel endings: sǝnnǝyuf + compare qualities asǝnnǝyuf sǝnnǝyufu + compare qualities asǝnnǝyufu sǝhhuh + burn (incense) / make smoke asǝhhuh sǝhhuhu + burn (incense) / make smoke asǝhhuhu sǝmmiɣu + have (sth.) raided / stolen asǝmmiɣi sǝttiw ++ cause (s.o.) to forget (sth.) asǝttiw sǝttiwi ++ cause (s.o.) to forget (sth.) asǝttiwi The ‘group XIV’ causatives are similar. Note that all these are Tamaghit, the Tudalt equivalents fall into Group III causative. sǝttunkǝl + hide (sth.) from view 3msg (ad) isǝttunkǝl isitǝnkul wǝr isǝtǝnkul 3msg ăstănkăl ăsîtănkăl wǝr + perfective šăhhuššǝl ++ oblige (s.o.) to do (sth.) ašăhhuššǝl sǝbbunbǝy + turn (sth.) face down asǝbbunbǝy sǝffukkǝr + denounce / expose (s.o.) asǝffukkǝr sǝttunkǝl + hide (sth.) from view asǝttunkǝl sǝmmoqqǝl # wait for asǝmmoqqǝl sǝmmuttǝy + change (sth.) asǝmmutti šǝkkumbǝš <> be veiled // + put on headscarf ašǝkkumbǝš sǝssuǵǵǝl + look for (missing an.) asǝssuǵǵǝl sǝddorhǝn + want to (do sth.) / covet (sth.) asǝddorhǝn The following are like this but with weak ‘t’ endings: sǝdduttǝt + be sure asǝddǝttu zǝzzubbǝt + unload / take things down azǝzzǝbbu sǝmmuǵnǝt + prepare (a meal etc.) asǝmmǝǵnu sǝllullǝt + honour (s.o.) asǝllǝllu sǝbboqqǝt + burst (sth.) asǝbbăqqu And these verbs follow the same pattern but with the vowel endings: sǝbborǵ + open (container) / lift (sth.) off asǝbborǵ sǝǵǵunf ++ give (s.o.) a large share in (sth.) asǝǵǵunf
226 444.4...24242424 Group XVIII causative This is a small group but with several important verbs. sǝmmidǝw + become allies / make friends (with s.o.) 3msg (ad) isǝmmidǝw isamadaw wǝr isǝmidiw (short form: isămadaw) 3msg ăsmadăw ăsîmadăw wǝr + perfective sǝmmidǝw + become allies / make friends (with s.o.) 3msg (ad) isǝmmidǝw isamadaw wǝr isǝmidiw 3msg isămmadăw isîmadăw wǝr + perfective Imperative Meaning Verbal Noun sǝmmidǝw + become allies / make friends asǝmmidǝw sǝmmihăɣ + have (sth.) raided asǝmmihăɣ ẓǝnnihăẓ + approach (one another) aẓǝnnihăẓ ẓǝnnihǝẓ + approach (one another) aẓǝnnihǝẓ sǝnnilǝs + repeat / recount (a story) asǝnnilǝs šǝmmišǝl + send (on errand) ašǝmmišǝl žǝmmižǝl + send (on errand) ažǝmmižǝl ẓǝnnibǝẓ + have (s.o.) arrested aẓǝnnibǝẓ ẓǝttibǝẓ + have (s.o.) arrested aẓǝttibǝẓ
227 444.4...25252525 Seventy very useful verbs This section gives examples of usage for what I consider to be the most frequently used or most useful verbs in Tamasheq. The verbs are listed in their groups. Most, but not all of the verb groups are represented.
Group IA1 iktăb He wrote ad ǝktǝbăɣ awa tǝnned I will write down what you said akătab a ǝǵeɣ I am writing akătab a ǝgeɣ I am writing (lit. ‘Writing is what am doing’) ilmăd He learned ărhêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tămašăq I want to learn Tamasheq ǝrêɣ ad ǝlmǝdăɣ Tǝmažǝq I want to learn Tamajeq iǵyăk He farmed / weeded igyăk He farmed / weeded s-ăkăsa eklan ǵayyăkăn In rainy season Bellah farm s-ăkăsa eklan gayyăkăn In rainy season Bellah farm ǝššǝɣǝl n-eklan aǵăyak Bellah’s work is farming ǝššǝɣǝl n-eklan agăyak Bellah’s work is farming ifnăẓ He (it) reduced ǝfnăẓ ălqim-ǝnnes ! Reduce its price! ǝfnǝẓ ălqim-nes ! Reduce its price! iǵrăh He understood tǝǵrăhăd awa ǝnneɣ meɣ ? Did you understand what I said? ifhăm He understood tǝfhămăd awa inna ? Did you understand what he said? tǝǵrăwăd făhăm meɣ ? Have you understood? tǝgrăwăd făhăm meɣ ? Have you understood? (lit. ‘Have you got understanding?’) igrâẓ-ahi I like it igrâẓ-i I like it (lit. ‘It pleases me’) wăr tăt-igreẓ She didn’t like it / him wǝr tăt-igreẓ She didn’t like it / him (lit. ‘It / he didn’t please her’) itkăl-tăt He picked it (f) up ǝtkǝl tăkoba-nnăk Pick up your sword eɣšăd-tăt He spoiled / broke it (f) iɣšăd-tăt He spoiled / broke it (f) ara wa eɣšâd That child is spoiled / ruined bărar wa iɣšâd That child is spoiled / ruined taberăt tăɣšâd The road is bad (spoiled) taberăt tǝɣšâd The road is bad (spoiled)
228 aǵǝnna eɣšăd taberăt The rain has ruined the road ăkonak iɣšăd taberăt The rain has ruined the road tiwǝkkawen ɣaššădnăt tiwgas Worms spoil the fields tiwǝkkawen ɣaššădnăt tiwǝgas Worms spoil the fields inhăy amidi-nnes He saw his friend tǝnhăyăd Hawa dăɣ hebu meɣ ? Did you see Hawa in the market? ma hănnăyăd ? What do you see? ma hannăyăd ? What do you see? izgăr He went out Adămu izgâr Adamu is out (has gone out) iknăs He fought takniwen kannăsnăt harkuk Co-wives always fight (argue) taknaten kannăsnăt harkuk Co-wives always fight (argue) izlăf He got married (betrothed) tǝzlâfăd meɣ ? Are you married (or engaged)? ǝzlâfăɣ măšan wǝr ǝgeɣ aẓǝẓli hărwa I am engaged but not yet married ilwăg He became tired tǝlwâgăd mǝɣ ? Are you tired? igmăy-tăt He looked for her / it ma tǝgmâyăd ? What are you looking for? igdăh He / it is enough
Group IA2 issăn He knows (fact / skill) tǝssânăd Tămašăq meɣ ? Do you speak Tamasheq? ǝssânăq-qăt hullen I speak (know) it well torǝft ta tǝssân aman That vehicle is good in water turǝft ta tǝssân aman That vehicle is good in water izzăy He has got well // He knows (person / place) tǝzzâyăd-ahi ? Do you know me? tǝzzâyăd-i? Do you know me? făw wăr kăy-ǝzzeyăɣ No I don’t recognise you ǝzzâyăɣ Nyăme hullan I know Niamey well ara wa ănnidăn, izzây The child which had a fever is well bărar wa ǝnnidăn, izzây The child which had a fever is well eqqăl-ak He waited for you iqqăl-ak He waited for you eqqăl-in He went back iqqăl-in He went back eqqăl-id He came back iqqăl-dǝd He came back olăs oɣǝl He went back again olăs uɣǝl / tewăɣle He went back again (lit. ‘He repeated returning’)
229 ma-s tăqqâlăd ? Who / what are you waiting for? ăqqâlăɣ y-ǝmidi-nin I’m waiting for my friend ǝqqâlăɣ y-ǝmidi-nin I’m waiting for my friend mǝnǵǝdu ma-dǝt-tăqqǝlăd When will you come back? ǝmme za-dǝt-tǝqqǝlăd When will you come back? a-dd-ăqqǝlăɣ ašǝkka I will come back tomorrow a-dd-ǝqqǝlăɣ ažǝkka I will come back tomorrow as idwăl ad ăqqǝl ălfăqqi When he grows up he will be (become) a marabout as idwăl ad iqqǝl ǝlfǝqqi When he grows up he will be (become) a marabout iddâr He is alive ti-k ǝd ma-k ǝddârăn mǝɣ ? Are your father and mother alive? anna tǝddâr, abba ăba-ti My mother is alive, my father has passed away izzâɣ Mărkoy He lives in Markoye ǝndek diha tǝzzâɣăd ? Where do you live? mǝni / ǝndek da tǝzzâɣăd ? Where do you live? Mărkoy a ǝzzăɣăɣ I live in Markoy iggăš ehăn He went into the home iggăz ehăn He went into the home iggăš-tăn ălhăm They got angry iggăz-tăn ălhăm They got angry (lit. ‘Anger entered them’) ikkăs aɣănib He took out a pen ikkăs ǝɣanib He took out a pen ǝkkâsăɣ ăššăk as ǝnta awa I am sure that it is him (lit. ‘I have taken out doubt’) wǝr ǝkkesăɣ ăššăk I am not sure
Group IA3 okăy He passed by hebu wa okăyăn a dd-oseɣ I came last market day torfen kăraḍăt okăynăt Three cars went past okăr-tăt He stole it // He slept with her (illicitly) imăkrăḍăn tikărăn Thieves steal ibăydăgăn takărăn Thieves steal ăwadǝm wa oɣădăn wǝr itikǝr A righteous (straight) person doesn’t steal olăs-ti He repeated it olăs-tăy He repeated it olăsăɣ iǵi n-ătay I made tea again / I carried on making tea olăsăɣ igi n-ătay I made tea again / I carried on making tea
230 olăs-id oɣǝl He came back here olăs-dǝd uɣǝl / tewăɣle He came back here ohâẓ It is near Nyăme wăr toheẓ Niamey is not near wa ǝd wa olăhăn This and that are the same / are similar wăr olehăn They are not the same ogăẓ-tăt He protected it / her // He inherited it ǝkkeɣ hebu, wăr kăy-in-ogeẓăɣ I went to market (but) I didn’t find you there ogâẓ-kăwăn Măssinăɣ May God protect you (pl) wa oǵâr wa This exceeds that wa ogâr wa This exceeds that oǵâr-ti It was greater that him ogâr-tăy It was greater that him (i.e. he couldn’t do it) ǝnta oǵâr-ahi tǝššǝǵrǝt He is taller than me ǝnta ogâr-i tǝzzǝgrǝt He is taller than me (lit. ‘He exceeds me (in) length’) anǝlluǵ oǵâr kǝdǝdǝkkum tǝmmăḍrit A (normal) ant is smaller than a biting ant anǝllug ogâr kǝdǝdǝkkum tǝmmǝḍrit A (normal) ant is smaller than a biting ant (lit. ‘An ant exceeds a biting ant (in) smallness’) meddăn oǵârnăt-tăn ḍeḍen eqqas Women clap better / more often than men meddăn ogârnăt-tăn tǝḍoḍen eqqas Women clap better / more often than men (lit. ‘Men, they (f) exceed them (m) (in) clapping’) unǵăy He refused ungăy He refused
Group IA4 iwwăy tamăṭṭ ta He married (took) that woman ewăy tanṭuṭ ta He married (took) that woman awi-dd aman Bring water (here) ma hi-dǝt-tǝwwăyăd dăɣ Nyăme What have you brought me from Niamey? ma di-dǝt-tewăyăd dăɣ Nyăme What have you brought me from Niamey?
Group IA5 / IA6 iwăt-tăt He hit her iwăt ǝǵǝnna Rain fell (struck) iwăt ǝkonak Rain fell (struck)
231 mi itǝggatăn tehărḍant Who plays the (traditional) guitar? mi iggatăn tahǝrḍant Who plays the (traditional) guitar? inăy amidi-nnes He saw his friend tǝnăyăd Tǝdwăl dăɣ hebu meɣ ? Did you see Tidwal in the market? inăy amnǝs He rode a camel (in also – He saw a camel) idăl aẓrǝf He asked for money itǝddal harkuk He is always asking (for things) iddal harkuk He is always asking (for things) ifăl-id Mărkoy He came from Markoye ifăl-dǝd Mărkoy He came from Markoye mi dǝt-tǝfălăd? Where have you come from? ǝfălăɣ-id siha I’ve come from over there ǝfălăɣ-dǝd sa I’ve come from over there iwăr tanda It (/ he) is on the lean-to iwăr-ahi ad ăkkăɣ Gorăn I must go to Gorom iwăr-i ad ăkkăɣ Gorăn I must go to Gorom (It is on me I will go to Gorom)
Group IA7 insa He lay down insâ He is lying down / is asleep ma dǝr tǝnsed ? How did you pass the night? (common greeting) ilsa tekăṭkăṭ He put on a ‘boubou’ ma lăssăn kǝl Tămašăq ? What do Tamasheq people wear? ma lassin kǝl Tǝmažǝq ? What do Tamajeq people wear? igra He understood tǝgred awa ǝnneɣ meɣ? Did you understand what I said? igda He / it is enough igla He left iglâ He has left ǝgleɣ I left ǝglêɣ I am about to leave (said before going) iknâ He is O.K. / It is O.K. // it is sorted out ma kănnăd ? What are you making // What do you make? ma kannăd ? What are you making // What do you make? iknâ tihussay It (/ he) is very beautiful (lit. ‘It has sorted beauty’)
232 erẓa It (/ he) is broken irẓa It (/ he) is broken ăhalǝs wa erẓăn ăfus-ǝnnes The man who has broken his arm / hand alǝs wa irẓăn ǝfus-nes The man who has broken his arm / hand enɣa ašănǵo-nnes He killed (struck) his enemy inɣa ažăngo-nnes He killed (struck) his enemy inaqq-ahi ǝsuf-ǝnnes I miss him inaqq-i ǝsuf-nes I miss him (lit. ‘It is smiting me, his absence’) tănɣ-e tăhanint-năsăn He had pity on them tǝnɣ-e tǝhanint-năsăn He had pity on them (lit. ‘It struck him, pity for them’) isla He heard isla y-ămăsli He heard a noise isla y-ǝmǝsli He heard a noise ma tǝsled ? What have you heard? // What did you hear? ǝslêɣ y-awa tǝnned I have heard what you said ǝsleɣ-asăn I heard them ǝsleq-qăn I have heard of them wăr hak-ǝsleɣ I didn’t hear you wǝr dak-ǝsleɣ I didn’t hear you tǝsled meɣ ? Did you hear? // Did you understand? ikša He ate ma tǝkšed ? What did you eat? ma tăttăn ? What do they eat? ma tattin ? What do they eat? ikša aẓrǝf-năwăn He ate your money (i.e. He ripped you off // He spent your money) iswa He drank sassăd ătay meɣ ? Do you drink tea? sassăq-qi hullen I drink it a lot sassăq-qe hullen I drink it a lot wăr sǝssăɣ asmǝd I don’t drink alcohol wǝr sǝssăɣ asmăd I don’t drink alcohol inna He said ma tǝnned ? What did you say? wǝr ǝnneɣ wăla I didn’t say anything ma ǵănnen ăddinăt făl awa ? What do people say about that? ma gannin ăytedăm fǝl awa ? What do people say about that? ikfa / iffa He gave ma kăy-ikfa ? What did he give you? ǝkfeq-qăt aẓrǝf I gave her money
233 ma hăkkăn ăddinăt tilăqqiwen ? What do people give to the poor? ma hakkin ăytedăm tilǝqqawen ? What do people give to the poor?
Group IA8 (for Tudalt identical to IA7) ikma It hurts ikm-ahi ăfus-in My hand / arm hurts (me) tǝkma taba taɣăssa Tobacco is bad for the body erḍa He agreed irḍa He agreed erḍâ He agrees orḍâ He agrees wăr ărḍen They don’t agree wǝr ǝrḍen They don’t agree tărḍêd s-ad tăkkăd Mărkoy ? Do you agree to go to Markoye? tǝrḍêd s-ad tăkkăd Mărkoy ? Do you agree to go to Markoye? erḍa s-a-dd-as He agreed to come (here) irḍa s-a-dd-asu He agreed to come (here) erhâ amidi-nes He likes his friend erhâ aẓrǝf ɣas He just wants money ărhêɣ aman I want water ărhêɣ ad ăkkăɣ Băyga I want to go to Beyga ma tărhêd ? What do you want? ăbḍân They are different ǝbḍân They are different wa ebḍâ ǝd-wa This is different from that wa ibḍâ ǝd-wa This is different from that wăr ăbḍen They are not different wǝr ǝbḍen They are not different
Group IA9 ikka hebu He went to market ašǝkka ad ăkkăɣ Mărkoy Tomorrow I will go to Markoye ažǝkka ad ăkkăɣ Mărkoy Tomorrow I will go to Markoye hebu kul takkăɣ Gorăn Every market I go to Gorom mi tǝkkêd ? Where are you going? illâ diha He is there illâ da He is there ǝndek diha tǝllêd ? Where are you? ǝndek da tǝllêd ? Where are you? mǝni-d tǝllêd ? Where are you? (Tawellemmet form, occasionally heard in Tudalt) wăr t-illa aẓrǝf There is no money wǝr t-illa aẓrǝf There is no money tăfukk tǝll-ê It is (hot and) sunny tǝfuk tǝll-ê It is (hot and) sunny (lit. ‘There is sun’)
234 Group IA10 (and IB5) os-id He arrived (here) / He came os-ăddǝd He arrived (here) / He came mǝnǵǝdu ma-dd-as ? When will he come? ǝmme za-dd-asu ? When will he come? tisăn-id hebu kul meɣ ? Do they come here every market? tasin-dǝd hebu kul meɣ ? Do they come here every market? oyya šăkkoš-ǝnnes He left his bag oyya šăkkoš-nes He left his bag ăyy-e ! Leave it (him) alone! (i.e. drop the matter) wa olâ ǝd-wa This and that are the same / are similar wǝr olen They are not the same
Group IA11 ihâ hebu He is in the market ih-ê ălhăm He is angry (anger is in him) iǵa ătay He made tea iga ătay He made tea ma tăǵǵăd ? What are you doing? // What do you do? ma taggăd ? What are you doing? // What do you do? wǝr ǝǵeɣ wăla I didn’t do anything // I’m not doing anything wǝr ǝgeɣ wăla I didn’t do anything // I’m not doing anything mamăla a ǝǵeɣ I do commerce mamăla a ǝgeɣ I do commerce ilâ amnǝs He owns a camel wǝr ila wăla He has nothing
Group II ăkkûs It is hot ikkûs It is hot itaǵǵ-e dăɣ ăfew y-ad ukas He puts it in the fire so that it will get hot itagg-e dăɣ tămse y-ad ukas He puts it in the fire so that it will get hot ăksôḍ He is afraid iksûḍ He is afraid ăxsûd He is afraid (This last is a local form of pronunciation for this word.) wăr ăksoḍăɣ wăla I’m not afraid of anything wǝr ǝksuḍăɣ wăla I’m not afraid of anything
235 ma-môs awa ? What is that? ma-ymôs awa ? What is that? ăwadǝm wa, ămănokal a ămos That person is a chief ăwadǝm wa, amǝnokal a imos That person is a chief ăsink wa ăẓêḍ That tô (millet porridge) is sweet (pleasant to eat) ǝšink wa iẓôḍ That tô (millet porridge) is sweet (pleasant to eat) ăynây It is new ărǝ̂w It is old / was a long time ago irǝ̂w It is old ohô It was a long time ago uǵǝ̂ǵ It is a long way away iggûg It is a long way away ihôg He has been a long time tǝhôgăd-in You were there a long time ad ăkkăɣ Nyăme a-din-ihagăɣ I am going to Niamey for a long time
Group III ăwadǝm wa ăššêɣăl That person is working ăwadǝm wa iššîɣăl That person is working ma tăšăɣalăd ? What work do you do? ma tašăɣalăd ? What work do you do? ǝššǝɣǝl-in tamăḍint My work (is) shepherding ăhalǝs wa ămmîǵrăd That man is speaking alǝs wa immîgrăd That man is speaking ărhêɣ ad ămmăǵrădăɣ dǝr-wăn I want to speak with you (pl) ǝrêɣ ad ămmăgrădăɣ dǝr-wăn I want to speak with you (pl)
Group III weak ‘t’ ending iẓẓîwăt It is expensive izzǝbbăt den He stayed over there mi ɣur tǝzzîbbăt ? Who are you staying with?
Group III vowel ending ăqqǝym dăɣ ăɣalla He sat in the courtyard iqqǝyma dăɣ ăɣalla He sat in the courtyard ɣăym diha ! Sit down here! ɣam da ! Sit down here! ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-ǝnnes I have forgotten his (its) name ǝttǝwăɣ-in isǝm-nes I have forgotten his (its) name ǝššǝɣǝl ămmînda The work is finished / completed ǝššǝɣǝl immînda The work is finished / completed
236 Group IV ăwadǝm wa wăššâr That person is old tamăṭṭ ta wăššărăt tǝnna … The old woman said … tanṭuṭ ta wăššărăt tǝnna … The old woman said … wa răqqîs That is easy / cheap wa rǝɣîs That is easy / cheap wăr răqqis It isn’t easy / cheap wǝr rǝɣis It isn’t easy / cheap aẓrǝf-năsăn ǝǵǵǝ̂t They are expensive aẓrǝf-năsăn iggǝ̂t They are expensive (lit. ‘Their money is a lot’) iǵa ǝššǝɣǝl ăǵǵên He did a lot of work iga ǝššǝɣǝl ăggên He did a lot of work ălxer ăǵǵên Thanks a lot ălxer ăggên Thanks a lot ǝnhăyăɣ amnǝs šăggâɣăn I saw a red (/ brown) camel ǝnăyăɣ amnǝs zăggâɣăn I saw a red (/ brown) camel ăddinăt wi šăggaɣnen ‘Red’ people ăytedăm wi zăggaɣnen ‘Red’ people (i.e. Arabs, Berbers and ‘Whites’) ehăḍ kăwâlăn A black (dark) night ăddinăt wi kăwalnen ‘Black’ people ăytedăm wi kăwalnen ‘Black’ people (i.e. Negroid Africans) amnǝs wa lăbâs That camel is nasty amnǝs wa i lăbâsăn That camel (is) a nasty one aykar wa măḍrî That puppy is small ăykar wa mǝḍrî That puppy is small aykar wa măḍrǝyăn The small puppy ăykar wa mǝḍrǝyăn The small puppy aykar wa-nḍărrăn The small puppy ăykar wa-nḍǝrrăn The small puppy ilălan wi măḍrîyăn These items are small ilălan wi mǝḍrîyăn These items are small ilălan wi măḍroynen Small items ǝlmădăq-qi dăɣ tǝmmăḍrit-in I learned it in my youth ǝlmădăq-qe dăɣ tǝmmǝḍrit-in I learned it in my youth
Group V nădwănnăt We chatted into the night nǝdăwănnăt We chatted into the night
Group XII ădobăn He got married (betrothed) tădôbănăd meɣ ? Are you married?
237 ădôbănăɣ măšan wǝr ǝǵeɣ I am engaged but not aẓăẓli harwa yet married ihôssăy It (/ he) is good / beautiful wǝr ihossăy It (/ he) is not good / beautiful
Group XII weak ‘t’ ending ăddôbăt He is able / He can (do it) wăr ăddobeɣ I am not able iddôbăt He is able / He can (do it) wǝr ǝddobeɣ I am not able ăṣṣôhăt It (/ he) is strong / expensive / difficult iṣṣôhăt It (/ he) is strong / expensive / difficult ăzzubbăt dihen He stayed over there mi ɣor tăzzûbbed ? Who are you staying with? ăhûskăt It (/ he) is good / beautiful wăr ăhuskăt It (/ he) is not good / beautiful
Group XVII ămîɣatărăɣ I am having difficulties mîɣatărăɣ I am having difficulties
Group XVIII ăsekăl He travelled ăsêkăl He has travelled (so he is not here) ad ăsakălăɣ ǝs-Nižer I am going to travel to Niger
Group XVIII weak ‘t’ ending ăẓẓûwwăt It is expensive
Group XVIII vowel ending ăhôǵa He has been a long time tăhôǵăd-in You were there a long time ad ăkkăɣ Nyăme a-hin-ăhaǵăɣ I am going to Niamey for a long time
Group IA1 causative ǝssǝlmăd-kăy Tămašăq He taught you Tamasheq issǝlmăd-kăy Tǝmažǝq He taught you Tamajeq isalmad-kăy Tămašăq He is teaching you Tamasheq šǝnkǝš-in ! Move over! zǝnkǝz-in ! Move over! ǝssǝstănăɣ awa iǵa I asked what he was doing / what he had done
238 ǝssǝstănăɣ awa iga I asked what he was doing / what he had done isastan harkuk He is always asking questions
Group IA5 causative ăsgădăɣ y-ărădyo I listened to the radio sagadăɣ y-ărădyo I listen to the radio
Group III causative tăskădăw amǝnsi She cooked the meal tăskădăw ămense She cooked the meal tăskădăw amǝnsi She cooked the meal sakădaw ămense She cooks the meal săddărgănăɣ y-ărădyo I listened to the radio sadărganăɣ y-ărădyo I listen to the radio
Group IA2 causative soɣǝl-tăt ! Put it(f) back! suɣǝl-tăt ! Put it(f) back!
Group IA3 causative iššokăl He travelled iššôkăl He has travelled (so he is not here) ad ǝššikǝlăɣ ǝs-Nižer I am going to travel to Niger
Group IA7 causative ǝssǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl He started work issǝnta ǝššǝɣǝl He started work iket ǝssǝntăɣ alămad ǝn-Tămašăq I have just started learning Tamasheq tǝssǝnsa ilalăn-nes dăɣ tanda She put her things down in the lean-to săns-e dăɣ ăhăn Put it down in the house / tent ǝššǝnšăɣ enăle I bought millet ărhêɣ ad šănšăɣ ătay I want to buy tea ǝzzǝnzăɣ enăle I bought millet ǝrêɣ ad ăzzănzăɣ ătay I want to buy tea
239 555 Key Vocabulary
240 Notes on the Key vocabulary The following sections contain a wide range of Tamasheq vocabulary grouped thematically, according to semantic fields. The format is: Meaning – Singular – Plural – Short prefix Where short prefix refers to the form of the initial vowel (or ‘t’ plus initial vowel for the feminine) when the noun is in the annexed state (see Section 3.3 Nouns). For some words further information or a short cultural note is given in parenthesis below the entry. The vocabulary is laid out in a loose hierarchical structure with synonyms, near synonyms and words with highly overlapping semantic fields grouped together. A half line separates words or groups of words on a theme or sub-theme. Sub-themes are underlined as sub-headings over vocabulary blocks and themes serve as section headings. It should be noted that the English word(s) given as the meaning can only give a general indication of the semantic field of the Tamasheq word in question. The fields of meaning rarely overlap completely and the contexts in which each can be employed will almost certainly vary. It is only by listening, practice and usage that the true semantic range of each Tamasheq word can be appreciated. The idiom notes attempt to give some guidance on particularly useful or difficult words. This section along with the verbs in Section 4 gives a thorough working vocabulary of Tamasheq as it is spoken in Oudalan. These are the terms most frequently encountered in day to day village life plus a considerable numbe of rarer terms that I consider useful or interesting. Countless more specialist terms are not included.
241 555.5...1111 Basic people words Man ăhalǝs meddăn (ă/-) Man alǝs meddăn (a/-) Woman tamăṭṭ (ti)ḍeḍen (tă/-) Woman tanṭuṭ tiḍoḍen (tǝ/tǝ) Child (m) ara aratăn (a/a) Child (f) tarat taraten (ta/ta) Child (m) bărar bărarăn (-/-) Child (f) tabărart tibăraren (tă/tǝ) Noble child (m) alyaḍ ilyaḍăn (ă/ǝ) Noble child (f) talyaṭṭ tilyaḍen (tă/tǝ) Noble child / youth (m) abăraḍ ibăraḍăn (ă/-) Noble child / youth (f) tabăraṭ tibăraḍen (tă/tǝ) Slave child (m) askiw iskiwăn (ǝ/ǝ) Slave child (f) taskiwt tiskiwen (tǝ/tǝ) Slave child (m) aškǝw iškiwăn (ǝ/ǝ) Slave child (f) taškut tiškiwen (tǝ/tǝ) Someone (m/f) ăwadǝm (ă) So and so (m) măndam (-) So and so (f) tamăndam (tă) So and so (f) tamăndamt (tă) People ăddinăt (ă) People ăytedăm (ă) Anyone / whoever ere (e) Anyone / whoever ir(i) (i) Crowd / gathering ălžămaɣăt ălžămaɣăten (ă/ă) People / crowd tamǝtte timǝttawen (tǝ/tǝ) People / crowd tamătte timăttiwen (tă/tǝ) Friend (m) amidi imidawăn (ǝ/-) Friend (f) tamidit timidawen (tǝ/tǝ) Old man / elder (m) amɣar imɣarăn (ă/ǝ) Old man / elder (m) aɣmar iɣmarăn (ă/ǝ) Old woman (f) tamɣart timɣaren (tă/tǝ) Old woman (f) taɣmart tiɣmaren (tă/tǝ) Adolescent (m) ămawaḍ imawaḍăn (ă/-) Adolescent (f) tămawaṭ timawaḍen (tă/tǝ) Neighbour (m) anhăraǵ anhăraǵăn (a/a) Neighbour (f) tanhărakk tanhăraǵen (ta/ta) Neighbour (m) anărag inăragăn (ă/ǝ) Neighbour (f) tanărak tinăragen (tă/tǝ) Guest (m) ănaftaɣ inaftaɣăn (ǝ/-) Guest (f) tănaftaqq tinaftaɣen (tǝ/tǝ)
242 Guest (m) amăǵar imăǵarăn (ă/-) Guest (m) amăgar imăgarăn (ă/-) Guest (f) tamăǵart timăǵaren (tă/tǝ) Guest (f) tamăgart timăgaren (tă/tǝ) Enemy ašănǵo išǝnǵa (ă/-) Enemy azăngo izǝnga (ă/-) Twin ekne aknewăn (e/a) Twin ekne iknewăn (e/ǝ) Twin ekne eknewăn (e/e)
555.5...2222 Family Immediate Family Family (Ar.) ălɣăyal ălɣăyalăn (ă/ă) —’s people (Ar.) ăddinăt ǝn- —’s people ăytedăm ǝn- (ă) Your family (Ar.) ălɣăyal-năwăn (ă) Your family (Ar.) ăddinăt-năwăn (ă) Your family ăytedăm-năwăn (ă) (My) father abba abbatăn (a/a) (My) father ǝbba ǝbbatăn (ǝ/ǝ) (My) mother anna annaten (a/a) (My) mother ǝnna ǝnnaten (ǝ/ǝ) Note: several of the terms below (shown followed by a ‘-’) are only used with an attached possessive pronoun. See Section 3.15 Pronouns for details. Father ti- tăy- (-/-) Father ši- tăy- (-/-) Mother ma- matt- (-/-) Mother ma- mătt- (-/-) Your(msg) father ti-k (-) Your(mpl) fathers tăy-wăn (-) Saidou’s father ti-s ǝn-Săydu (-) Parent / ancestor ămaraw imarawăn (ă/-) Brother ăŋŋa ayǝt-ma (ă/ă) Sister wălăt-ma šăt-ma (-/-) Sister wǝlǝt-ma ăššet-ma (-/ă) Older brother amăqqar imăqqarăn (ă/-) Younger brother amăḍray imăḍrayăn (ă/-) Older sister tamăqqart timăqqaren (tă/tǝ) Younger sister tamăḍrayt timăḍrayen (tă/tǝ) Husband / man ăhalǝs meddăn (ă/-) Husband / man alǝs meddăn (a/-) Wife hănn- (-) Wife / woman tamăṭṭ (ti)ḍeḍen (tă/-) Wife / woman tanṭuṭ tiḍoḍen (tǝ/tǝ)
243 ‘She who is with …’ ta ɣor … - (-) The ‘so and so’ of tamăndam ǝn- (tă) The ‘so and so’ of tamăndamt ǝn- (tă) E.g.: My wife hănn-i (-) My wife hănn-e (-) Your wife hănn-ik (-) Your wife hănn-ek (-) Saidou’s wife hănn-is ǝn-Săydu (-) Saidou’s wife hănn-es ǝn-Săydu (-) Saidou’s wife tamăṭṭ tan Săydu (tă) Saidou’s wife tanṭuṭ tan Săydu (tǝ) Their husbands meddăn-năsnăt (-) Son ror- mǝddan- (-/-) Son rur- măddan- (-/-) Daughter ell- iss- (e/i) Daughter ell- ešš- (e/e) Co-wife / rival takna takniwen (ta/ta) Co-wife / rival takna taknaten (ta/ta) Concubine tawăyhăt tiwăyhăten (tă/tǝ) Concubine tewăhăyt tiwăhăyen (tă/tǝ) (Specifically a slave taken as ‘wife’. Simply living together unmarried is refered to more euphemistically e.g. ‘She is his friend’.)
Wider Family Note: in Tamasheq culture family relationships are viewed very differently than in the West. Any older relative may be referred to as ‘father’ or ‘mother’ (especially when using ). Parallel cousins may be referred to as ‘brother’ or ‘sister’, nephews, nieces and grandchildren as ‘son’ or ‘daughter’. Crossed cousin ăbabaš ibubaš (ǝ/-) Crossed cousin ăbobăz ibobazăn (ǝ/-) (i.e. The child of a maternal uncle or a paternal aunt. A ‘joking relationship’ exists between crossed cousins who insult each other at every opportunity.) Maternal uncle ăŋŋăt-ma (ă) Other uncles and aunts, grandparents etc. are referred to generically as ‘father’, ‘mother’ or specifically, e.g. ‘his father’s older brother’. A man’s sister’s child teǵăše tiǵǝšš (tă/tǝ) A man’s sister’s child tegăze tigǝzz (tă/tǝ) Other nephews and nieces are referred to generically as sons and daughters or specifically, e.g. ‘my younger brother’s son’. In-laws of a different generation are refered to by generic terms (i.e. the same word is used for father-in-law and son-in-law). Male ‘in-law’ aḍăggal iḍulan (ă/-) Male ‘in-law’ ăḍaggal iḍulan (ă/-)
244 Female ‘in-law’ taḍăggalt tiḍulen (tă/tǝ) Female ‘in-law’ tăḍaggalt tiḍulen (tă/tǝ) (In Tamasheq culture a shame relationship operates between ‘in laws’: no eating or showing emotion in front of them!) Brother-in-law alǝggǝs ilusan (ǝ/-) Brother-in-law alǝggus ilusan (ǝ/-) Sister-in-law talǝggǝst tilusen (tǝ/tǝ) Sister-in-law talǝggust tilusen (tǝ/tǝ) ‘Father’ (old man) amɣar imɣarăn (ă/ǝ) ‘Mother’ (old woman) tamɣart timɣaren (tă/tǝ) Relative (distant) (Ar.) ašăqqaɣ išăqqaɣăn (ǝ/-) Relative (distant) (Ar.) ašǝqqaɣ išǝqqaɣăn (ǝ/-) Kin temeṭṭ (tă) (lit. ‘Umbilical cord’) ‘Orphan’ (lost a parent) aǵuhel iǵuhelăn (ǝ/-) ‘Orphan’ (lost a parent) aguhel iguhelăn (ǝ/-) Stepson ăǵolăy iǵolăyăn (ă/-) Stepson ăgola igolan (ă/-) Stepdaughter tăǵolăyt tiǵolăyen (tǝ/tǝ) Stepdaughter tăgolăyt tigolăyen (tǝ/tǝ) Descendant (m) ahăya ihăyawăn (ă/-) Descendant (f) tahăyawt tihăyawen (tă/tǝ) Descendant (f) tahăyăwt tihăyăwen (tă/tǝ) Ancestor emătterǝw imătterǝwăn (ă/-) Ancestor amǝttirǝw imǝttiraw (ǝ/-)
555.5...3333 People groups Tamasheq society is split into five main ‘castes’ . Although there is a loss of the significance of these in the modern world, intermarriage between them is still rare and social status / role is still highly stratified along class / caste lines.
Castes Bellah (slave) (m) akli eklan (ǝ/e) Bellah (f) taklit tiklaten (tǝ/tǝ) Bellah (f) taklit taklaten (tǝ/ta) Craftsman (m) enhăḍ inhăḍăn (ă/ǝ) Craftsman (m) enăḍ inăḍăn (ă/-) Craftswoman (f) tenhăṭ tinhăḍen (tă/tǝ) Craftswoman (f) tenăṭ tinăḍen (tă/tǝ) Herder / vassal (m) amăɣid imɣad (ǝ/ǝ) Herder / vassal (m) amǝɣid imǝɣad (ǝ/-) Herder / vassal (f) tamăɣitt timɣad (tǝ/tǝ) Herder / vassal (f) tamǝɣit timǝɣad (tǝ/tǝ)
245 Religious (m) ăw ǝssuk kǝl ǝssuk (ă/-) Religious (f) tǝw ǝssuk šăt ǝssuk (tǝ/-) Religious (f) wǝlǝt ǝssuk ăššet ǝssuk (-/ă) Noble (Tuareg) (m) ămašăɣ imušaɣ (ǝ/-) Noble (m) ămažǝɣ imažǝɣăn (ǝ/-) Noble (f) tămašăq timušaɣ (tǝ/tǝ) Noble (f) Tǝmažǝq timažǝɣen (tǝ/tǝ) Free-born / noble (m) elăll ilăllan (ă/-) Free-born / noble (f) telăllit tilăllaten (tă/tǝ) Free-born / noble (m) alǝlli ilăllan (ă/-) Free-born / noble (m) talǝllit tilăllaten (tǝ/tǝ) (This groups noble, religious and vassal classes.) As well as being born a certain caste each person is born into a particular clan. Listings of the clans of Oudalan can be found in Barral (1977). (A clan) awărăɣwăraɣ iwărăɣwăraɣăn (ă/-) (A clan) kǝl udalăn Clan tawset tiwsaten (tă/tǝ) Clan tăwšet tăwšeten (tă/tă)
Other people groups Note that in Tamasheq the name of the language a people speak is the f.sg person. Fulani (m) ăfullan ifullanăn (ǝ/-) Fulani (m) ǝfollan ifollanăn (ǝ/-) Fulani / Fulfulde (f) tăfullant tifullanen (tǝ/tǝ) Fulani / Fulfulde (f) tǝfollant tifollanen (tǝ/tǝ) Songhay (m) ehăt ihătan (ă/-) Songhay (m) ehǝti ihătan (ă/-) Songhay (f) tehătit tihătaten (tă/tǝ) Songhay (f) tehǝtit tihătaten (tă/tǝ) Hausa (m) esăwăɣ isăwăɣăn (ă/-) Hausa (f) tesăwăqq tisăwăɣen (tă/tǝ) (In Niger this term is generally applied to certain Songhay groups.) Arab (m) arab arabăn (a/a) Arab / Arabic (f) tarabt taraben (ta/ta) Mossi (m) ămosi imosităn (ă/-) Mossi (m) ămoši imošităn (ă/-) Mossi (m) mosi mosităn (-/-) Mossi (m) moši mošităn (-/-) Mossi (f) tămosit timositen (tǝ/tǝ) Mossi (f) tămošit timošiten (tǝ/tǝ) European (m) ăkafăr ikufar (ǝ/-) European (m) ăkafǝr ikufar (ǝ/-) (language =‘French’) tăkafărt tikufar (tǝ/tǝ) (language =‘French’) tăkafǝrt tikufar (tǝ/tǝ) (This is from the Arabic ‘pagan, non-Muslim’.)
246
555.5...4444 Other people words Son of … (figurative use) Son of … ăw / u kăl / kǝl (ă/-) (In Tamaghit ‘u’ may be used before a consonant, is used before i / ǝ / u .) Son of … ăw- kǝl- (ă/-) Daughter of … tǝw- / wălăt- šăt- (-/-) Daughter of … wǝlǝt- ăššet- (-/ă) Tamasheq (m) ăw tămašăqq kăl tămašăqq (ă/-) Tamasheq (f) wălăt tămašăqq šăt tămašăqq (-/-) Tamajeq (m) ăw Tǝmažǝq kǝl Tǝmažǝq (ă/-) Tamajeq (f) wǝlǝt Tǝmažǝq ăššet Tǝmažǝq (-/-) (I.e. someone of Tamasheq mother tongue regardless of class.) Tailor ăw măsin / ăw măšin (ă) (lit. ‘Son of the machine’) Note that the Tudalt plural is kǝl- in each of the following: Trader ( Other Professions Trader (Ar.) ăttažer ăttažerăn (ă/ă) Griot (musician) aggu aggutăn (a/a) Potter / ‘griot’ (Fu.) ămabbu ămabbutăn (ă/ă) Potter / ‘griot’ (Fu.) mabbu mabbutăn (-/-) Teacher (esp. religious) ălfăqqi ălfăqqităn (ă/ă) Teacher (esp. religious) ǝlfǝqqi ǝlfǝqqităn (ǝ/ǝ) Doctor (western trained) lăxtor lăxtortăn (-/-) Doctor (western trained) lăqtor lăqtortăn (-/-) Doctor (western trained) lăktor lăktortăn (-/-) Rebels (neologism) ăšomăr / ăšamur išumar (ǝ/-) Expert / enthusiast (Ar.) ăššažeɣ ăššažeɣăn (ă/ă) Metal-worker (Fu.) atăga ităgatăn (ă/-) 247 Builder (Ar.) ălbănna ălbănnatăn (ă/ă) Sedentary people awǝnnan iwǝnnanăn (ǝ/-) Owner măss- mǝssaw- (-/-) Owner măšš- mǝššaw- (-/-) Car (bush taxi) owner măss-is ǝn-torǝft (-) Car (bush taxi) owner măšš-iš ǝn-turǝft (-) Shop owner măss-is ǝn-măngăza (-) Shop owner măšš-iš ǝn-măngăza (-) Good-for-nothing erk-ăwadǝm erk-ăddinat (e/e) Good-for-nothing erk-ăwadǝm erk-ăytedăm (e/e) Good-for-nothing ăwadǝm ǝn-bănnan (ă) Thief emăkrăḍ imăkrăḍăn (ă/-) Thief ebăydăg ibăydăgăn (ă/-) Sorcerer emăššăɣăw imăššăɣăwăn (ă/-) Prostitute (So.) tawăykurut tiwăykuruten (tă/tǝ) Prostitute (Ar.) tălkăxbat tălkăxbaten (tă/tă) Soldier ăssărdasi ǝssărdusa (ă/ǝ) Soldier ăssărdasi ăssărdasităn (ă/ă) Army / raiding party eǵhăn aǵhanăn (e/a) Army / raiding party egăn igǝnăn (ă/-) 555.5...5555 AdjectivaAdjectivall nouns Some of the nouns already met above fall into this category (e.g. , ). Adjectival nouns are derived from verbal roots, almost every noun listed here corresponds to a verb in the verb groups whose root is the consonants following the ‘m’ or ‘n’ of the singular of the noun. These nouns may be used alone or as qualifiers to another noun, e.g.: The chief left ămănokal igla The chief left amǝnokal igla A (/the) chief arrived ăhalǝs wan ămănokăl os-id A (/the) chief arrived alǝs wan ǝmǝnokal osa-dǝd The stand-alone usage is best thought of as ellipsis, as in English usage, e.g.: Blacks imikwălăn is short for: Black people ăddinăt win mikwălăn / ăddinăt wi kăwalnen Black people ăytedăm win mikwălăn / ăytedăm wi kăwalnen OccupOccupationsations Chief ămănokal imănokalăn (ǝ/-) Chief amǝnokal imǝnokalăn (ǝ/-) Owner / master emăli imălan (ă/-) 248 Owner / master emǝli imălan (ǝ/-) Owner / master ămakraš imakrašăn (ă/-) Leader ămizăr imizărăn (ǝ/-) Leader amizăr imizărăn (ǝ/-) Workman / servant emăššăɣăl imăššăɣălăn (ă/-) Shepherd / herder amăḍan imăḍanăn (ă/-) Farmer / peasant ămaǵyak imaǵyakăn (ǝ/-) Farmer / peasant ămagyak imagyakăn (ǝ/-) Traveller/ tourist ămăssakul imǝssukal (ă/-) Traveller/ tourist amăššakul imǝššukal (ă/-) Guard ămagaẓ imagaẓăn (ǝ/-) Boaster anăsbăraǵ inăsbăraǵăn (ă/-) Boaster anăsbărag inăsbăragăn (ă/-) Hunter ămăhayyu imǝhuyya (ă/-) Hunter ănagmar inagmarăn (ǝ/-) Teacher enăsselmǝd inăsselmǝdăn (ă/-) Teacher anǝsselmǝd inǝsselmǝdăn (ă/-) Teacher emăsăɣăr imăsăɣran (ă/-) Teacher amǝsseɣri imǝssǝɣra (ă/-) Judge ămašraɣ imašraɣăn (ǝ/-) Writer / secretary ( The ‘doer’ of a verb Doer emăǵǵ imăǵǵan (ă/-) Doer amǝggi imăggan (ǝ/-) Killer / murderer emănɣ imănɣan (ă/-) Killer / murderer amǝnɣi imănɣan (ǝ/-) Adulterer emăzni imăznan (ă/-) Adulterer amǝzni imăznan (ǝ/-) Adulteress temăznit timăznaten (tă/tǝ) Adulteress tamǝznit timăznaten (tǝ/tǝ) Traitor ămaɣdar imaɣdarăn (ǝ/-) Wrong-doer ănaḍlam inaḍlamăn (ǝ/-) Evil(-doer) enăllăbăs inăllăbăsăn (ă/-) Evil(-doer) anăllăbăs inăllăbăsăn (ă/-) Bridegroom ămaẓlay imaẓlayăn (ǝ/-) Worshipper ănaɣbad inaɣbadăn (ǝ/-) Fearer / fearful ămaksaḍ imaksaḍăn (ǝ/-) Fearer / fearful ămăksoḍ imăksoḍăn (ă/-) 249 Fearer / fearful ămiksăḍ imiksăḍăn (ǝ/-) Fearer / fearful ămaxsad imaxsadăn (ă/-) Servant / messenger ănămmašal inămmašalăn (ă/-) Servant / messenger anămmazal inămmazalăn (ă/-) Gardener / sower anăsdamu inǝsduma (ă/-) Student / reader emăɣri imăɣran (ă/-) Student / reader emǝɣri imăɣran (ă/-) Maker / repairer emăkni imăknan (ă/-) Maker / repairer emǝkni imăknan (ǝ/-) Eater emăkš imăkšan (ă/-) Eater amǝkši imăkšan (ǝ/-) Drinker emăsăw imăswan (ă/-) Drinker emǝswi imăswan (ǝ/-) Rider ămănay imănayăn (ă/-) Rider amăwan imăwanăn (ă/-) States of sickness or disability Sick ămarhin imarhinăn (ă/-) Sick ămirăn imirănăn (ǝ/-) Blind emădderɣǝl imǝddorɣal (ă/-) Blind amǝdderɣǝl imǝddǝrɣal (ǝ/-) Deaf amẓaǵ imẓaǵăn (ă/ǝ) Deaf amẓag imẓagăn (ă/ǝ) Cripple anăbdon inǝbdan (ă/-) Mad enăffărešše inǝffǝrušša (ă/-) Mad enăffărăšše inǝffǝrǝšša (ă/-) Mad emeskel imeskelăn (ă/-) (This term is often used of children with severe learning difficulties.) Possessed amăggaru imǝggora (ă/-) Possessed amăggaru imǝggura (ă/-) Sterile (childless) (m) emăǵǵeǵri imǝǵǵuǵra (ă/-) Sterile (childless) (m) amǝggegri imǝggǝgra (ǝ/-) Sterile (childless) (f) temăǵǵeǵrit timǝǵǵuǵra (tă/tǝ) Sterile (childless) (f) tamǝggegrit timǝggǝgra (tǝ/tǝ) Dead enămmettǝn inǝmmuttan (ă/-) Dead anǝmmettǝn inǝmmǝttan (ǝ/-) Colour or character Red (Pale skinned) ămišwăɣ imišwăɣăn (ă/-) Red (Pale skinned) amizwăɣ imizwăɣăn (ǝ/-) Black (Dark skinned) ămikwăl imikwălăn (ă/-) Black (Dark skinned) amikwăl imikwălăn (ǝ/-) 250 Liar ănăsbahu inǝsbuha (ă/-) Liar anăsbahu inǝsbuha (ă/-) Strong emăṣṣehi imăṣṣuha (ă/-) Strong emăṣṣehi imǝṣṣuha (ă/-) Greedy ămaxlad imaxladăn (ǝ/-) Profligate / destructive ămaxšad imaxšadăn (ǝ/-) Violent / pagan ( Special class A few, originally verbal nouns, are grammatically feminine even when referring to men, e.g.: Witness (m/f) taǵuhe tiǵuhawen (tǝ/tǝ) Witness (m/f) tǝgǝyya tigǝyyawen (tǝ/tǝ) Dependent / poor (m/f) talăqqe tilăqqewen (tǝ/tǝ) Dependent / poor (m/f) talǝqqe tilǝqqawen (tǝ/tǝ) Eminent / powerful tămara timariwen (tă/tǝ) Rich terše taršiwen (te/ta) Crafty / cunning termit termiten (te/te) Crafty / cunning termit termiten (te/te) 555.5...6666 Domestic animals General terms Animal ămudăr imudărăn (ǝ/-) Animal amudăr imudărăn (ǝ/-) Herds / flocks arǝzzeǵ irǝzzeǵăn (ǝ/-) Herds / flocks arǝzzeg irǝzzegăn (ǝ/-) Wealth / flocks ehăre ihărawăn (ă/-) Wealth / flocks ehăre ihǝrwan (ă/-) Flock / fold asǵǝn isǵan (ǝ/ǝ) Flock / fold asǝgǝn isǝgan (ǝ/-) 251 ‘Whole’ male ămalǝy imulay (ǝ/-) Castrated male ăǵorh iǵorhawăn (ǝ/-) Castrated male ăgur igurawăn / (ǝ/-) igărrăn (These may refer to all types of domestic mammals except sheep.) Camels Camel (m) amnǝs imnas (ǝ/ǝ) Camel (f) taḷǝmt taḷmen (tăḷămt/ta) Camel (f) taḷǝmt toḷmen (tăḷămt/to) (The feminine form here is thought to be an ancient contraction of in which case the ‘ḷ’ reflects the lost gutteral. It is the only ‘ḷ’ not in a word borrowed from Arabic.) New-born camel (m) awăra iwăran (ă/-) New-born camel (f) tawărayt tiwărayen (tă/tǝ) New-born camel (f) tawărăyt tiwărăyen (tă/tǝ) To 1 year alăgoḍ ilogaḍăn (ă/-) To 1 year alăgoḍ ilǝgaḍ (ă/-) 1-2 years ămugăy imugăyăn (ǝ/-) 1-2 years amugăy imugăyăn (ǝ/-) 2-3 years akărkor ikǝrkar (ǝ/-) 2-3 years akǝrkur ikǝrkar (ǝ/-) 3-4 years ăsaka isakan (ă/-) Young adult aɣlam iɣlamăn (ă/ǝ) Old camel arǝggan irǝgganăn (ǝ/-) Camel Tack Saddle tărik tiriken (tă/tǝ) Saddle tǝrik tiriken (tǝ/tǝ) Decorated saddle tamẓakk timẓagen (tă/tǝ) Cloth under saddle amăsloɣ imǝslaɣ (ǝ/-) Thong to tie saddle tăsasǝst tisusas (tǝ/tǝ) Thong to tie saddle ăsasǝs isusas (ǝ/-) Strap under belly tattolt tattolen (ta/ta) Metal ring tawinǝst tiwinas (tǝ/tǝ) Woman’s saddle (Ar.) tăxawit tixiwa (tǝ/tǝ) Woman’s saddle (Ar.) tǝxawit tixiwa (tǝ/tǝ) Hobbling rope tefărt tefren (te/te) Hobbling rope teffart tifren (te/ti) Mouth rope tarihet tiriha (tă/tǝ) Mouth rope ăkala ikalan (ă/-) Cattle Cow tas (tă) Cattle / cows iwan (-) (This word is generally treated as fpl even though its form is mpl.) Cow tast šitan (tă/ši) Bull esu aswanăn (ă/a) Bull esăw isăwwăn (ă/-) 252 Bull ămaka imakan (ǝ/-) Ox awdes iwdesăn (ă/ǝ) Calf (newborn) ehădăl ihădălăn (ă/-) Calf (newborn) edăll idăllăn (ă/-) Calf ăloki ilokǝyăn (ǝ/-) Calf ebărkăw ibărkăwăn (ă/-) Large bull calf ašǵăr išǵarăn (ă/-) Large bull calf azgăr izǝgran (ă/-) Young bull ehări ihăran (ă/-) Young bull ehǝri ihăran (ǝ/-) Heifer tăhaɣit tihaɣwen (tă/tă) Heifer taɣit tiɣwen (tǝ/tǝ) Old bull (f – cow) ebăɣăw ibǝɣwan (ă/-) (Also a popular euphemism for ‘lion’.) Other large domestic animals Donkey (m) ešeḍ išeḍăn (ă/-) Donkey (f) tešeṭṭ tišeḍen (tă/tǝ) Donkey (m) ažăḍ ižăḍan (ă/-) ǝẓẓan (ǝ) Donkey (f) tažăṭṭ tižăḍen (tă/tǝ) tǝẓẓen (tǝ) Young donkey ăhulel ihulelăn (ǝ/-) Young donkey ăẓa iẓatăn (ă/-) Young donkey ăẓa iẓăwwăn (ă/-) Large donkey ahănɣărrăy ihănɣărrăyăn (ă/-) Large donkey anɣer anɣerăn (a/a) Horse (m) ebăǵe ibăǵawăn (ă/-) Mare tebăǵăwt tibăǵawen (tă/tǝ) Horse (m) ebăge ibǝgwan (ă/-) Mare tebăgăwt tibǝgwen (tă/tǝ) Foal ăhugg ihuggăn (ǝ/-) Foal ăhug ihăggăn (ǝ/-) Good horse ayǝs iyyǝsan (ǝ/ǝ) Good horse ăys ǝggǝsăn (ă/ǝ) Bad horse / nag efăkre ifăkrăwăn (ă/-) Red (chestnut) horse ahăras ihărasăn (ă/-) (This is also a euphemism for a lion.) Smaller domestic animals Sheep / ewe tehăle tihatten (tă/tǝ) WZa Sheep / ewe tilăy (ti) (The old irregular plural has fallen into disuse among Tudalt speakers, most would now misunderstand it as , the Tamaghit is used instead.) Ram ekrăr akrarăn (e/a) Ram ekrăr ekrarăn (e/e) Castrated male abăǵoǵ ibǝǵaǵ (ă/-) Castrated male abăgog ibǝgag (ă/-) 253 Woolly sheep (Merinos) akǝndǝm ikǝndǝmăn (ǝ/-) Woolly sheep (Merinos) akǝndǝm ikǝndam (ǝ/-) Lamb akrǝwat ikrǝwatăn (ǝ/ǝ) Lamb akǝrwat ikǝrwatăn (ǝ/-) Young ram ebăkăr ibǝkran (ă/-) Goat (f) taɣat ulli (ta/u) Goat (f) teɣse taɣsiwen / (te/ta) wǝlli (-) Goat (m) ăšolăɣ išulaɣ (ǝ/-) Goat (m) ašăɣol išɣal (ă/-) Goat (m) ăžolăɣ ižulaɣ (ǝ/-) Goat (m) ažăɣol / ăžaɣul ižǝɣal (ă/-) Kid eɣăyd iɣăydăn (ă/-) Young goat (2-6 months) esăǵăy isăǵăyăn (ă/-) Young goat (2-6 months) esăgăy isăgăyăn (ă/-) Young goat abăryom ibǝryam (ă/-) Old goat erădeɣ irǝdɣan (ă/-) Cock ekăz ikăzan (ă/-) Hen tekăzit tikăzaten (tă/tǝ) Cock ekǝži ikăžan (ǝ/-) Hen tekǝžit tikăžaten (tǝ/tǝ) Chick aswet aswetăn (a/a) Guinea fowl taylalt taylalen (a/a) Guinea fowl tăylalt tăylalen (ă/ă) Dog (m) edi iyăḍan (e/i) Dog (f) tedit tiyăḍen (e/ti) Dog (m) idi iḍan (i/-) Dog (f) tidit tiḍen (ti/tǝ) Puppy aykar aykarăn (a/a) Puppy ăykar ăykarăn (ă/ă) Cat (m/f) muss mussăten (-/-) Pig (Ar.) ǝlxǝnžăr ǝlxǝnžărăn (ǝ/ǝ) (Only found in towns where they are kept by non-Muslim outsiders.) 555.5...7777 Wild animals In Tamasheq, a masculine or feminine form is used depending on the gender of the animal referred to. When talking about an animal in general terms, there is a convention for each species as to whether the masculine or the feminine is normally used. Where only one gender is shown in the list below this is the one most commonly employed. For some creatures the masculine and feminine forms are used to refer to a larger or smaller example rather than to strictly signal gender. Some wild animals are most frequently referred to by euphemistic names that allude to something in their colouring or character. 254 General Wild animals imudărăn wi-n tăkoyt (-) Wild animals imudărăn wi-n ǝsuf (-) Fierce wild animal awăqqas iwăɣsan (ă/-) Fierce wild animal awăqqas iwǝɣsan (ă/-) Fierce wild animal ăxxu ăxxutăn (ă/ă) Fish emăn imănan (ă/-) Lair (of lion etc.) tăhala tihaliwen (tă/tǝ) Larger animals still found in Oudalan Hyena (spotted) tăšori tišorǝyawǝnen (tǝ/tǝ) Hyena (spotted) tǝžori tižorǝyawen (tǝ/tǝ) Gazelle (rufifrons) edăm idăman (ă/-) Gazelle (rufifrons) edǝmi idăman (ǝ/-) Young gazelle ăbugara ibugaratăn (ă/-) Fawn ašǝnkăḍ išǝnkaḍ (ǝ/-) Fawn ažǝnkǝḍ ižǝnkaḍ (ǝ/-) (This last term is also used elsewhere for the adult dorcas gazelle.) Monitor lizard ăbaǵǝn ibuǵan (ǝ/-) Monitor lizard ăbagǝn ibugan (ǝ/-) Boar / wild pig agăngăra igăngăratăn (ă/-) Boar / wild pig aẓebăra iẓebăratăn (ǝ/-) Monkey kăya kăyatăn (-/-) Jackal ebǝggi ibăggan (ǝ/-) Jackal in-tănɣen ǝdd-in-tănɣen (i/ǝ) (The Tamaghit name given here is a kind of nickname.) Wild cat taɣda taɣdiwen (a/a) (‘small wild beast’) bărwăqqas bărwăqqasăn (-/-) Tortoise efărɣăs ifărɣăsăn (ă/-) Aardvark adhǝǵ idhǝǵan (ǝ/ǝ) Aardvark adhǝg idhǝgan (ǝ/ǝ) Aardvark adbǝg idbǝgan (ǝ/ǝ) Grey fox // fennec ešăgăš išăgăšăn (ă/-) Grey fox // fennec ezăgăz izăgăzăn (ă/-) (The grey fox is common in Oudalan, the fennec is found further North.) Goblin in-tăbrăybărăy (In Prasse’s Lexique is listed as ‘gorilla’ although there are no gorillas in the Sahel or any of the areas visited by Tamasheqs. In Oudalan it refers to a mythical creature – a kind of genie. The story is that if you meet one in the bush you wrestle with it. If it throws you it kills you or drives you mad, if you throw it, it gives you a ring that is the source of great fortune, but whose power is lost if you respond to someone calling your name.) 255 Larger animals found elsewhere in the Sahel During the twentieth century all of these were gradually wiped out in Oudalan due to hunting or human encroachment on habitats. Lion ăhăr ehran (ă/ă) Lion ăhăr ihărrăn (ă/-) (Lions are usually referred to by a euphemistic term e.g. ‘wild beast’, ‘old bull’, ‘chestnut horse’, ‘golden yellow antelope’.) Lion cub ăleḍas ileḍasăn (ǝ/-) Lion cub ǝliḍas iliḍasăn (ǝ/-) Elephant elu elwan (e/e) Giraffe amdăɣ imdăɣan (ă/ǝ) Giraffe amdǝɣ imdăɣan (ǝ/ǝ) Hippotrague (antelope) ašămol išmal (ă/ǝ) Hippotrague (antelope) ažămol ižmal (ă/ǝ) Dama gazelle enher inherăn (ă/ǝ) Dama gazelle ener inerăn (ă/-) Fawn alămom ilmam (ă/ǝ) Fawn alămom ilǝmam (ă/ǝ) (Also refers to the Mhorr gazelle now extinct in the wild.) Antelope (damalisk) edăr idăran (ă/-) Antelope (damalisk) edǝri idăran (ǝ/-) Oryx ešămm išămmăn (ă/-) Oryx ezăm izămmăn (ă/-) (The skin was used to make shields; only found much further North.) Crocodile ăɣata iɣatan (ă/-) Hippopotamus ăǵamba iǵamban (ă/-) Hippopotamus ăgamba igamban (ă/-) Striped hyena ăridal iridalăn (ă/-) Striped hyena aridal iridalăn (ǝ/-) Wild dog / wolf taɣǝssit teɣǝss (tă/tă) Wild dog / wolf taɣǝst tiɣǝss (tǝ/tǝ) Cheetah ahdal ihdalăn (ă/-) Cheetah adal adalăn (a/a) Leopard / panther wašil wašilăn (-/-) Serval (wild cat) mayas mayasăn (-/-) Serval (wild cat) ămayas imayasăn (ǝ/-) Smaller mammals of Oudalan White mouse temăllelut timǝllula (tă/tǝ) Mouse ăkor ikarrăn (ă/-) Mouse ǝkoṭăy ikoṭăyăn (ǝ/-) Rat ăkundăr ikundărăn (ǝ/-) 256 Squirrel (ground) ăkolăn ikolănăn (ǝ/-) Hedgehog tekănessit tikǝnessa (tă/tǝ) Hedgehog tekǝneššit tikǝneššiten (tǝ/tǝ) Porcupine temăɣăyt timăɣăyen (tă/tǝ) Hare / rabbit temărwălt timărwălen (tă/tǝ) Zorilla (like a skunk) fǝkǝdǝrru fǝkǝdǝrrutăn (-/-) Bat afărtătta ifărtăttan (ă/-) Gerbil eḍǝwi iḍăwan (ă/-) (Found further north but probably not in Oudalan.) Smaller reptiles and Amphibians Snake taššalt / taššălt taššalen (ta/ta) Snake taššelt / taššolt taššelen (ta/ta) Python tanăɣwăt tanăɣwăten (ta/ta) Cobra (spitting) emăǵăl imăǵălăn (ă/-) Cobra (spitting) emăgăl imăgălăn (ă/-) (Other snakes include , z and .) Euphemism for snake aɣan n-ăkal (ă) Euphemism for snake aɣan n-ămăḍal (ă) (lit. ‘Rope of the earth’) Toad eǵăr iǵăran (ă/-) Toad egǝru igăran (ǝ/-) Tadpole ašnăɣ išnăɣăn (ă/-) Tadpole aznǝɣ iznǝɣăn (ǝ/-) (Also used to refer to miscarried / premature babies.) Tadpole ešănăɣnăɣ išănăɣnăɣăn (ă/-) Tadpole ezănăɣnăɣ izănăɣnăɣăn (ă/-) Lizard emăǵăydăr imăǵăydărăn (ă/-) Lizard abǝgǝngǝnu ibǝgǝngǝnăn (ǝ/-) Slender striped lizard temăkălkălt timăkălkălen (tă/tǝ) Gecko emătăɣtăɣ imătăɣtăɣăn (ă/-) Chameleon tăhawt tihawen (tă/tă) Chameleon tawǝt tawǝten (ta/ta) ‘Crawlies’ iškukareḍăn (ǝ) ‘Crawlies’ mǝlulăn (-) Birds Bird (/ flying thing) egăḍeḍ igḍaḍ (ă/ǝ) Bird (/ flying thing) agǝḍiḍ igǝḍaḍ (-/ǝ) Senegal fire finch takăbort tikbar (tă/tǝ) Senegal fire finch takăbort tikǝbar (tă/tǝ) Millet-eater tošǝmba tošǝmbaten (to/to) Millet-eater tuzǝnba tuzǝnbaten (tu/tu) 257 Pigeon tedăbert tidǝbren (tă/tǝ) White dove tedăbert măllăt tidǝbren măllôlnen (tă/tǝ) Ostrich anăhil inhal (ă/ǝ) Ostrich anil inyal (ǝ/ǝ) Pied-crow ăẓayǝǵ eẓuyaǵ (ă/-) Pied-crow aɣrut iɣrutăn (ǝ/ǝ) Egret ebelbel ibelbelăn (ǝ/-) Bustard ăgayǝs iguyas (ǝ/-) Bustard (small) takrewt takrewen (ta/ta) Owl bǝwwen bǝwwenăn (-/-) Owl agăžol igžal (ă/ǝ) Owl agăžol igǝžal (ă/-) Duck / Egyptian goose takǝnšamǝnt tikǝnšuman (tǝ/tǝ) Duck / Egyptian goose takǝnžamǝmt tikǝnžumam (tǝ/tǝ) Pot bellied duck ekăk ikăkan (ă/-) Large billed duck tinn-ăkumkum (ti) Large billed duck tinn-ǝkǝmkum (ti) Black kite ălollam ilollămăn (ǝ/-) Black kite ǵăbu ǵăbutăn (-/-) Vulture / eagle eǵădăr iǵǝdran (ă/-) Vulture / eagle egădăr igǝdran (ă/-) Small white vulture tăɣălge tiɣălgiwen (tă/tă) Small white vulture tăɣalge tiɣalgiwen (tă/tǝ) White stork aɣăllănǵom iɣǝllănǵam (ă/-) White stork aɣăllăngom iɣǝllǝngam (ă/-) Sacred ibis in-tătăwt ǝdd-in-tătăwt (i/ǝ) Pelican taɣălbămbo tiɣălbămbotăn (tă/tǝ) Crane tenekk tineǵen (tă/tǝ) Crane tenek tinegen (tă/tǝ) Hornbill (?) ămukăs imukăsăn (ă/-) Nest asăkok iskak (ă/ǝ) Nest asăkok isǝkak (ă/-) Bugs Fly ešš eššan (e/e) Fly iži ižan (i/-) Mosquito tădast (sg=pl) (tă) Scorpion teẓerdǝmt teẓordam (tă/tă) Scorpion tăẓardǝmt tiẓǝrdam (tǝ/tǝ) Spider sawras sawrasăn (-/-) Spider saras sarasăn (-/-) 258 Hunting spider eɣerdǝm iɣerdǝmăn (ă/-) Hunting spider ǝɣardǝm iɣǝrdam (ǝ/-) Locust / grasshopper ămaggad imaggadăn (ă/-) Locust / grasshopper ažwal ižwalăn (ă/ǝ) Worm / grub / caterpillar tawǝkke tiwǝkkawen (tǝ/tǝ) Ants (small, black) anǝlluǵ inǝlǵan (ǝ/-) Ants (small, black) anǝllug inǝlgan (ǝ/-) Ants (larger) tayǝṭṭuft tayṭǝfen (ta/ta) Ants (large, biting) kǝdǝdǝkkum (-) Termites temedhe (tă) Termites tămade (tǝ) Lice tillik tilken (ti/ti) Lice tillek tilken (ti/ti) Mite / weevil tukmat tukmaten (tu/tu) (Infests stored skins. Also used for weevils in flour / grain / beans etc.) Tick tǝsǝlluft tisǝlfen (tǝ/tǝ) Borer kǝsis kǝsisăn (-/-) Borer kǝšiš kǝšišăn (-/-) Dung beetle ăɣšinšăr eɣšinšărăn (ă/ǝ) Dung beetle ažǝnžǝr ižǝnžǝrăn (ǝ/-) Black beetle takinkărt tikinkăren (tă/tǝ) Black beetle tekănkărt tikănkăren (tă/tǝ) Snail azărɣǝdu izărɣǝdutăn (ă/-) Snail ažǝrɣǝdu ižǝrɣǝdutăn (ǝ/-) Butterfly / moth ǝw-ǝssuk kǝl-ǝssuk (ǝ/-) (‘Marabout’ because it’s open wings resemble a big boubou.) Bee / hornet ezămbăw izămbăwăn (ă/-) Cricket / cicada waẓiẓ waẓiẓăn (-/-) Wasp taggǝmt taggǝmen (ta/ta) Dragonfly tašišwa tišišwaten (tǝ/tǝ) Dragonfly / wasp tažǝžwa tižǝžwaten (tǝ/tǝ) (Used especially for the ‘mouche maçon’ but also applied to other larger flying insects.) 555.5...8888 Parts of the body General Body (general / skeleton) taɣǝssa tiɣǝswen (tă/tǝ) Body (general / skeleton) taɣǝssa tiɣǝswen (tǝ/tǝ) Body (corpse) tafǝkka tifǝkwen (tǝ/tǝ) Body (corpse) tafǝkka tifǝkkawen (tǝ/tǝ) Bone eɣăs iɣăsan (ă/-) Long bone (e.g. tibia) aduf idufăn (ǝ/-) 259 Small bone taduft tidufen (tǝ/tǝ) Muscle / member taslăṭṭ tisǝllaḍ (tǝ/tǝ) Muscle / member taslǝṭ tisǝllaḍ (tǝ/tǝ) Muscle tamǝnkeṭṭ timǝnkaḍ (tă/tǝ) Muscle tamǝnkiṭ timǝnkaḍ (tă/tǝ) Joint ǝzǝmmaz izǝmmuz (ǝ/-) Joint ǝžǝmmaž ižǝmmǝž (ǝ/-) Nerve / vein / tendon aẓar aẓarăn (a/a) Nerve / vein / tendon aẓar iẓǝrwan (ă/-) Head Head eɣăf iɣăfawăn (ă/-) Face idǝm idmawăn (i/i) Hair emẓăd amẓadăn (e/a) Hair amžaḍ amžaḍăn (a/a) Hair emžăḍ emžăḍăn (e/e) (Lock of) hair ašǝkkoḍ išǝkkaḍ (ǝ/-) (Lock of) hair ažǝkkoḍ ižǝkkaḍ (ǝ/-) Long hair (not styled) ăšǝyyuf išuyyaf (ǝ/-) Long hair (not styled) tažif tižifawen (tǝ/tǝ) Eye teṭṭ teṭṭawen (te/te) Eye šăṭṭ šeṭṭawen (-/-) Eyebrow enhăr anharăn (e/a) Eyebrow anar anarăn (a/a) Eyelid ăbilhăṭṭ ibilhăḍăn (ă/-) Eyelid ăbelăḍ ibelăḍăn (ă/-) Eyelash elew ilewăn (ă/-) Eyelash alaw alawăn (a/a) Eyelash ălag ilăggăn (ă/-) Ear tamăẓẓukk timăẓẓugen (tă/tǝ) Ear tamǝẓẓuk timǝẓẓugen (tǝ/tǝ) Nose (nostrils) tenšărt tinšar (te/ti) Nose (nostrils) tenžărt tinžar (te/ti) Nose (bone) anǵor anǵorăn (a/a) Nose (bone) angor angorăn (a/a) Mouth em imawăn (ă/-) Mouth imi imawăn (i/-) Tooth esen isenăn (ă/-) Tooth ešen išenăn (ă/-) Tongue ilǝs ilsawăn (i/i) Lip aḍăloy iḍlay (ă/ǝ) Lip aḍăloy iḍǝlay (ă/-) Gums tihăyniwen (tă/tǝ) Gums tăynawen (tă/tǝ) 260 Neck er erawăn (e/-) Neck iri irawăn (i/-) Throat aǵorš iǵoršawăn (ă/-) Throat agurzăy igurzăyăn (ǝ/-) Adam’s apple tăkorsăyt tikorsăyen (tǝ/tǝ) Cheek tăgomăst tigomăsen (tǝ/tǝ) Cheek tazɣa tazɣiwen (ta/ta) Cheek ăgeẓ igaẓẓăn (ă/-) Cheek ǝgiẓ igăẓẓăn (ǝ/-) Beard /chin tămart timarren (tă/tǝ) Beard /chin tămart timărren (tă/tǝ) Sideburns / side of face akărar ikărarăn (ă/-) Forehead tekănnărt tikănnăren (tă/tǝ) Forehead tumme tummawen (tu/tu) Skull takărkort tikǝrkar (tă/tǝ) Skull takărkort tikărkoren (tă/tǝ) Skull (top of) takǝyya tikǝyyawen (tǝ/tǝ) Brain / bone marrow akǝlkǝl ikǝlkǝlăn (ǝ/-) Nape of neck egărăḍ igărḍan (ă/-) Nape of neck egărăḍ igărăḍăn (ă/-) Palate anɣa anɣatăn (a/a) Upper Body Chest admăr idmarăn (ă/ǝ) Chest - iǵǝrǵar (-) Sternum tadmărt tidmaren (tă/tǝ) Shoulder ăẓerh eẓerhan (ă/-) Shoulder ăẓir iẓerăn (ǝ/-) Shoulder-blade tagǝrgist tigǝrgas (tǝ/tǝ) Back ărori irorǝyawǝnăn (ă/-) Back ăruru iroran (ă/-) (Also refers to patrilineal relations.) Breast / nipple efăf ifăfan (ă/-) Breast / udder teẓe taẓiwen (te/ta) (To express ‘breast’ in the general sense is used.) Rib eɣărdes iɣărdăššăn (ă/-) Rib eɣărdes iɣǝrdǝššăn (ă/-) Side tasăǵa tisǝǵwen (tă/tǝ) Side tasăga tisǝgwen (tă/tǝ) Thorax tarăǵa tirǝǵwen (tă/tǝ) Thorax tarăga tirǝgwen (tă/tǝ) 261 Arms Arm / hand ăfus ifăssăn (ă/-) Arm / hand ǝfus ifăssăn (ǝ/-) Finger assǝkăḍ issǝkaḍ (ǝ/ǝ) Finger aḍaḍ iḍǝḍwan (ă/-) Thumb egmăš agmašăn (e/a) Thumb egmăz igǝmzan (ă/-) (Finger)nail eskăr askarăn (e/a) (Finger)nail eškăr iškarăn (ă/ǝ) Palm tedekǝlt tidukal (tǝ/tǝ) Wrist taǵǝltǝmt tiǵultam (tǝ/tǝ) Wrist tagǝltǝmt tigultam (tǝ/tǝ) Wrist tasănḍărt tisănḍăren (tă/tǝ) Wrist tasǝnḍǝrt tisǝnḍar (tǝ/tǝ) Elbow / corner taɣmărt tiɣǝmmar (tă/tǝ) Elbow / corner taɣmǝrt tiɣǝmmar (tǝ/tǝ) Legs Leg / foot aḍăr iḍarăn (ă/-) Ankle (Achilles tendon) aǵoš aǵošăn (a/a) Ankle (Achilles tendon) agoz agozăn (a/a) Ankle (bone) tamẓăẓẓǝt timẓăẓẓǝten (tǝ/tǝ) Ankle (bone) tawǝẓǝẓẓut tiwǝẓǝẓẓuten (tǝ/tǝ) Knee ăfud ifaddăn (ǝ/-) Knee ǝfud ifăddăn (ǝ/-) Shin (bone) elăɣ elɣan (e/e) Shin (bone) elǝɣ elɣan (e/e) Thigh (bone) taɣma taɣmiwen (ta/ta) Sole etăfăr itǝfran (ă/-) Toe (/ foot of quadruped) tinse tinsawen (ti/ti) Toe (/ foot of quadruped) tinše tinšawen (ti/ti) Lower body Belly (outer aspect) tăsa tisatten (tă/tǝ) Belly tadist tidǝswen (tǝ/tǝ) Waist teǵăše tiǵǝšwen (tă/tǝ) Waist tegăze tigǝzwen (tă/tǝ) Belly-button tăbutut tibututen (tǝ/tǝ) Belly-button tabutut tibututen (tǝ/tǝ) Hip aɣǝbber iɣǝbberăn (ǝ/-) Pelvis tătoɣăst titoɣăsen (tǝ/tǝ) Pelvis tǝtoɣăst titoɣăsen (tǝ/tǝ) 262 Buttock tabǝlloṭṭ tibǝlloḍen (tǝ/tǝ) Buttock tǝzuk tizuken (tǝ/tǝ) Lumber region isǝǵbas (-) Lumber region isǝgbas (-) Stomach muscles (l+r) ălatum ilutam (ǝ/-) Genitalia The following words are sometimes heard but more frequently they will be replaced with euphemistic phrases. Penis ăbada ibadan (ă/-) Penis arǵal arǵalăn (a/a) Penis argal irgalăn (ă/ǝ) Penis ašamboḍ išǝmbaḍ (ă/-) Penis ažambuḍ ižǝmbaḍ (ǝ/-) Penis tadǝmbut tidǝmba (tǝ/tǝ) Penis ăẓiw ăẓiwăn (ă/ă) Foreskin aǵămbor iǵǝmbar (ă/-) Foreskin agămbur igǝmbar (ǝ/-) Testicles tasădalt tisădalen (tă/tǝ) Vagina (birth canal) tasăssarut tisǝssiraw (tă/tǝ) Vagina akǝḍil ikăḍlan (ǝ/-) Vagina ăwahi iwahităn (ă/-) (Possibly itself originally a euphemism ‘that thing’.) Pubic hair ăšinšăḍ išinšăḍăn (ă/-) Pubic hair ažǝnžǝḍ ižǝnžaḍ (ǝ/-) Anus teẓẓ teẓẓawen (te/te) Viscera Heart ulh ulhawăn (u/u) Heart ǝwǝl iwăllăn (ǝ/-) Liver awsa awsatăn (a/a) Liver tăsa tisătten (tă/tǝ) Kidney tagẓǝlt tigǝẓẓal (tǝ/tǝ) Stomach (the bag) tarfa tarfiwen (ta/ta) Stomach (the bag) abărkot (Also refers to matrilineal relations.) Intestine adan adanăn (a/a) Lung tarut taruten (ta/ta) Bladder tasăyast tisăyasen (tă/tǝ) Viscera isǝkwa (-) Womb // loins iǵǝllan (-) Womb // loins igǝlla (-) 263 Umbilical cord temeṭṭ (tă) Placenta timeḍen (tǝ) Animal Body Parts Generally the same as the corresponding human part. Tail ašiwa išiwatăn (ă/-) Tail telănkăwt tilănkăwen (tă/tǝ) Horn isǝk iskawăn (i/ǝ) Hump tašămamt tišămamen (tă/tǝ) Hump tuhe tuhawen (tu/tu) Hoof / claw askar askarăn (a/a) Hoof / claw eškăr aškarăn (e/a) Wing afrew afrewăn (a/a) Wing afrut ifrutăn (ǝ/ǝ) Wing tǝfakfak tifakfaken (tǝ/tǝ) Feather tăsaggat tisaggaden (tǝ/tǝ) Hair (removed from skin) iššar (ǝ) Hair (removed from skin) izǝzar (-) Foreleg tahit tihiw (tă/tǝ) Mane ăẓagg eẓaggăn (ă/-) Mane ăẓag iẓăggăn (ă/-) Carrion tamăɣsoyt timăɣsa (tă/tǝ) Carrion tamăɣsoyt timǝɣsa (tă/tǝ) Bodily fluids and functions Breath ( 264 Belch tuǵrekk tuǵreken (tu/tu) Belch tugrek tugreken (tu/tu) Spittle / spit (tasuteft) tisutaf (tǝ/tǝ) Saliva / flavour emătăm imǝtman (ă/-) Hiccups ahănăqqa ihǝnăqqa (ă/ǝ) Hiccups tahnăqqet tihnăqqa (tă/tǝ) Hiccups tahǝnǝqqet tihǝnǝqqa (tǝ/tǝ) Nosebleed ahunšăr ihǝnšorăn (ǝ/-) Nosebleed enžăr enžărăn (e/e) Nasal mucus inšerăn (i) Bile / gall bladder ăgg-eẓe Bile eẓăy iẓăyyăn (ă/-) Phlegm tašănɣešt tišănɣaš (tǝ/tǝ) Phlegm tazǝnɣezt tizǝnɣaz (tǝ/tǝ) Pus arǝssoḍ (ă) Pus arǝssuḍ (ǝ) Of animals Dung (general) asbǝkki ǝn- (ǝ) Dung (general) ašǝbǝkki ǝn- (ǝ) Cow dung temărɣit timărɣ (tă/tǝ) Cow dung tafǝrkit tifǝrkităn (tǝ/tǝ) Pellets (sheep / camel) aɣǝrraǵ eɣǝrraǵăn (ă/-) Pellets (sheep / camel) aɣǝrrag iɣǝrragăn (ǝ/-) Horse / donkey dung amǝzzor imǝzzorăn (ǝ/-) Horse / donkey dung amǝzzur imǝzzurăn (ǝ/-) Cud aǵǝl iǵlităn (ǝ/ǝ) Cud agli iglităn (ǝ/ǝ) Contents of ruminant’s esăk eskawăn (e/e) stomach Venom erăhăynăn irăhăynănăn (ă/-) Venom erăynăn irăynănăn (ă/-) 555.5...9999 Health and disease General terms Illness torhǝnna torhǝnnawen (to/to) Illness tărint tirinen (tă/tǝ) Fever tenăde tinǝdd (tă/tǝ) Headache tewăte n-ăɣăf tiwit n-ăɣăf (tă/tǝ) Cough tăsut tăsuten (tă/tă) Cough tǝsut tǝsuten (tǝ/tǝ) 265 Pain tăkmo tăkmoten (tă/tă) Pain tǝkma tǝkmaten (tǝ/tǝ) Pain tisnant tisnanen (ti/ti) Severe pain teẓẓort teẓẓoren (te/te) Severe pain tǝẓẓurt tǝẓẓuren (tǝ/tǝ) Injury / wound abuyǝs ibuyǝsăn (ǝ/-) Injury / wound ahăyoǵ ihăyoǵăn (ă/-) Injury / wound ahăyog ihăyogăn (ă/-) Open sore / wound teqqest teqqas (te/te) Open sore / wound tiqqest tiqqas (ti/ti) Boil ătaqqa itaqqan (ă/-) Hot (infected) area atunǵăr itunǵărăn (ă/-) Hot (infected) area atăngăr ităngărăn (ă/-) Feeling unwell aẓif eẓǝffawăn (ă/-) (In Tudalt this can mean ‘epidemic’.) Health ( Specific illnesses Malaria tenăde ta-n ăkăsa (tă) (lit. ‘Fever of rainy season’) Jaundice tăhafnent tihăfnenen (tǝ/tǝ) Jaundice tazǝfnent tizǝfnenen (tǝ/tǝ) (Commonly caused by Falciparum malaria, yellow fever or hepatitis.) Diarrhoea tăsa (tă) (lit. ‘Belly / tummy’) Diarrhoea tadist (tǝ) (lit. ‘Belly / tummy’) Diarrhoea tufit (tu) (lit. ‘Pouring’) 266 Dysentery tanănnăɣat tinănnăɣaten (tă/tǝ) Common cold ămaẓla imaẓlan (ă/-) Common cold aǵăbarru (ă) Guinea worm atlǝb itǝlban (ă/-) Measles lumǝt / isibăn (pl) (-/-) Measles lumǝt / išibăn (pl) (-/-) Syphilis amăšar imăšarăn (ă/-) Syphilis amăžar imăžarăn (ă/-) Syphilitic skin lesions anǝɣu inǝɣa (ǝ/-) (This word is also used for headaches or discomfort through fasting, lack of caffeine or other disruptions of habit.) Leprosy (So.) ǵǝri (-) Leprosy (So.) gǝri (-) Leprosy anǝɣu wan ǝkǝrǝmmi (ǝ) Leprosy ămaɣras (ă/-) Discomfort (of fasting etc.) ǝmmoɣrǝs (ǝ) Whooping cough săqqărnan (-) Intestinal worms imǝǵlan (-) Intestinal worms aššelăn (-) Arthritis tanǝsmoṭṭ (tǝ) Arthritis tanǝsmuṭ (tǝ) (lit. ‘Cold’) Tight ‘chesty’ cough afugg (ă) Tight ‘chesty’ cough afǝggi (ǝ) Tuberculosis sǝnbubăn (-) Rabies wănšăt (-) AIDS (Fr.) sida (-) AIDS (euphemism) tenăde tan Ăbiǵa (tă) (This reflects the beginning of the AIDS epidemic locally where people returned sick from migrant labour and died within a few months. It is generally known that the disease is caught by sexual contact in places such as Abidjan. It is not yet widely perceived that it is spread by sexual contact in the local context, although perceptions are gradually changing.) Restricted breathing temăslăq (tă) Conjunctivitis ahǝnnǝǵ (ǝ) Conjunctivitis awǝnnǝg (ǝ) Blindness tăddărɣălt (tǝ) Total deafness tǝmmăẓẓǝkk (tǝ) Total deafness tǝmmǝẓẓǝk (tǝ) Partial deafness tăbbăšăwt (tă) 267 In describing symptoms of illness Tamasheq people are often very vague and euphemistic (relative to the expectations of a Western enquirer). The answer to ‘where does it hurt’ will often be ‘all my skin’ or ‘all my body’. Urethral pain will often be indicated as stomach pain, male impotence described as fatigue. People can be extremely vague or misleading in response to questions about how long a fever, swelling, pain or diarrhoea has been going on for (whether refering to themselves or their child). 555.5...10101010 Food General termtermssss Food / eating tetăte titǝtt (tă/tǝ) Food / eating teṭṭe titǝtt (tă/tǝ) Food / a meal amǝnsi imǝnsiwăn (ǝ/-) Food / a meal ămense imensewăn (ǝ/-) Provisions ăsador isudar (ă/-) Provisions (for journey) ăzzad ăzzadăn (ă/ă) Provisions (for journey) ăzza ăzzatăn (ă/ă) Food for guests amăǵaru imǵura (ă/ǝ) Food for guests amăgaru imǝgura (ă/-) Water aman (a) Left-overs aǵlǝš iǵǝlšan (ǝ/ǝ) Left-overs aglǝz igǝlzan (ǝ/ǝ) Odour of food teɣne taɣniwen (te/ta) Odour of cooked meat ăɣas (ă) Fruit ara n-ašǝk aratăn n-eškan (a/a) Cereals (Ar.) ăttăɣam ăttăɣamăn (ă/ă) Staple foods Millet enăle inălawăn / inăletăn (ă/-) (Staple cereal – planted in June/July, harvested in October. The plural is rare but means ‘varieties of millet’, as with many other grains and plants.) Sorghum ăbora iboran (ă/-) (Reserve staple, planted alongside millet, common further south.) Rice tafăɣăt tafăɣăten (ta/ta) (Grown along the Niger river and more recently near dams.) Wild fonio isibăn (-) Wild fonio išibăn (-) Wild fonio asɣal isɣalăn (ă/ǝ) (Gathered in August / September to tide over to millet harvest.) Maize (Fu.) kămănări (-) (Not grown locally but grown further south and brought to market.) Millet bran (fine) tălumt tilommen (tă/tǝ) 268 Millet bran (fine) tǝlumt tilămmen (tǝ/tǝ) Husk / coarse bran abǝtt ibǝttăn (ǝ/-) Flour / powder eǵel iǵelăn (ă/-) Flour / powder egel igelăn (ă/-) Wheat flour eǵel n-ălkăma (ă) Wheat flour egel n-ălkăma (ă) (Millet) porridge (tô) ăsink isinkawăn (ă/-) (Millet) porridge (tô) ǝšink išinkawăn (ǝ/-) Sauce for aḍrăẓ iḍărẓan (ă/-) Sauce for aḍrǝẓ iḍǝrẓan (ǝ/-) ‘Town’ sauce (So.) hoy hoyatăn (-/-) Milk axx exxawăn (ă/ǝ) Milk ax ixxawăn (ă/ǝ) Curdled milk ǝssǝlay ǝssǝlayăn (ǝ/ǝ) Butter (sauce) udi udǝyawăn (u/u) Butter (sauce) widi widităn (-/-) Millet drink tǝdda tǝddaten (tǝ/tǝ) Solids of eɣăle eɣăletăn (ă/-) Gruel ăliwa iliwatăn (ă/-) Gruel (Fu.) bitta bittaten (-/-) Meat isan (-) Beans tanzant tanzanen (ta/ta) Salt tesǝmt tesmen (te/te) Salt tesǝmt tesǝmen (te/te) Tea ătay ătayăn (a/a) (Tea) leaves ăla (n-ătay) ilattăn (ă/-) (Tea) leaves ăla (n-ătay) ilăttăn (ă/-) Sugar ăssukăr ăssukărăn (ă/ă) Sugar ǝssukǝr ǝssukǝrăn (ǝ/ǝ) Lump (of sugar etc.) esămb isămban (ă/-) Peanuts (Fu.) ǵiriǵe (-) Dates tehăyne tihăyniwen (tă/tǝ) Dates tăyne tăynawen (tă/tǝ) Other foods Onion (Ar.) ălbǝṣǝl ălbǝṣǝlăn (ă/ă) Onion (Ar.) ǝlbǝṣǝl ǝlbǝṣǝlăn (ǝ/ǝ) Dried onion leaves taɣfărt taɣfăren (ta/ta) Dried onion leaves teɣfǝrt tiɣfǝren (tă/tǝ) Leaves talăfast tilăfasen (tă/tǝ) Baobab leaves tăkudust tikudusen (tǝ/tǝ) 269 Egg tasădalt tisădalen (tă/tǝ) Egg takǝkit tikǝkiten (tǝ/tǝ) Mint (Ar.) anăɣnăɣ anăɣnăɣităn (a/a) Mint (Ar.) anăɣnăɣ anăɣnăɣăn (a/a) (Occasionally added to tea but this is considered an Arab practice.) Honey torawăt torawăten (to/to) Honey turawăt turawăten (tu/tu) (Not found in Oudalan, but known from elsewhere.) Cheese takămmart tikămmaren (tă/tǝ) Cheese tǝkommart tikommaren (tǝ/tǝ) (No longer made in Oudalan, probably due to shortage of milk. It is made in Azawagh and other areas where at certain times of year milk production greatly exceeds consumption.) Grilled grains amăyaɣ imăyaɣăn (ă/-) (Eaten only when the first millet heads are harvested.) Boiled grains tǝwǝs (tǝ) Boiled grains tewest tiwesen (tă/tǝ) Donuts / ‘cakes’ (Ha.) masa masatăn (-/-) Pounded meat moxfe moxfetăn (-/-) Pounded meat măxfe măxfetăn (-/-) Cream afrar ifrarăn (ă/ǝ) Colostrum (cooked) edăɣăs idăɣsan (ă/-) Colostrum (cooked) edăɣăs idǝɣsan (ă/-) Set butter tasǝndut tisǝnda (tǝ/tǝ) Local fruits, e.g.: (wild ‘date’) ăboraɣ iboraɣăn (ǝ/-) (jujube) abăka ibăkatăn (ă/-) (wild ‘melon’) telăgăṣt tilăgăẓen (tă/tǝ) (wild ‘melon’) alǝkăḍ ilǝkăḍăn (ǝ/ǝ) (tigernut sedge) ašer ašerăn (a/a) (tigernut sedge) ažir ažirăn (a/a) (gum / resin) tanust tinusen (tă/tǝ) (gum / resin) tanust tinusen (tǝ/tǝ) Cake of ‘jujube’ flour ăhoffăr ihofran (ă/-) Cake of ‘jujube’ flour uffǝr ofran (u/o) Beer (Moore) dăro dărotăn (-/-) Alcohol(ic drink) asmǝd asmǝdăn (a/a) Alcohol(ic drink) asmăd asmădăn (a/a) Bread (Fu.) buru burutăn (-/-) ‘Bread’ (millet dough) taǵǝlla tiǵǝlwen (tǝ/tǝ) ‘Bread’ (millet dough) tagǝlla tigǝlwen (tǝ/tǝ) Grease/ fat tadhont - (tă) 270 Grease / fat tadǝnt - (tǝ) Sweet potato (Ha.) rogo rogotăn (-/-) Potato (Fr.) bombǝter bombǝtertăn (-/-) Tomato (Ha.) tămati tămatităn (-/-) Okra (Ha.) laǵi laǵităn (-/-) Okra (Ha.) laži lažităn (-/-) Spice / chilli izǝkǝmba izǝkǝmbatăn (i/i) Spice / chilli ižǝkǝmba ižǝkǝmbatăn (i/i) Kola nut (Ha.) goro gorotăn (-/-) Citrus fruit ( 555.5...11111111 Food preparation and storage General Pestle ešăɣăn išăɣnan (ă/-) Pestle ezăɣăn izǝɣnan (ă/-) Mortar tende tandiwen (te/ta) Bowl (wooden) ăkos ikassăn (ă/-) (The plural also means ‘crockery/ pots + pans’ in general. The plural in this sense is also used in Tudalt but is pronounced .) Wooden bowl aɣǝzu iɣǝzwan (ǝ/-) Wooden bowl taɣǝžut tiɣǝžwen (tǝ/tǝ) Large bowl (to eat from) aẓăwa iẓăwatăn (ă/-) Gourd alkas alkasăn (a/a) Small gourd talkast talkasen (ta/ta) Gourd ăgašu iguša (ă/-) Small gourd tăgašut tiguša (tă/tǝ) Milking bowl akăbar ikǝbran (ă/-) Spoon tăsokalt tisokalen (tă/tǝ) Spoon tăšokalt tišokalen (tă/tǝ) Tea things ilalăn n-ătay (-) Teapot (Ar.) ălbărrad ălbărradatăn (ă/ă) Teapot (Ar.) ǝlbǝrrad ǝlbǝrradatăn (ǝ/ǝ) Tea glass (Ar.) alkăs alkăsăn (a/a) Brazier (Ar.) ălforna ălfornatăn (ă/ă) Basket (for tea things) takăbot tikăboten (tă/tǝ) 271 Basket (for tea things) takăbot tikǝba (tă/tǝ) Measuring tin (Fu.) kǝnkuru kǝnkurutăn (-/-) Measuring tin askǝt iskat (ǝ/ǝ) Measuring tin asǝkǝt isǝkat (ǝ/-) Tin / box takbat tikbaten (tă/tǝ) Plate / bowl teɣert tiɣeren (tă/tǝ) Large bowl eɣer iɣerăn (ă/-) Cooking pot (Ar.) ăṣṣabra ăṣṣabratăn (ă/ă) Small cooking pot abǝlbǝl ibǝlbǝlăn (ǝ/-) Cooking pot alǝkin ilǝkan (ǝ/-) (This last means clay pot, but is used by extension of metal ones.) Stirring stick asǝrwǝy isǝrway (ǝ/-) Cup / ladle / scoop ăsilkăw isilkăwăn (ă/-) Cup / ladle / scoop ăšilkăw išilkăwăn (ă/-) Straw plate tesăyt tisăyyen (tă/tǝ) (Used for winnowing and sifting.) Straw plate (used as lid) lefe lefetăn (-/-) Lid ashăr ishar (ă/ǝ) Lid asǝhǝr isǝhar (ă/-) Sieve ( 272 Sack (for millet etc.) šaku šakutăn (-/-) Bag / satchel šăkkoš šăkkoštăn (-/-) Bag of rennet tăẓẓa tăẓẓawen (tă/tă) (A gazelle fawn's intestines in a bag made from its skin.) Funnel asǝggǝfi isǝggǝfităn (ǝ/-) (From the verb ‘to pour’, anciently , with ‘ww’ becoming ‘gg’.) Basket deka dekatăn (-/-) Basket (small) tedekat tidekaten (tă/tǝ) Glass bottle ( 555.5...12121212 Craftsmen and their products Tools Forge ahănsăwa ihănsăwatăn (ă/-) Tools ilalăn win ăhansăwa (-) Knife absăr ibsărăn (ă/ǝ) Knife absǝr ibsǝrăn (ǝ/ǝ) Axe tutăla tutălawen (tu/tu) Axe taḍǝft tiḍǝff (ta/ti) Adze takădimt tikdam (tă/tǝ) Adze takǝdimt tikǝdam (tǝ/tǝ) Hammer afăḍis ifḍas (ă/ǝ) Hammer afǝḍis ifǝḍas (ǝ/ǝ) Punch asfăḍ isfaḍ (ă/ǝ) Punch asǝfǝḍ isǝfaḍ (ǝ/-) Punch asbăḍ isbaḍ (ă/ǝ) Punch asǝbǝḍ isǝbaḍ (ǝ/-) Cold chisel tasăɣrǝst tisăɣras (tǝ/tǝ) Cold chisel tasǝɣrǝst tisǝɣras (tǝ/tǝ) (Used for cutting sheet metal.) Scoring knife (wooden) tasărkǝnt tisărkan (tǝ/tǝ) Scoring knife (wooden) tasǝrkǝnt tisǝrkan (tǝ/tǝ) (Used for marking patterns on leatherwork before painting with dye.) Pliers / tongs / tweezers (aɣmǝd) iɣǝmdan (ǝ/-) File ăzăzzăwa izăzzăwan (ă/-) Awl / big needle tistant tistanen (ti/ti) Awl / big needle tǝstant tǝstanen (tǝ/tǝ) 273 Awl endăl endălăn (e/e) Bellows tisăhaḍ (tǝ) Bellows tisǝhaḍ (tǝ) Scriber (Ar.) ălbărrima ălbărrimatăn (ă/ă) Anvil tăhunt tihun (tă/tǝ) Anvil tǝhunt tihun (tǝ/tǝ) (lit. ‘stone’, refers to a flat headed metal stake driven into the ground.) Tool box tagărawt tigărawen (tă/tǝ) Tool box tagărăwt tigărăwen (tă/tǝ) Dye (for leather) (Ha.) šărki šărkităn (-/-) Musical Instruments Music is largely restricted to a few settings: weddings, naming ceremonies, coming of age parties and spirit-possession dances. 3 string wooden ‘guitar’ tehărḍant tihărḍanen (tă/tǝ) 3 string wooden ‘guitar’ tahǝrḍant tihǝrḍanen (tǝ/tǝ) Wooden body of guitar eǵăbeš iǵǝbšan (ă/ǝ) Violin (monochord) emẓăd amẓadăn (e/a) Violin (monochord) emžaḍ imžaḍăn (ă/-) Flute taɣănibt teɣnab (tă/tǝ) Flute tǝɣanibt tiɣunab (tă/tǝ) Flute tăsinsăqq tisinsăɣen (tă/tǝ) Flute tasǝnsǝq tisǝnsaɣ (tǝ/tǝ) Drum tende tandiwen (te/ta) (A household mortar with a goatskin stretched tightly across it.) Gourd upturned in water tăgašut tiguša (tă/tǝ) Drum of command ( Wooden household objects See wooden objects listed under food preparation and storage. Other wooden objects ‘Fulani’ bed (Fu.) hărgawa hărgawatăn (-/-) Slats ăsaltǝf isultaf (ă/-) Slats ǝsaltǝf isǝltaf (ǝ/-) Tent pole emăɣt imăɣtan (ă/-) Tent pole asǝdǝs isǝdas (ǝ/-) 274 Tent peg tasǝttǝytǝyt tisǝttuytay (tǝ/tǝ) Tent peg tasǝttǝytǝyt tisǝttǝytay (tǝ/tǝ) Handle / haft ăsaḍǝf isuḍaf (ǝ/-) Conical (bird)cage atɣam itɣamăn (ă/ǝ) Walking stick asăhhǝtǝl isăhhǝtal (ǝ/-) Walking stick asǝhhǝtǝl isǝhhǝtal (ǝ/-) Stand (for bowl) tasǝskărt tisǝskăren (tǝ/tǝ) Stand (for bowl) tasǝskǝrt tisǝskar (tǝ/tǝ) Parts of ‘low‘low----roofedroofed straw house’ Frame iɣăsăn (-) (lit. ‘Bones / skeleton’) Fork (support) tămankayt timankayen (tă/tǝ) Fork / pillar taǵǝttewt tiǵǝttewen (tǝ/tǝ) Fork / pillar tagǝttăwt tigǝttăwen (tǝ/tǝ) Support asǝkbǝl isǝkbal (ǝ/-) Thick supporting arc takăkkăwat tikăkkăwaten (tă/tǝ) Thick supporting arc taqăqqăwat tiqăqqăwaten (tă/tǝ) Thin supporting arc alăllăwa ilăllăwan (ă/-) Cross woods aǵǝtt iǵǝttan (ǝ/-) Cross woods arăgăyrăgay irăgăyrăgayen (ă/-) (cf ‘hanging decoration’) Parts of a bed Bed (complete) tešeǵit tišiǵa (tă/tǝ) Bed (complete) tešegit tišiga (tă/tǝ) Fork (in ground) tasăkăysăkayt tisăkăysăkayen (tă/tǝ) Fork (in ground) tasăkăysăkăyt tisăkăysăkăyen (tă/tǝ) Fork tašăbăqqat tišăbăqqaten (tă/tǝ) (An alternative free standing support for hard ground.) Support pole tawăydărat tiwăydăraten (tă/tǝ) Support pole tatǝngurt titǝnguren (tǝ/tǝ) (Long poles that sit on the forks and support the cross poles.) Cross poles aǵǝtt iǵǝttan (ǝ/-) Cross poles allaɣ allaɣăn (a/a) (Several of these sit on the two support poles and support the mat.) Bed mat (Ar.) ăssărer ăssărerăn (ă/ă) Bed mat (Ar.) ǝṣṣǝrir ǝṣṣǝrirăn (ǝ/ǝ) Pillow support (pole) ehel ihelăn (ă/-) Weapons Weapon tăẓoli tiẓolǝyawǝnen (tă/tǝ) 275 Weapon tǝẓoli tiẓolǝyawen (tǝ/tă) (lit. ‘Iron thing’) Stick / staff tăborit tiboriyen (tă/tǝ) Stick / staff tǝburǝk tiburǝgen (tǝ/tǝ) Sword tăkoba tikobawen (tǝ/tǝ) Spear (metal) aǵor aǵorăn (a/a) Spear (metal) allaɣ allaɣăn (a/a) Javelin / spear (wooden) akăsam ikăsamăn (ă/-) Dagger telăqq telɣen (te/te) Dagger telǝq telɣen (te/te) Bow taɣăya tiɣǝywen (tă/tǝ) Bow tăganze tiganziwen (tă/tǝ) Arrow ( Other metal objects (see also jewejewellery)llery) Hoe / head of hoe ălollam ilollamăn (ă/-) (lit. ‘Falcon’ because of its shape) Head (of hoe) tekănnărt tikănnăren (tă/tǝ) (lit. ‘Forehead’) Hoe / shaft of hoe tămaya timaywen / (tă/tǝ) timayawen (tǝ) Hoe (‘daba’) (Ha.) kălmi kălmităn (-/-) (This is the hoe of sedentary peoples, in contrast to the Tamasheq ‘iler’.) Metal ‘bit’ aɣăba iɣăbatăn (ă/-) Nail / spring / bar ănattar inattarăn (ă/-) Craft from Grasses Rope aɣan iɣunan (ă/-) (Now most commonly twisted from thread from nylon sacks.) Guy rope tasdǝst tisdas (tǝ/tǝ) Tying strips (grass) takoft takofen (ta/ta) Tying strips (bark) ekăkkăb ikăkkăbăn (ă/-) Millet stalk ‘wall’ taɣărhit tiɣărhaten (tă/tă) Millet stalk ‘wall’ taɣǝrt tiɣǝren (tǝ/tǝ) Windbreak mat (cheap) tăsutit tisutay (tǝ/tǝ) Windbreak mat (expensive) esăbăr isǝbran (ă/-) Mat (plastic or straw) teselat tiselaten (tă/tǝ) Mat (plastic or straw) tăsalat tisalaten (tǝ/tǝ) Mat (millet stalk) (Fu.) ǵămbewa ǵămbewatăn (-/-) Bed mat (Ar.) ăṣṣărer ăṣṣărerăn (ă/ă) 276 Bed mat (Ar.) ǝṣṣǝrir ǝṣṣǝrirăn (ǝ/ǝ) Hanging decorative mat esăwsăw isăwsăwăn (ă/-) Hanging basket tăwana tiwaniwen (tă/tǝ) Panniers asǝstǝǵ isǝstaǵ (ǝ/-) Panniers asǝstǝg isǝstag (ǝ/-) Straw hut ekărbăn ikărbănăn (ă/-) Grain store / round hut (So.) bǝgu bǝgutăn (-/-) Grain store eǵănd iǵăndan (ă/-) Grain store agărid igrad (ă/ǝ) Temporary shelter ahănnăka ihănnăkatăn (ă/-) LeatherLeather----workwork Cushion adăfor idfar (ă/ǝ) Cushion adăfor idǝfar (ă/-) Cushion asăssamu isǝssuma (ă/-) Strips for tying arăwa irăwatăn (ă/-) Sack tamšit timšiten (tă/tǝ) Sack tezămmit tizămmaten (tǝ/tǝ) (Millet was stored and transported in leather sacks until recently.) Bag / sack aɣrǝǵ eɣărǵan (ă/-) Bag / sack aɣrǝg iɣǝrgan (ǝ/-) Bag / sack (decorated) tăbawǝnt tibiwan (tǝ/tǝ) Camel bag ăzayya izayyan (ă/-) Saddle (horse) elăkef ilǝkfan (ă/-) Thong / sandal strap assǝl issal (ǝ/ǝ) Thong / sandal strap asǝsǝl isǝsal (ǝ/-) Scabbard titar (ti) Tent ehăket ihǝktan (ă/-) Tent ehǝkkum ihǝkkam (ă/-) 555.5...13131313 Miscellaneous objects General Pen aɣănib eɣnab (ă/ă) Pen ǝɣanib iɣunab (ǝ/-) Paper (sheet of) (Ar.) ălkaḍ ălkaḍăn (ă/ă) (Also used to mean banknote.) Letter / certificate tăkarḍe tikarḍiwen (tǝ/tǝ) (Also amulet worn around neck containing Quranic verses.) Writing tablet asǝllum isǝllumăn (ǝ/-) Book (Ar.) ǝlkǝttab ǝlkǝttabăn (ǝ/ǝ) 277 Mirror / pane / spectacles tiset tiseten (ti/ti) Mirror / pane / spectacles tišet tišeten (ti/ti) Soap (Ar.) ăṣṣabu ăṣṣabutăn (ă/ă) Kettle aɣălăla iɣălălatăn (ă/ă) (Metal or plastic kettle used for hand-washing / ablutions.) Razor (Ar.) ălmosi ălmosităn (ă/ă) Razor (Ar.) ălmoši ălmošităn (ă/ă) Lamp ( 278 Battery (‘stone’) tăhunt tihun (tă/tǝ) Battery (‘stone’) tăhunt tihun (tǝ/tǝ) 555.5...14141414 Things in the street General Town aɣrǝm eɣărman (ă/-) Town aɣrǝm iɣǝrman (ǝ/-) Village / small town taɣrǝmt teɣărmaten (tă/tă) Village / small town taɣrǝmt tiɣǝrmaten (tǝ/tǝ) Village tadăbayt tidbǝy (tă/tǝ) Camp ămazzaɣ imazzaɣăn (ă/-) Camp ǝmazzaɣ imazzaɣăn (ǝ/-) Camp / group of homes ihănan (-) Home / house / room ehăn ihănan (ă/-) Building taɣăšamt teɣǝšmen (tă/tǝ) Building taɣăžamt tiɣǝžmen (tă/tǝ) Roof tasfǝlt tisfal (tǝ/tǝ) Roof tasǝfǝlt tisǝfal (tǝ/tǝ) Courtyard / wall ăɣalla iɣallan (ă/-) Straw house ekărbăn ikărbănăn (ă/-) Round mud house bămboru bămborutăn (-/-) Round straw house (So.) bǝgu bǝgutăn (-/-) Grain store (So.) bǝgu bǝgutăn (-/-) Grain store eǵănd iǵăndan (ă/-) Grain store agǝrid igrad (ǝ/ǝ) Tower (Ha.) soro sorotăn (-/-) Tower (Ha.) suru surutăn (-/-) Market (So.) hebu hebutăn (-/-) Market (Fu.) lumu lumutăn (-/-) Market / price (Ar.) ǝssuk ǝssukăn (ǝ/ǝ) Market (for animals) ewet iwetăn (ă/-) (This is the only indigenous Tamasheq word for market, specifically an animal market, alluding to ‘driving’ the animals there. It is rarely used.) Fence / enclosure afăraǵ ifărǵan (ă/-) Fence / enclosure afărag ifǝrgan (ă/-) Barrier eff effatăn (e/e) Barrier ifi ifawăn (ǝ/-) Lean-to tanda tandaten (ta/ta) Lean-to tăfala tifaliwen (tă/tǝ) Pit latrine (So.) sălănga sălăngatăn (-/-) Swept area tǝfărre tǝfărrawen (tǝ/tǝ) Swept area tǝfǝrre tǝfǝrrawen (tǝ/tǝ) 279 Road / path taberăt taberăten (ta/ta) Road / path zăbo zăbotăn (-/-) Street / road (Ar.) tišarrit tišarriten (ti/ti) Beaten track ăšaɣǝš išuɣaš (ă/-) Beaten track ǝzaɣǝz izuɣaz (ǝ/-) Bridge / ford (cemented) kădărka kădărkatăn (-/-) Ford (natural or man-made) tǝyyawǝnt tǝyyawǝnen (tǝ/tǝ) Ford (natural) tasǝmbǝkk tisǝmbaǵ (tǝ/tǝ) Ford (natural) tasǝmbǝk tisǝmbag (tǝ/tǝ) Well / hole anu enwan (a/e) Mount / vehicle tasnit tisnay (tǝ/tǝ) Mount / vehicle tasǝnit tisǝnay (tǝ/tǝ) Car / lorry torǝft torfen (to/to) Car / lorry turǝft torfen (tu/to) Moped / motorbike bătbăt bătbăten (-/-) Bicycle (Ha.) keke keketăn (-/-) Aeroplane (Ar.) ăṭṭǝyyara ăṭṭǝyyaratăn (ă/ă) Aeroplane torǝft tan šǝnnawăn (to) Aeroplane turǝft tan žǝnnawăn (tu) Boat torǝft tan aman (to) Boat turǝft tan aman (tu) Pirogue ekărănbăw ikărănbăwăn (ă/-) Pirogue eǵăbeš iǵǝbšan (ă/ǝ) Cemetery / grave tafăṣkot tifǝṣka (tǝ/tǝ) Cemetery / grave taṣăṣkot tiṣǝṣka (tǝ/tǝ) Grave / tomb aẓǝkka iẓǝkwan (ǝ/-) Abandoned camp amăšer imšar (ă/ǝ) Abandoned camp amǝžir imižar (ǝ/-) Battlefield abătol-n-ăfud ibtal-n-ăfud (ă/ǝ) Battlefield abătol-n-ăfud ibǝtal-n-ăfud (ă/ǝ) Football pitch eɣărɣăr wan băl (ă) Runway / airfield eɣărɣăr wan ăṭṭǝyyara (ă) 555.5...15151515 Clothing and jewellery Clothing Material / cloth tabdoq tibǝddaɣ (tă/tǝ) Cloth / clothing ekăršăy ikăršăyăn (ă/-) Clothing emăls imălsan (ă/-) Clothing temălsit timălsaten (tă/tǝ) Clothing telăsse tilǝss (tă/tǝ) Boubou (general) erăswăy irăswăyăn (ă/-) 280 Boubou (man’s) tekăṭkăṭṭ tikăṭkăḍen (tă/tǝ) Boubou (small) tebărkăṭkăṭṭ tibărkăṭkăḍen (tă/tǝ) Undershirt / vest forgǝya forgǝyatăn (-/-) Shirt (arab style) (Ar.) ălǵǝbba ălǵǝbbatăn (ă/ă) Shirt (arab style) (Ar.) ǝlgǝbba ǝlgǝbbatăn (ǝ/ǝ) Shirt / blouse (western) tăggo tăggoten (tă/tă) Trousers ekărbăy ikărbăyăn (ă/-) Trousers kărtǝba kărtǝbatăn (-/-) Trouser cord aẓărẓǝm iẓorẓam (ă/-) Trouser cord aẓǝrẓǝm iẓǝrẓam (ǝ/-) Belt / ‘girdle’ ( 281 Cloth for tying thing in tasǝkmǝst tisǝkmas (tǝ/tǝ) Old clothes (cast offs) ăsakǝs isukas (ă/-) Old clothes (shabby) taɣǝlle (tǝ) Jewellery and decoration Jewellery oɣnan (o) Jewellery uɣǝnăn (u) Decoration adǝlluǵ adǝlluǵăn (a/a) Decoration adǝllug adǝllugăn (a/a) Earring eẓăb iẓăban (ă/-) Earring eẓǝbi iẓăban (ă/-) Ring taẓăbut teẓăbuten (tă/tǝ) Ring teẓǝbit tiẓăbaten (tă/tǝ) Bracelet ašbǝǵ išǝǵban (ǝ/-) Bracelet azbǝg izǝbgan (ǝ/-) Necklace tăkarḍe tikarḍiwen (tǝ/tǝ) (Specifically a leather amulet containing Quranic verses.) Chain esăssăr isăssărăn (ă/-) Coin (worn in hair) ( 555.5...16161616 Trees, plants and nature General Tree vocabulvocabularyaryaryary Tree ašǝk eškan (a/e) (The Tadghaq form / is occasionally heard in Oudalan.) Bush / small thorn tree absăɣ ibsăɣăn (ă/ǝ) Bush / small thorn tree absǝɣ ibsǝɣăn (ǝ/ǝ) Small thorn bush tabsăqq tibsăɣen (tă/tǝ) Small thorn bush tabsǝq tibsǝɣen (tǝ/tǝ) Thorn asǝnnan isǝnnanăn (ǝ/-) Thorn ašǝnnan išǝnnanăn (ǝ/-) Leaf talăfast tilăfasen (tă/tǝ) Leaf ăla ilattăn (ă/-) Leaf ăla ilăttăn (ă/-) 282 Leaf efărket ifărketăn (ă/-) Root ekew ikewăn (ă/-) Branch elăkăt ilǝktan (ă/-) Branch elăket ilǝktan (ă/-) Bud / blossom tăboyt tiboyyen (tă/tǝ) Bark tafrǝnke tifrǝnkawen (tǝ/tǝ) Bark (for tanning) tuŋŋat tuŋŋaten (tu/tu) Trunk / stump tadra tadriwen (ta/ta) Fallen trunk tilǝlt tilǝlen (ti/ti) Shoot / budding branch anšăr inšărăn (ă/ǝ) Shoot / budding branch enešăr inešărăn (ă/-) Shoot / budding branch anzăr inzărăn (ă/ǝ) Shoot / budding branch enezăr inezărăn (ă/-) Gum / resin tanust tinusen (tǝ/tǝ) Flesh (of fruit) abălkay abălkayăn (a/a) Flesh (of fruit) ebălke ibălketăn (ă/-) Hole (in tree) aɣăbob eɣbab (ă/ǝ) Hole (in tree) aɣăbob iɣǝbab (ă/-) Pod (pea pod shaped) teɣărăggănt tiɣărăggănen (tă/tǝ) Specific trees and bushes Jujube tree tabăkat tibăkaten (tă/tǝ) (Ziziphus Mauritania / Lotus) (Grows near water, bearing a sweet, edible fruit.) Jujube abăka ibăkatăn (ă/-) Wild date tree tăboraqq tiboraɣen (tǝ/tǝ) (Balanites Aegyptica) (Grows on dunes. Bears edible fruit. Its wood widely used.) Wild date ăboraɣ iboraɣăn (ǝ/-) Nut tetănɣe titănɣen (tă/tǝ) Gum tree (1) afăǵaǵ ifăǵaǵăn (ă/-) Gum tree (1) afăgag ifăgagăn (ă/-) (Acacia Raddianna / Tortilis) (Common tree, wood often eaten by borers.) Pod amălăga imălăgan (ă/-) Resin (black / inedible) abălăɣlăɣ ibălăɣlăɣăn (ă/-) Large acacia ăbalul ibulal (ǝ/-) Gum tree (2) tahǝǵǵart tihǝǵren (tă/tă) Gum tree (2) tǝggart tigren (tǝ/tǝ) (Acacia Nilotica / Scorpioides / Arabica) (Grows near water, pods used in tanning.) Pod ahǝǵǵar ihǝǵran (ă/-) 283 Pod aggar aggarăn (a/a) Pod tarăḍa tirăḍawen (tă/tǝ) Gum tree (3) ewărwăr iwărwărăn (ă/-) (Acacia Senegal) (Less common, this tree is the source of ‘gum arabic’.) Gum tree (4) ahtǝs ahtǝsăn (a/a) Gum tree (4) atǝs atǝsăn (a/a) (Acacia Albida) (Rarer, large tree found near water.) Gum tree (5) orǝf orfan (o/o) Gum tree (5) urǝf orfan (u/o) (Acacia Seyal) (Only used as firewood.) Gum tree (6) tămat timatten (tă/tǝ) Gum tree (6) tămat timătten (tă/tǝ) (Acacia Ehrenbergiana / Acacia Flava) (Large tree, fruit appreciated by goats.) Baobab tăkudust tikudusen (tǝ/tǝ) Baobab tadɣǝmt tidɣǝmen (tǝ/tǝ) (Adansonia Digitata) (Huge wide tree. Source of ‘monkey bread’. Edible leaves.) Leaves tăkudust tikudusen (tǝ/tǝ) Fruit (monkey bread) kohǝmna kohǝmnatăn (-/-) Fruit (monkey bread) komǝnhi komǝnhităn (-/-) Neem milya milyatăn (-/-) (This tree, native to India, has been planted as a shade tree in local towns.) ‘Doum’ palm tašdayt tan akof (tă) ‘Doum’ palm tagăyt tigăyyen (tă/tǝ) (Hyphaene Thebaica) (The fronds are used to weave baskets etc.) Frond akof akofăn (a/a) Fruit ăkoka ikokan (ă/-) Stone tăkokăyt tikokăyen (tǝ/tǝ) Date palm tašdayt (tan tăhăyne) tišdayen (tă/tǝ) Date palm tazdăyt tizdăyen (tă/tǝ) (Phoenix Dactylifera) (Grows near water. Famous for its sweet fruit.) Date tehăyne tihăyniwen (tă/tǝ) Date tăyne tăynawen (tă/tă) Spurge bush taɣhǝlt taɣhǝlen (ta/ta) Spurge bush taɣǝlt taɣǝlen (ta/ta) (Euphorbia Balsamifera) (Produces milky liquid used to make medicines and gum.) Light wood afăsas ifăsasăn (ă/-) 284 Sodom apple torša toršawen (to/to) Sodom apple tǝrza tǝrzawen (tǝ/tǝ) (Calatropis Procera) (Light wood similar to above. Grows on degraded land.) Myrrh tree adăras idărsan (ă/-) Myrrh tree adăras idǝrsan (ă/-) (Commifora Africana) (Wood used by craftsmen. Resin used as incense.) Resin matălxer (‘Mother of peace’) Resin (Ar.) ălmăsata (This resin is burned to chase away evil spirits.) Broad leaf tree akălăfa ikălăfan (ă/-) (Combretum Glutinosum) (Wood used in construction. Threatened by overgrazing.) Leafy fruit tree tăfărăɣrăɣat tifărăɣrăɣaten (tǝ/tǝ) Leafy fruit tree tǝwila tiwilawen (tǝ/tǝ) (Sclerocaryn Birrea) (Found near water.) Leafy tree tădăyne tidăynawen (tă/tǝ) (Bauhina Rufescens) (Found near water. Leaves used to treat sores.) Bushy tree tadhant tidhănnen (tă/tǝ) Bushy tree tădant tidănnen (tă/tǝ) (Boscia Senegalensis) (Found near water. Edible fruit. Twigs chewed to clean teeth.) Ripe fruit tamǝnt tamǝnen (ta/ta) Green fruit anšan anšanăn (a/a) Green fruit anzan anzanăn (a/a) Large tree tagălalt tiglal (tă/tǝ) (Mitragyna Inermis) (Found near water. Wood good for construction.) Bush (in tufts) ăna inattăn (ă/-) Bush (in tufts) ănag inăggăn (ă/-) (Leptadenia Pyrotechnica) (Common on dunes. Used for tying.) Tamarind băsaso (-) (Tamarindis Indica) (There are few surviving examples of this tree in Oudalan.) Other trees and shrubs include – Ša Za Ša z Za Ša Za Ša Za . The latin names of most of these may be found in Ag Sidiyène (1996). 285 This last tree does not grow in Oudalan but its product is used. Karite ašǝk ǝn-bulănga (a) (Vitelloria paradoxa) Karite butter (So.) bulănga (Used as a cheaper alternative to milk butter to oil wood and leather.) Grasses and plants Plant tasǝdwǝlt tisǝdwal (tǝ/tǝ) Sown plant / garden isǝdduma (ă/-) Planting tool asăddamu Planting tool sǝgǝbu Straw / grass / weeds alǝmmoẓ ilǝmmaẓ (ǝ/-) Straw / grass / weeds alǝmmuẓ ilǝmẓan (ǝ/-) (Aristida sp.) Greenery tăddalǝt tăddalǝten (tǝ/tǝ) Greenery / weeds el elăn (e/e) Greenery / weeds yel elan (-/e) (Refers to new growth in the wet season. The plural means ‘years’.) Plants / weeds tehǝšše tihǝššawen (tă/tǝ) Plants / weeds tešše teššawen (te/te) Millet enăle inăletăn (ă/-) (Pennisetum Glaucum) (Millet) stalk aǵăbăl iǵǝblan (ă/-) (Millet) stalk agăbăl agăbălăn (a/a) Shoots teḍǝken (tǝ) Shoots tiḍǝken (tǝ) Bit of stalk teẓewt teẓewen (tă/tǝ) Bit of stalk teẓăwt teẓăwen (tă/tǝ) Head (of cereal) teɣăɣănt tiɣăɣănen (tă/tǝ) Seed ădom idommăn (ă/-) Seed esămb isămban (ă/-) Grain / seed temătăwt timătawen (tă/tǝ) Grain tablalt tiblalen (tă/tǝ) Grain tamăɣwant timăɣwanen (tă/tǝ) Chaff (So.) du dutăn (-/-) Chaff tašit tašiten (ta/ta) Bean tanzant tanzanen (ta/ta) Bean pods ilănɣan (-) Sorghum ăbora iboran (ă/-) Sorghum ăbora iboratăn (ă/-) (Sorghum Vulgare) Wild ‘fonio’ / panic grass isibăn (-) (Panicum Laetum) išibăn (-) Wild ‘fonio’ asɣal isɣalăn (ă/ǝ) 286 Grass for making huts abărom ibram (ă/ǝ) Grass for making huts abărom ibǝram (ă/-) (Andropogon Gayanus) Grass afăẓǝw ifăẓwan (ă/-) Grass afăẓăw ifǝẓwan (ă/-) (Panicum Turgidum) (Used for wall mats and hanging decorations.) Sandbur / ‘cram cram’ wăzzaǵ wăzzaǵăn (-/-) (Cenchrus biflorus) wăžžag wăžžagăn (-/-) (Good grazing. Its tiny grains give ‘famine food’ for people.) Reed abărǵu ibărǵutăn (ǝ/-) Reed abǝrgu ibǝrgutăn (ǝ/-) (Echinochloa Stagnine) (Very good grazing.) Lotus / water-lily takǝndit tikǝnden (tǝ/tǝ) Lotus / water-lily takǝndit tikǝnditen (tǝ/tǝ) (Nymphaea lotus) (Edible nodules harvested in rainy season.) Puncture vine aǵărof iǵărofăn (ă/-) Puncture vine agărof igărofăn (ă/-) (Tribulus Terrestris) Soft spiky seeds tefărkăst tifărkăsen (tă/tǝ) Plant (used for shampoo) adlǝnf (ǝ) Plant (used for shampoo) adlǝf idǝlfan (ǝ/-) Mushroom tulǝft n-ălšinăn (tu) Mushroom tilǝft n-ălžinăn (ti) Fungus bǝŋŋ (-) Fungus bǝffen (-) Weather Heat / hot(ness) tăkusse (tă) Heat / hot(ness) tukǝse (tu) Cold esămeḍ (ă) Wind aḍu aḍutăn (a/a) Rain aǵǝnna iǵǝnnawăn (ǝ/-) Rain ăkonak ikonakăn (ǝ/-) Cloud teǵărăk tiǵărăken (tă/tǝ) Cloud tegărăk tigărăken (tă/tǝ) Thunder eǵǵaǵ eǵǵaǵăn (e/e) Thunder eggag eggagăn (e/e) Lightning (fork) essam essamăn (e/e) Lightning (strike) teqqaqq teqqaɣen (te/te) Lightning (flash) teḍăfe tiḍǝf (tă/ti) 287 Dust storm (before a rain) tamăḍalt timăḍlen (tă/tǝ) Dust storm (before a rain) tamăḍalt timǝḍlen (tă/tǝ) Sand storm ekărănkăr ikărănkărăn (ă/-) Dust devil / willy willy tăšikwălt tišikwălen (tă/tǝ) Dust devil / willy willy taḍut taḍuten (ta/ta) Rainbow aǵǝǵu-nn-el aǵǝǵu-nn-elăn (a/a) Rainbow agǝgu-n-yel agǝgu-nn-elan (a/a) Rainbow tǝẓẓǝg-agǝgu (tǝ) Rainbow tǝẓẓǝg-aɣăba (tǝ) Overcast edălegi idălegităn (ă/-) Cool, humid air (of rain) elăhe ilăhetăn (ă/-) Drought mănna mănnatăn (-/-) Hail agidrǝš igidrǝšan (ă/-) Hail edăgrăz idăgrăzăn (ă/-) Topology Land / earth / homeland ăkal ikallăn (ă/-) Land / earth amăḍal imǝḍlan (ă/-) Homeland ăkal ikăllăn (ă/-) The bush / countryside tăkoyt tikoyyen (tă/tǝ) The bush / countryside ăroǵǵ iraǵǵăn (ă/-) Valley ǝrug irăggăn (ǝ/-) The bush / countryside ǝsuf isăffăn (ǝ/-) Wilderness / desert tenere tinariwen (tă/tǝ) Rock / stone / small hill tăhunt tihun (tă/tǝ) Rock / stone / small hill tăhunt tihun (tǝ/tǝ) Mountain aḍaɣ iḍaɣăn (ă/-) Mountain adɣaɣ idɣaɣăn (ă/ǝ) Hill tăkaswart tikaswaren (tă/tǝ) Hill tăkašwart tikašwaren (tă/tǝ) Hill ahǝll ihǝllan (ă/-) Small hill esăwăl isulan (ă/-) Small hill ekărăf ikărăfăn (ă/-) Small hill adăbon idban (ă/ǝ) Small hill adăbon idǝban (ă/-) Small hill (lit. ‘skull’) takărkort tikǝrkar (tă/tǝ) Small hill (lit. ‘skull’) takărkort tikărkoren (tă/tǝ) Field (farmed) tawăgost tiwgas (tă/tǝ) Field (farmed) tawăgost tiwǝgas (tă/tǝ) Field (farmed) ašǝkrǝš išǝkraš (ǝ/-) Sand dune eǵef iǵefăn (ă/-) Sand dune egef igefăn (ă/-) Sand temăsăst timăsăsen (tă/tǝ) Sand tamălălt timălălen (tǝ/tǝ) 288 Hot sand ešǝš ešǝšăn (e/e) Hot sand ežǝž ežǝžăn (e/e) Flat clear ground eɣărɣăr iɣărɣărăn (ă/-) Water courses are often tree lined. Therefore, low-ground, valley, water course and forest have overlapping meanings: Wadi / ravine eǵărer iǵărerăn (ă/-) Wadi / ravine agirer igirerăn (ǝ/-) Sandy wadi ăšašǝl išušal (ǝ/-) Sandy wadi ăzazǝl izuzal (ǝ/-) River eǵărew iǵǝrwan (ă/-) River egărew igǝrwan (ă/-) Lake ( 289 Tracks adăriš idraš (ă/ǝ) Tracks adǝriz idǝrzan (ǝ/-) Termite mound aɣǝmmǝn iɣǝmm,năn (ă/-) Termite mound aɣǝmmǝn iɣǝmman (ǝ/-) Salty earth ăhara iharan (ă/-) Soft earth / sand telămmeṭṭ tilămmeḍen (tă/tǝ) Heavenly bodiebodiessss Sun tăfuk (tă) Sun tăfukt (tă) Sun tǝfuk (tǝ) Moon (month) ăyor orăn (ă/o) Moon (month) tallit tilil (tǝ/tǝ) Star atăr etran (ă/e) Star atri etran (ǝ/e) Venus tatrit (tă) Planet ămaway-n-ăhăḍ (ă) (lit. ‘Steward of the night’. Jupiter is usually the one meant, although occasionally Mars is also prominent.) Pleiades šăt-ăhăḍ (-) Pleiades ăššet-ăhăḍ (ă) (lit. ‘Daughters of night’) Aldebaran kukăheḍ (-) Orion (‘guide’) amănar (ă) Scorpio teẓerdǝmt (tă) Scorpio tăẓardǝmt (tǝ) Great bear taḷămt (tă) Great bear taḷǝmt (tă) (lit. ‘Female camel’) Milky Way mǝhǝlliw (-) Milky Way taberăt (n-ăkăsa) (ta) 555.5...17171717 Materials Fluids Liquid (‘water’) aman (pl) amanătăn (a/a) White liquid (‘milk’) axx exxawăn (ă/ă) White liquid (‘milk’) ax ixxawăn (ă/ǝ) Oil (‘liquid butter’) udi udǝyawăn (u/u) Oil (‘liquid butter’) widi widiwăn (u/u) Grease tadhont (ta) Grease tadǝnt (ta) Paraffin kărănži (-) Paraffin kărănžil (-) 290 Solids Wood ašǝk eškan (a/e) Dry wood esăɣer isăɣerăn (ă/-) Dry wood ešăɣer išăɣerăn (ă/-) Plank tafălwat tifălwaten (tă/tǝ) Iron / metal tăẓoli tiẓolǝyawǝnen (tă/tă) Iron / metal tǝẓoli tiẓolǝyawen (tǝ/tǝ) (May also mean ‘thing made from metal’ or weapon.) Gold orăɣ orɣawăn (o/o) Gold urǝɣ urɣawăn (u/u) Silver / money aẓrǝf eẓărfan (ă/-) Silver / money aẓrǝf iẓǝrfan (ǝ/-) Copper eɣer iɣerăn (ă/-) Copper eɣǝri iɣăran (ǝ/-) Bronze / brass daroɣ daroɣăn (-/-) Aluminium boko bokotăn (-/-) Rust / oxidisation tenekk (tineken) (tă/tǝ) Rust / oxidisation tǝnik tiniken (tǝ/tǝ) Stone tăhunt tihun (tă/tǝ) Stone tăhunt tihun (tǝ/tǝ) Glass (broken) tăšoka tišokawen (tă/tǝ) Glass (broken) tăžoka tižokawen (tă/tǝ) Glass / a mirror / spectacles tiset tiseten (ti/ti) Glass / a mirror/ spectacles tišet tišeten (ti/ti) Plastic măna mănatăn (-/-) Cloth / material tabdoq tibǝddaɣ (tă/tǝ) Thread tenălle tinǝlwa (tă/tǝ) Cotton / cotton seed eles (ă) Wool tăḍuft tăḍufen (tă/tă) Wool tǝḍuft tǝḍufen (tǝ/tǝ) Hide (inc sheep / goat) elăm ilămawăn (ă/-) Leather (cow / camel) eɣăyt iɣăytăn (ă/-) Skin (with hairs still on) eǵăsek iǵǝskan (ă/-) Skin (with hairs still on) egăšek igǝškan (ă/-) Charcoal tamăkat timăkaten (tă/tǝ) Burning coals tăẓoẓemt teẓoẓam (tă/tă) Burning coals tăẓuẓemt tiẓuẓam (tă/tǝ) Ash eẓǝd eẓḍawăn (e/e) Ash eẓǝd eẓǝḍăn (e/e) Potash toka tokaten (to/to) Potash ṣoṣo ṣoṣotăn (-/-) Potash tăɣiwa tăɣiwaten (tă/tă) Mud tălaqq tilaqqen (tă/tǝ) Mud tălaq tilăqqen (tă/tǝ) Clay tălaqq tan tămădăqqăs 291 Miscellaneous Dust ăǵoḍrar iǵoḍrarăn (ă/-) Dust ǝgoḍrar igoḍrarăn (ǝ/-) Dust ekărănkăr ikărănkărăn (ă/-) Dust ăboqqa iboqqan (ă/-) Dust ăbalăqq (ă) Darkness tihay (ti) Darkness tǝyyay (tǝ) Light (Ar.) ănnor ănnorăn (ă/ă) Light (Ar.) ǝnnur ǝnnurăn (ǝ/ǝ) Sunbeam tafawt tafawen (ta/ta) Sunbeam tesăqsăq tisăqsăɣen (tă/tǝ) Fire efew ifewăn (ă/-) Fire temse timǝss (tă/tǝ) Smoke ăho ihottăn (ă/-) Smoke ǝhu ihăttăn (ǝ/-) Smoke / steam (ăhoha) ihohăn (ă/-) Flint (fire-stone) tafărast tifărasen (tă/tǝ) Metal for striking enăfăd n-ăfew (ă) Spark temăntăst timăntăsen (tă/tǝ) Ice ăɣorhǝs iɣărhusăn (ă/-) Ice aɣǝris iɣǝrisăn (ǝ/-) Poison sunsǝǵ sunsǝǵăn (-/-) Poison sǝnsǝg sǝnsǝgăn (-/-) Poison / sorcery (Ar.) ăssăxar ăssăxarăn (ă/ă) 555.5...18181818 Religion and the supersupernaturalnatural General Religion (Ar.) ăddin ăddinăn (ă/ă) Religion (Ar.) ǝddin ǝddinăn (ǝ/ǝ) Prophet (Ar.) ănnăbi ănnăbităn (ă/ă) Prophet (Ar.) ǝnnǝbi ǝnnǝbităn (ǝ/ǝ) Apostle / servant anămmašul inǝmmušal (ă/-) Apostle / servant anămmazul inǝmmuzal (ă/-) Saint / holy man (Ar.) ălwăli ălwălităn (ă/ă) Saint / holy man (Ar.) ǝlwǝli ǝlwǝlităn (ǝ/ǝ) Preaching ( 292 Spiritual beings God (Our master) Măssinăɣ (-) God (Our master) Mǝssinăɣ (-) God ( Piety / religious acts Prayer (ritual) ămud imaddăn (ă/-) Prayer (ritual) ǝmud imăddăn (ǝ/-) (Also used for any religious holiday or even any ‘do’ with dancing.) Prayer (general) tǝwatre tiwatriwen (tǝ/tǝ) Prayer (supplication) tamădilt (ǝn-Măssinăɣ) timdal (tǝ/tǝ) Prayer (supplication) tamǝdilt (ǝn-Măssinăɣ) timdal (tǝ/tǝ) Sacrifice / (pl) ‘tabaski’ tasǝbḍărt tisǝbḍar (tǝ/tǝ) Sacrifice / ‘tabaski’ tăfaske tifaskiwen (tă/tǝ) Sacrifice for healing ( 293 Pilgrim (‘haji’) ( Law, Judgement and the Afterlife Law / judgement (Ar.) ăššăreɣa ăššăreɣatăn (ă/ă) Law / judgement (Ar.) ǝššǝriɣa ǝššǝriɣatăn (ǝ/ǝ) Law / commandment (Ar.) ălămăr ălămărăn (ă/ă) Repentance ( 294 The day of judgement ašăl wan tăbădde (ă) The day of judgement azǝl wan tăbădde (ǝ) (lit. ‘The day of standing up’, a calque from Quranic arabic.) The afterlife (Ar.) ălaxărăt (ă) Heaven / sky ašǝnna išǝnnawăn (ǝ/-) Heaven / sky ažǝnna ižǝnnawăn (ǝ/-) Paradise (Ar.) ălžănnăt (ă) Hell-fire temse (tă) Hell (Ar.) žohănnăma (-) Punishment (Ar.) ălɣăzab ălɣăzab (ă/ă) Punishment (Ar.) ălɣăzabăt ălɣăzabătăn (ă/ă) Abstract terms Evil (Ar.) ăššăr ăššărăn (ă/ă) Evil ( 295 Peace (lack of war) (Ar.) ălɣafyăt ălɣafyătăn (ă/ă) Peace (lack of war) (Ar.) ălɣafǝyăt ălɣafǝyătăn (ă/ă) Hope / value (Ar.) ăṭṭăma ăṭṭămatăn (ă/ă) Authority / power tǝmɣăr tǝmɣăren (tǝ/tǝ) Authority / power tămɣăr tămɣăren (tă/tă) Rule / authority (Ar.) ălxǝkum ălxǝkumăn (ă/ă) Rule / authority (Ar.) ǝlxǝkum ǝlxǝkumăn (ǝ/ǝ) Rule / power tănaya tinayawen (tă/tǝ) Power tădabit tidabiten (tă/tǝ) Power tudabăt tudabăten (tu/tu) Truth tidǝt tidǝten (ti/ti) Lies bahu bahutăn (-/-) Doubt (Ar.) ăššăk ăššăkăn (ă/ă) (This word also alludes to ‘reserve’ an important aspect of correct behaviour especially among the noble clans.) Soul / spirit / life / self - iman (-) Breath / spirit / ( Other terms Oath tahoḍe tihoḍawen (tă/tǝ) Oath tahuḍe tihuḍawen (tǝ/tǝ) Vow ɣărro ɣărrotăn (-/-) Oath / vow / curse asǝmmǝhăḍ isǝmmǝheḍăn (ǝ/-) Oath / vow / curse asǝmmǝhǝḍ isǝmmǝhiḍăn (ǝ/-) Custom (Ar.) ălɣăda ălɣădatăn (ă/ă) Custom / origin (Ar.) ălăṣăl ălăṣălăn (ă/ă) Custom / origin (Ar.) ǝlǝṣǝl ǝlǝṣǝlăn (ǝ/ǝ) Tradition / hadith (Ar.) ăssunnăt (ă) Covenant / promise ( Prophets and other Names Adam (Ar.) Adǝm Adam (Ar.) Adăm Eve (Ar.) Xawa Noah (Ar.) Nox Noah (Ar.) Nux Abraham (Ar.) Ibrahim 296 Moses (Ar.) Mosa Moses (Ar.) Musa Torah (Ar.) Ăṭṭăwrăt David (Ar.) Dawǝd / Dăwda Psalms (Ar.) ăzzăbor Psalms (Ar.) ǝzzǝbur Solomon (Ar.) Sulăyman Mary (Ar.) Măryama John (Ar.) Exya Jesus (Ar.) Ɣisa Gospel (Ar.) ălǝnžil Messiah (Ar.) ălmasex Messiah (Ar.) ǝlmǝsix Mohammed (Ar.) Moxămmăd Mohammed (Ar.) Muxămmăd Quran (Ar.) ălqoran Quran (Ar.) ǝlquran Mecca (Ar.) Makăt / Măkkăt Muslim ( Sorcery / magic / paganism Idol (Ar.) ăssănăm ăssănămăn (ă/ă) Idol ădamum idumam (ă/-) Curse / insult (Ar.) tilɣant tilɣanen (ti/ti) Magic asǝmmǝǵru isǝmmǝǵraw (ǝ/-) Magic asǝmmǝgru isǝmmǝgraw (ǝ/-) Marabout’s ‘magic’ timălăllăyen (tǝ) Magic words tanăfalalt tinăfalalen (tă/tǝ) (Specifically – words said to make a lost object come back.) Sorcery / curse ešăɣăw išăɣwan (ă/-) Sorcery / curse ešăɣăw išăɣăwăn (ă/-) Sorcerer emăššăɣăw imăššăɣăwăn (ă/-) Witch (So.) akrikaw ikrikawăn (ă/ǝ) Witch (So.) takrikawt tikrikawen (tă/tǝ) (One who causes children to get sick and die by looking at them.) Evil eye tegăršăt tegăršăten (te/te) Evil eye tegăršăk tegăršăken (te/te) Evil eye tǝššoṭṭ tǝššoḍen (tǝ/tǝ) Evil eye tǝššuṭṭ tǝššuḍen (tǝ/tǝ) Divination (geomancy) iǵăšan (-) 297 Divination (geomancy) igăžan (-) Diviner (geomancer) amǝsǵǝšu imǝsǵuša (ǝ/-) Diviner (geomancer) amǝsgǝžu imăsgăžăn (ǝ/-) ‘Black magic’ (So.) toru torutăn (to/to) Possession-cult dancing ăddăl wa-n ălšinăn (ă) Possession-cult dancing ăddăl wa-n ălžinăn (ă) Possession-cult dancing ăddăl wa-n ălžăynăn (ă) Possession-cult dancing ašigal išigalăn (ǝ/-) Possession-cult dancing ažigal ižigalăn (ǝ/-) Musician (of above) aggu aggutăn (a/a) Musician (of above) (So.) ăzimma izimmatăn (ă/-) Incense healing (So.) dugu dugutăn (-/-) Omen arid Omen (Ar.) ašărik Presage tăkubbert tikubberen (tǝ/tǝ) Presage takǝbbert tikǝbberen (tǝ/tǝ) Rites of passage Party / festivities / game ăddăl ăddălăn (ă/ă) Religious festival ămud imaddăn (ă/-) Religious festival ǝmud imăddăn (ǝ/-) Dancing adălal idălalăn (ă/-) Dancing adlul idlulăn (ǝ/ǝ) Bride-price taggalt taggalen (ta/ta) Betrothal asǝmmǝkrǝs isǝmmǝkras (ǝ/-) Betrothal asǝmmǝkrǝs isǝmmǝkrisăn (ǝ/-) Betrothal / marriage adubǝn idubnawăn (ǝ/-) Betrothal / marriage adubăn idubănăn (ǝ/-) Betrothal / marriage azălaf izălafăn (ă/-) Betrothal / marriage ehăn (ă) (The act of betrothal and the state of being engaged or married.) Marriage aẓli iẓlǝyăn (ă/ǝ) (The separation of a young bride from her parental home.) Marriage aẓǝẓli iẓǝẓlay (ă/-) (What the man does – ‘separates’ the bride from her parental home.) Wedding ‘do’ ăddăl wan ăẓli (ă) Confinement (after birth) amẓur imẓurăn (ă/ǝ) Naming ceremony ăddăl wan isǝm (ă) Naming ceremony ikăsănkăsăn (-) Naming ceremony (Fu.) lămru lămrutăn (-/-) Circumcision amilǝy imilǝyăn (ǝ/-) Circumcision amǝnkǝḍ imǝnkiḍăn (ǝ/-) 298 Putting on of turban anăgaḍ inăgaḍăn (ă/-) (This ceremony marks passage from childhood to adulthood at 14-25 years. There is an equivalent one for women usually done between marriage and first child i.e. at 14-18 years old.) Divorce / separation amǝzzi imǝzzǝyăn (ǝ/-) Divorce / separation ebăḍḍi ibăḍḍităn (ă/-) Widow (recent) tinn-ăkăršăy (ti) (A widow wears her headscarf knotted under chin and lives in semi- confinement for four months after which she is free to re-marry.) Place of mourning edăgg n-iba (ă) 555.5...19191919 Money, trade and gifts Money / silver aẓrǝf eẓărfan (ă/-) Money / silver aẓrǝf iẓǝrfan (ă/-) Goods / flocks ehăre ihărawăn (ă/-) Goods / flocks ehăre ihǝrwan (ă/-) Wealth / luck tabăɣort tibɣar (tă/tǝ) Wealth / luck tabăɣort tibǝɣar (tă/tǝ) Wealth / prosperity ( 299 Contribution terǵit terǵiten (te/te) Contribution tirgit tirgiten (ti/ti) Gift / giving ihuk (-) Gift / giving tǝhǝkkut tihǝkk (tǝ/tǝ) Gift / giving tehăkkăwt tihǝkk (tă/tǝ) Gift / giving tănafut tinufa (tă/tǝ) Gift from a journey tibǝddar (tǝ) Gift sent tasǝnkit tisǝnkay (tǝ/tǝ) Gift to newborn ašǝyyuf išǝyyaf (ǝ/-) Gift to newborn ažif ažifăn (a/a) Love gifts tisutar (tǝ) Friendship gifts iǵelhan (-) Gift for reconciliation taẓǝmmăẓǝlt tiẓǝmmăẓilen (tă/tă) Gift for reconciliation taẓǝmmǝẓǝlt tiẓǝmmǝẓilen (tǝ/tǝ) Gift for reconciliation tamǝknut (tǝ) Loan / debt ămarwas imarwasăn (ă/-) Loan / debt asărḍǝl isărḍilăn (ă/-) Repayment azǝbǝna izǝbǝnatăn (ǝ/-) Usufruct tǝyyǝt tǝyyǝten (tǝ/tǝ) Forfeit (Ar.) ălman ălmanăn (ă/ă) Cow eaten at wedding taɣtǝst tiɣǝttas (tǝ/tǝ) Cowries tamǵǝlǝt timǵǝl (tǝ/tǝ) Cowries tamǝggǝlot timǝggǝla (tǝ/tǝ) (These were used for exchange in the days before coinage.) Caravan erăkăf irǝkfan (ă/-) 555.5...20202020 Games and sport Game / play ăddăl ăddălăn (ă/ă) Amusements imešlan (-) Amusements imăzlan (-) ‘Dice’ tisăɣeren (tǝ) ‘Dice’ tišăɣeren (tǝ) Strategy game tiddas (ti) Hide and seek ufăr-ufăr (u) Hide and seek ufǝr-ufǝr (u) ‘Jacks’ tikwa (ti) Mancala / awari tizgag (tǝ) 300 ‘Hockey’ kăray kărayetăn (-/-) ‘Hockey’ kărăy kărăyen (-/-) (Ancient game no longer played locally.) Hockey stick alănɣom ilǝnɣam (-) Ball tablulăqq tiblulăɣen (tǝ/tǝ) Ball tabǝlulǝq tibǝlulǝɣen (tǝ/tǝ) ‘Fencing’ / mock fight tedămit tidămaten (tă/tǝ) Racing / races tammăšăǵa timmăšăǵawen (tă/tǝ) Racing / races tămmăzăga tămmăzăgawen (tă/tă) Speed azzal azzalăn (a/a) Wrestling tăbbillant tăbbillanen (tă/tă) Wrestling tabǝllant tibǝllanen (tǝ/tǝ) 555.5...21212121 Abstract terms Character / intelligence / behaviour / emotions State / character (Ar.) ălxal ălxalăn (ă/ă) Conduct / character tašne tašniwen (ta/ta) Conduct / character tažne tažniwen (ta/ta) Character / state taɣărha tiɣărhiwen (tă/tǝ) Character / state taɣăra tiɣărwen (tă/tǝ) Situation / subject talɣa talɣiwen (ta/ta) Habit / taste agna agnatăn (a/a) Intelligence tayǝtte tiyǝttawen (tǝ/tǝ) Attention / intention (Ar.) ǝnnǝyăt ǝnnǝyăten (ǝ/ǝ) Understanding (Ar.) făhăm făhămatăn (-/-) Knowledge musnăt musnăten (-/-) Knowledge măsnăt măsnăten (-/-) Recognition muzyăt muzyăten (-/-) Recognition mǝzzǝyăt mǝzzǝyăten (-/-) Consciousness tǝnǝfruyt (tǝ) Consciousness tiǵya tiǵyawen (ti/ti) Consciousness tigya tigyawen (ti/ti) Worry / sad thoughts anǝzgum inǝzgam (ǝ/-) Thought ămeḍrăn imeḍrănăn (ă/-) Anxiety (Ar.) ălwăswăsăt ălwăswăsăten (ă/ă) Patience taẓidert tiẓideren (tă/tǝ) Patience taẓăydert tiẓăyderen (tă/tǝ) Wisdom / honour sărho sărhotăn (-/-) Honour / reserve (Ar.) ătteqal ătteqalăn (-/-) Reserve / doubt (Ar.) ăššăk ăššăkăn (-/-) Shame / reserve tăkrakeṭṭ tikrukaḍ (tă/tǝ) Shame / reserve takărakiṭṭ tikǝrukaḍ (tă/tǝ) 301 Grief / depression ( Words / speech Name / noun isǝm ismawăn (i/i) News - isălan (-) Question asǝstan isǝstinăn (ǝ/-) Greeting ăsafu isofan (ă/-) Greeting (sent by another) tǝhult tihulawen (tǝ/tǝ) Leave-takings isǝnnăɣlifăn (-) Leave-takings isǝnnǝɣlifăn (-) Speech / language măǵrăd imǝǵridăn (-/-) Speech / language măgrăd imǝgridăn (-/-) Word / phrase tăfert tifer (tă/tǝ) Word / phrase tǝfert tifir (tǝ/tǝ) Word / saying tǝnna tǝnnawen (tǝ/tǝ) Language / dialect tawalt tawalen (ta/ta) Conversation / chat batu batutăn (-/-) Conversation / chat (Ar.) ălžǝmayt ălžǝmayten (ă/ă) Conversation / chat (Ar.) ǝlžǝmat ǝlžǝmaten (ǝ/ǝ) Conversation / chat adwǝnni idwǝnnităn (ǝ/ǝ) Conversation / chat adǝwǝnni idǝwǝnnităn (ǝ/ǝ) Conversation / chat edăwănne idăwănnetăn (ă/-) 302 Story tanfust tinfusen (tă/tǝ) Story / poem tăsawit tisiway (tă/tǝ) Story / song / riddle tănẓort tinẓoren (tă/tǝ) Story / song / riddle tǝnẓurt tinẓuren (tǝ/tǝ) Song / poem ăsahăɣ isuhaɣ (ă/-) Song / poem ǝsahǝɣ isuhaɣ (ǝ/-) Historical tales tišilen (tǝ) Historical tales tižilen (tǝ) Proverb oẓẓ oẓẓawăn (o/o) Proverb oẓẓ oẓẓătăn (o/o) Proverb / riddle enhi enhităn (e/e) Proverb eni enităn (e/e) Parable tangalt tangalen (ta/ta) (Generally a phrase with a hidden meaning rather than a story.) Argument / discussion tamăzaqq timăzaɣen (tă/tǝ) Argument / discussion tamɣǝnnant timɣǝnnanen (tǝ/tǝ) Argument / discussion tamǝɣǝnnant timǝɣǝnnanen (tǝ/tǝ) Argument / discussion tamădašt timădašen (tă/tǝ) Argument / discussion tamădast timădazen (tă/tǝ) Argument / opposition amšǝkki imšǝkkităn (ǝ/ǝ) Argument / opposition amžǝkki imžǝkkităn (ǝ/ǝ) Rant ahuwal ihuwalăn (ă/-) Rant aklulu ikluliwăn (ǝ/ǝ) Rebuke asǝnnǝrɣǝm isǝnnǝrɣimăn (ǝ/ǝ) Reproach / blame tuǵna tuǵnawen (tu/tu) Reproach / blame tǝgna tǝgnawen (tǝ/tǝ) Snub (Ar.) ălhuza ălhuzatăn (ă/ă) Praise tǝmmal tǝmmalen (tǝ/tǝ) Renown / fame mawmaw (-) Prohibition / warning tarɣǝmt tirɣǝmen (tǝ/tǝ) Warning cry ăkure ikoran (ă/-) Warning cry ǝkure ikoran (ǝ/-) Alphabet teǵămke tiǵămkawen (tă/tǝ) Alphabet tegămke tigămkawen (tă/tǝ) Berber alphabet tifinaɣ (tǝ) One letter in Tifinagh tafinăqq (tǝ) One letter in Tifinagh tafinǝq (tǝ) Letter / amulet / map tăkarḍe tikarḍiwen (tǝ/tǝ) Letter / amulet terot tira (te/ti) Letter / amulet tirăwt tira (ti/ti) Voice / noise emăsli imăslan (ă/-) Voice / noise emǝsli imăslan (ǝ/-) Noise tăkalt tikăllen (tă/tǝ) Noise ăšit išităn (ǝ/-) Noise ǝžit ižităn (ǝ/-) 303 Shouting abrǝtti ibrǝttităn (ǝ/ǝ) Shouting abǝrǝtti ibǝrǝttităn (ǝ/-) Comedy / loose talk tallafen (ta) Comedy / loose talk tărfofen (tă) Threats imǝssuksaḍ (-) Threats imǝssǝksaḍ (-) Threats imǝssoxsad (-) Threats tisǝksǝḍawen (tǝ) Wail / mourning cry takălelt tikălelen (tă/tǝ) Wail tăšoršat tišoršaten (tǝ/tǝ) Wail tăzorzat tizorzaten (tǝ/tǝ) Trill taɣlǝlet tiɣlǝla (tǝ/tǝ) Trill taɣǝlǝlet tiɣǝlǝla (tǝ/tǝ) (Also known as ‘ululating’, done mainly by women at weddings etc.) Exaggeration tisǝssiwaḍ (tǝ) Exaggeration tisǝssikay (tǝ) Delirium tisălăwlăwen (tǝ) Senility / delirium tirăzzăyen (tǝ) Hand signal tătofayt titofayen (tă/tǝ) Hand signal tădogănt tidogănen (tǝ/tǝ) Miscellaneous Thing hărăt hărătăn (-/-) Thing ărăt ărătăn (ă/ă) Things / equipment ilalăn (-) Tools / utensils isuǵ (-) Tools / utensils isug (-) A part / side / half ašrut išrutăn (ǝ/ǝ) A part / side / half azrut izrutăn (ǝ/ǝ) Half / part tăẓune tiẓunawen (tă/tǝ) Share / portion tedăǵărt tidăǵăren (tă/tǝ) Share / portion edăgăr idăgărăn (ă/-) Side (of body / object) tasăǵa tisǝǵwen (tă/tǝ) Side (of body / object) tasăga tisǝgwen (tă/tǝ) Right aɣil iɣallăn (ă/-) Right aɣil iɣăllăn (ǝ/-) Left tăšalǵe tišalǵiwen (tă/tǝ) Left tǝzalge tizalgiwen (tǝ/tǝ) Left zălgăt zălgăten (-/-) World (Ar.) ăddunya ăddunyatăn (ă/ă) Solution (Ar.) ăddăbara ăddăbaratăn (ă/ă) Cause / reason ( 304 Cause / reason (Ar.) ăddălil ăddălilăn (ă/ă) Cause / reason (Ar.) ǝddǝlil ǝddǝlilăn (ǝ/ǝ) What is important (Ar.) ălɣaya ălɣayatăn (ă/ă) (Often translates as ‘however …’ or ‘only …’ followed by an injunction.) Impossible (Ar.) muxal (-) Independence (Ar.) ǝlisteqlal (ǝ) Independence (Ar.) ǝlistiqlal (ǝ) The necessary (Ar.) ălxažăt (ă) Opportunity taffawt taffawen (ta/ta) Opportunity taffăwt taffăwen (ta/ta) Pretext asaru isoran (ă/-) Pretext ăsaru isura (ă/-) Confidence (in s.o.’s help) fella fellatăn (-/-) Searching (for things) umăɣ-umăɣ (u) Searching (for things) umǝɣ-umǝɣ (u) Act of hostility tasăkmot tisǝkma (tă/tǝ) Living together unmarried tăbabbit (tă) Fame / renown tamsusǝnt timsusǝnen (tǝ/tǝ) Fame / renown tamǝsusǝnt timǝsusǝnen (tǝ/tǝ) Fame / renown mosli moslităn (-/-) Fame / renown măsăllăt măsăllăten (-/-) Coincidence tamăzăyyat timăzăyyen (tă/tǝ) Maintenance tanăṭṭuft tinăṭṭufen (tǝ/tǝ) Maintenance tanǝṭṭuft tinǝṭṭaf (tǝ/tǝ) Abuse / maltreatment ter-năṭṭuft ter-năṭṭufen (te/te) Abuse / maltreatment ter-nǝṭṭuft ter-nǝṭṭaf (te/te) Support (e.g. of stick) tehătelt tihătelen (tă/tǝ) Alliance ehăf (ă) Verbal Nouns Verbal nouns take the role of abstract nouns. Some have already been listed above, some other important ones are noted here. Verbal nouns are also found in the verb listings but there the plurals are not given as most verbal nouns are very rarely used in the plural. This list includes the ones that are commonly used in the plural. Task / errand / work ămašal imašalăn (ă/-) Task / errand / work ǝmažal imažalăn (ǝ/-) Task / errand / work ǝmazal imazalăn (ǝ/-) Work (Ar.) ǝššǝɣǝl ǝššǝɣǝlăn (ǝ/ǝ) Doing / act tiǵawt tiǵawen (ti/ti) Doing / act igi igităn (i/i) 305 Arrival tassawt tassawen (ta/ta) Arrival assa assatăn (a/a) Departure tagǝllawt tigǝllawen (tǝ/tǝ) Departure egǝlli igăllan (ǝ/-) Departure efel ifelăn (ă/-) Going tikawt tikawen (ti/ti) Going iki ikităn (i/i) Walking tekle takliwen (te/ta) Beginning sănto săntotăn (-/-) End sămdo sămdotăn (-/-) Existence tǝlla tǝllaten (tǝ/tǝ) Existence tǝlla tǝllawen (tǝ/tǝ) Existence tumast tumasen (tu/tu) Possession(s) tǝla tǝlawen (tǝ/tǝ) Perfection (Ar.) akămal ikămalăn (ă/-) Likeness milhaw milhawăn (-/-) Likeness milaw milawăn (-/-) Preference tăsafit tisafiten (tǝ/tǝ) Inheritance tăkasit tikasiten (tǝ/tǝ) Crime (Ar.) taḍlǝmt teḍǝllam (tă/tă) Crime (Ar.) taḍlǝmt tiḍǝllam (tǝ/tǝ) Theft (/ fornication) tikra tikrawen (ti/ti) Surprise / betrayal ( 306 Bringing / aggay aggayăn (a/a) load (of sth. brought) Drawing (of water) alăkaw ilăkawăn (ă/-) Weight taẓẓayt taẓẓayen (ta/ta) Weight taẓẓăyt taẓẓăyen (ta/ta) Weight ăẓuk ăẓukăn (ă/ă) Importance / size tǝmɣăre (tǝ) Importance / size tǝmɣǝre (tǝ) Ease / cheapness ( 307 Jealousy teṣmiten (te) Jealousy tiṣmiten (ti) Vomiting ebsan (e) Insult taǵǝǵǵert tiǵǝǵǵar (tǝ/tǝ) Insult takǝggert tikǝggar (tǝ/tǝ) Insult tettert tittar (te/ti) Insult tittert tittar (ti/ti) Proof ( 555.5...22222222 Directions and desdescriptionscriptions Directions Direction / bearing tasǝdǝkk tisǝdaǵ (tǝ/tǝ) Direction tamduk timdaǵ (tă/tǝ) Direction tehelt tihelen (te/te) North (lit. ‘up’) afălla (ă) North awẓa (ă) North atăram (ă) (The word means ‘West’ elsewhere but has come to refer to the Tamasheqs of Mali, in relation to those of Niger, and thus the Gao area which is North of Oudalan. Hence the adoption of as the direction North when starting from Oudalan. ‘Up’ is also used as most Tamasheqs in Oudalan perceive themselves as having come ‘down’ from Mali.) South agăla (ă) South emăynăg (ă) (The use of g as South is rather obscure. It is used to refer to the region just South of Gorom Gorom.) East emăynăǵ (ă) East ( Descriptions Colour / markings ini inităn (i/i) Male awtǝm iwtǝmăn (ǝ/ǝ) Male ăwtǝm ăwtǝmăn (ă/ă) Masculinity ăhhulǝs (ă) Female tawtǝmt tiwtǝmen (tǝ/tǝ) Female tăwtǝmt tăwtǝmen (tă/tă) 308 Clan / species / type tawset tiwsaten (tă/tǝ) Clan / species / type tăwšet tăwšeten (tă/tă) Likeness / species / type tulat tulaten (tu/tu) Team / group / class taggayt taggayen (ta/ta) Team / group / class taggăyt taggăyen (ta/ta) Top / surface / roof afălla ifallatăn (ă/-) Bottom / base ider iderăn (i/i) Bottom / base eder iderăn (ă/-) Side edes idesăn (ă/-) Inside / centre ammas ammasăn (a/a) Outside aǵăma iǵămatăn (ă/-) Outside agăma igămatăn (ă/-) Height tebădde tibaddiwen (tă/tǝ) Length tǝššǝǵrǝt tǝššǝǵrǝten (tǝ/tǝ) Length tǝzzǝgrǝt tǝzzǝgrǝten (tǝ/tǝ) Width tǝhhǝrǝwt tǝhhǝrǝwen (tǝ/tǝ) Width tăkost tikăssen (tǝ/tǝ) Depth atlǝkki itlǝkkităn (ǝ/ǝ) Depth atǝlǝkki itǝlǝkkităn (ǝ/-) Span (measure of length) tardast tardasen (ta/ta) Cubit aɣil iɣallăn (ă/-) Cubit aɣil iɣăllăn (ǝ/-) Line / row eṭăṭṭăr eṭăṭṭărăn (e/e) Length of life taɣrǝst teɣărras (tă/tǝ) Length of life taɣrǝst tiɣǝrras (tǝ/tǝ) Sign / symptom / ašămol išmal (ă/ǝ) indication // antelope Sign / symptom / ažămol ižǝmal (ă/-) indication // antelope Sign nehal nehalăn (-/-) Meaning (Ar.) ălmăɣna ălmăɣnatăn (ă/ă) Photo / shadow tele taliwen (te/ta) Taste / flavour tembe tambiwen (te/ta) Odour / fragrance aḍu aḍutăn (a/a) Strong odour awšǝnšǝǵ iwšǝnšiǵăn (ǝ/ǝ) Strong odour awǝžǝnžǝg iwǝžǝnžigăn (ǝ/ǝ) Dirt / dirtiness erdan (e) Triangle teǵămšăkk tiǵămšăkăn (tă/tǝ) Triangle tegămšăk tigămšăkăn (tă/tǝ) Sphere / ball tablulăqq tiblulaɣ (tǝ/tǝ) Sphere / ball tabǝlulǝq tibǝlulaɣ (tǝ/tǝ) Circle taǵlǝlwayt tiǵlǝlwayen (tǝ/tǝ) 309 Circle taǵălăllăwat tiǵălăllăwaten (tă/tǝ) Circle tagălăllăwăyt tigălăllăwăyen (tă/tǝ) Wheel / bearing tebălăwt tibălăwen (tă/tǝ) 555.5...23232323 Words borrowed from French State structures Police chief komser komsertăn (-/-) Prefect (mayor) bǝreffe bǝreffetăn (-/-) Maire mer mertăn (-/-) Police bolis / folis bolistăn (-/-) Gendarme žăndărm žăndărmatăn (-/-) Soldier mǝnǝter mǝnǝtertăn (-/-) Soldier mǝnǝtir mǝnǝtirtăn (-/-) Soldier militer militertăn (-/-) Customs dǝwan dǝwantăn (-/-) President fǝrezdan fǝrezdantăn (-/-) Schoolteacher muse musetăn (-/-) Schoolteacher muše mušetăn (-/-) Quarter (of town) sekter sektertăn (-/-) School likol likoltăn (-/-) Pound (for animals) furye furyetăn (-/-) Prison kăso kăsotăn (-/-) Office biro birotăn (-/-) Role / function sărwis sărwistăn (-/-) (Government employees are ‘ .) Identity card kărtidănt kărtidăntăn (-/-) Western ‘goods’ Tobacco taba tabiwen (ta/ta) Wallet fartăma fartămatăn (-/-) Football băl băltăn (-/-) Table / market stall ṭabăl ṭabălen (ṭa/ṭa) Shop măngăza măngăzatăn (-/-) Radio / tape player ăradyo ăradyotăn (-/-) Cassette kăset kăsetăn (-/-) ( is also used) Battery bil biltăn (-/-) ( is also used) Razor blade lam lamtăn (-/-) Donkey cart šărrăt šărrătăn (-/-) ( is also used) Motorbike / moped moto mototăn (-/-) ( is also used) 310 Mattress matăla matălatăn (-/-) Spade fello fellotăn (-/-) ( is rarely used of a manufactured spade) Barrel (200 litre) tonno tonnoten (-/-) Barrel (200 litre) bărik băriktăn (-/-) ( g is also used) Matches ălmayt ălmaytităn (-/-) Matches ălmaytu ălmaytutăn (-/-) Cab (of vehicle) kăbin kăbintăn (-/-) Photograph / picture foto fototăn (-/-) Moving image sinǝma sinǝmatăn (-/-) Handpump bombi bombităn (-/-) Handpump fonfi fonfităn (-/-) Motorised pump foraž foražtăn (-/-) (Sewing) machine măsin măsintăn (-/-) (Sewing) machine măšin măšintăn (-/-) Plastic bottle bido bidotăn (-/-) Sheet metal tol toltăn (-/-) Foods Tomato tomănti tomăntităn (-/-) Cabbage šu šutăn (-/-) Coffee kăfe kăfetăn (-/-) Citrus fruit limon limontăn (-/-) Potato bombăter bombătertăn (-/-) Lettuce ṣălat ṣălatităn (-/-) Miscellaneous Metre metăr metărtăn (-/-) Kilometre kilometăr kilometrăn (-/-) Gram găram găramtăn (-/-) 100 grams (of tea) săngăram (-) Kilogram kilo kilotăn (-/-) Hour / time ur urtăn (u/u) Minute minet minetăn (-/-) Clock / watch montăr montărtăn (-/-) Original bǝrǝmye bǝrǝmyetăn (-/-) (Often said when asserting priority in a novel line of work.) Lies (to cause a rift) fărfăgănda fărfăgăndatăn (-/-) Catholic (priest) momber mombertăn (-/-) 311 Flower fǝlǝr fǝlǝrtăn (-/-) A few words have come from English (usually via Hausa) Lamp / torch layti laytităn (-/-) Bucket bokǝti bokǝtităn (-/-) Clinic / health worker lăktor / lăxtor lăxtortăn (-/-) Pick-axe fingas fingastăn (-/-) Carrot kăroti kărotităn (-/-) Cut wood kafinta kafintatăn (-/-) 555.5...24242424 Grammatical words Prepositions Of / for ǝn (see Section 3.4) To / for … i, y, e (see Section 3.23) With / towards / in … ǝs, sǝr (see Section 3.24) With / and … ǝd, dǝr, dǝ (see Section 3.25) In / into / out of … dăɣ, dǝ (see Section 3.26) Until / when har (see Section 3.27) On / off / because … făl (see Section 3.28) On / off / because … fǝl (see Section 3.28) With / ‘chez’ ɣor (see Section 5.27) With / ‘chez’ ɣur (see Section 5.27) Among ǵer- / ǵăr Among găr- / gǝr Before / in front of dat After / behind ḍarăt After / behind dǝffǝr Under / below daw Above ǵǝnnǝǵ Above gǝnnǝg Note that Tamasheq has no unique prepostion meaning ‘from’ instead any of the prepositions can be used in the partative sense. e.g. can mean ‘from in / out of’, can mean ‘from upon / off’. Conjunctions But măšan But măšan / măšen Or meɣ Because făl-as 312 Because fǝl-as Because awa-s Since / if / when id Afterwards ilkâm Firstly izzar Firstly ǝzzar Firstly tizzar Firstly tǝzzar That’s it awen-dăɣ That is why … awen-dăɣ a-făl That is why … awen-dăɣ a-fǝl If / when as If / when a-făl If / when a-fǝl Why … ? mafăl Why … ? măfel / mafǝl If (hypothetical) kud Even if … kud…dăɣ Whether / even if kudǝnta If (unfulfilled) ǝndăr / ǝnnăr If (unfulfilled) ǝndar / ǝnnar Since (seeing as …) šămad Since (seeing as …) zămad Perhaps ihâ miši Perhaps ihâ miži Isn’t it? / it is not wǝdden (contracted to: ) Isn’t it? / it is not wǝddeɣ (contracted to: ) Isn’t it? / it is not wǝrgin (contracted to: gg ) Unless as wǝdden Unless kundăba Therefore adiš Therefore adi-za Question marker ak … ? Question marker ayǵǝn … ? Question marker aygǝn … ? Question marker yălla … ? (This last is ugly Tamasheq.) Adverbs All / every kul Only ɣas Also deɣ (Not) yet / again harwa 313 (Not) yet / again hărwa Very / especially hullen Like šund Like zund / žund No longer iba-s No longer ăba-s Except / only ar Neither / nor wǝr … wăla All (of us) iket-(nănăɣ) Other than săled Rather than / and also … ohun / ohǝn Rather than / and also … uhun / uhǝn As well as // despite hak-ǝd Always harkuk Permanently făw Because of dăɣ (/făl) ăddălil ǝn … Because of dăɣ (/fǝl) ǝddǝlil ǝn … Because of dăɣ (/ făl) ǝssǝbab ǝn … How much more so băršeɣ It is certain (Ar.) … lab Never / ever / previously kăla Directional adverbs Here (by me) diha / dăha Here (by me) da There (close to me) dihen / dăhen There (close to me) den There (from here) siha / săha Over there / from there sihen / săhen There (from here) sa Over there / from there sen The following are formed by use of the prepositions ‘with’, ‘towards’ or ‘in’ plus a noun: On top (of) / upwards s-ăfălla To the side / separately s-edes To the side / separately s-ǝzrut By the side (of) d-edes (ǝn) By the side of dăgma-n (This is a contraction of g ‘with the outside of’) Below / downwards s-ider 314 Below / downwards s-ăder To the outside s-ăǵăma To the outside s-ăgăma In the direction of s-ibre-n In the direction of s-ibăre-n In the direction of s-eberet-ǝn In the direction of s-et-ǝn On / to the front ǝs-dat Behind ǝs-ḍarăt Behind ǝs-dǝffǝr On the inside / in the middle dăɣ ammas Qualitative adverbs Quickly šik Quickly žik Quickly tărmâḍ With difficulty (/ rarely) šărnaš With difficulty (/ rarely) zărnaz Loudly s-ăfălla Quietly / slowly sollan For no reason bănnan Note that qualitative adverbs can be formed from many verbal noun using or : Forcefully s-ăṣṣahăt Fearfully dăɣ tărǝmmeqq Fearfully dăɣ tǝrǝmmeq Secretly dăɣ ufăr Secretly dăɣ ufǝr A lot / abundantly s-iǵǝt A lot / abundantly s-igǝt (From / to) a long way s-iǵǝǵ (From / to) a long way s-igǝg The following are formed similarly: Slightly s-a-ntǝkkăn Slightly s-a-nḍărrăn Much s-a-măqqărăn Intensifying aadverbsdverbs In many local languages intensity is made by repeating an adjective or adverb. This is frequently done in Tamasheq with a few adverbs, e.g.: Especially / very / really hullen hullen Each and every one kul kul 315 Carefully sollan sollan Little by little s-a-ntǝkkăn a-ntǝkkăn Little by little s-a-nḍărrăn a-nḍărrăn Very quickly šik šik Very quickly žik žik Right now ămăra-dăɣ ămăra-dăɣ 555.5...25252525 Time words General Time ( Phrases Today ašăl-i 316 The day before yesterday ašăl ăndin The day after tomorrow ašăl wen This morning dăɣ tifawt-i Today azǝl-a The day before yesterday azǝl ǝndin The day after tomorrow azǝl wen This morning dăɣ tufatt-a Yesterday morning ănḍǝšel ǝs tifawt Yesterday morning ǝnḍazǝl ǝs tufat This year tenǝy-i This year tene-wa Next year awătay wa dd-imălăn Last market hebu wa okăyăn Market before last hebu wa săled wa okăyăn Market after next hebu wa săled wa dd-imălăn In three days time I will dăɣ kăraḍ šilan ad ăǵăɣ spend three nights there kăraḍ hăḍan dihen In three days time I will dăɣ kăraḍ žilan ad ăgăɣ spend three nights there kăraḍ ăḍan den (It is more usual to count nights than days.) After that ḍarăt awen After that dǝffǝr awen After my return from Dori ḍarăt oɣǝl-in dăɣ Dori After my return from Dori dǝffǝr tăwăɣle-nin dăɣ Dori After / since the famine ḍarăt tǝmɣutar After / since the famine dǝffǝr tǝmǝɣutar Before I go to Ouaga dat tikawt-in ǝs-Waɣa Before I go to Ouaga dat iki-nin ǝs-Waɣa Right now ămăr-a-dăɣ At that time ălwăqq wen dăɣ Tonight ehăḍ-i Tonight ehăḍ-a Last year’s cold season tagrǝst tan anhaḍ Last year’s cold season tagrǝst tan ănaḍ At first / in the beginning ǝs-tizarăt At dawn (first prayer call) s-ăɣora In the morning / ǝs-tifawt tomorrow morning In the morning / (ǝs-) tufat tomorrow morning 317 Mid-morning s-agdǝlset Mid-morning s-agǝdǝlšet Mid-morning s-adǝgǝlšet Midday ǝs-tărăhut Midday ǝs-tǝrut Early Afternoon ǝs-tezzar In the afternoon ǝs-takkăṣt In the afternoon ǝs-takǝst At sunset s-ăgăḍăl ǝn-tăfukk At sunset s-ăgăḍăl ǝn-tǝfuk In the evening s-ălmăẓ In the evening s-ǝlmǝẓ At bedtime ǝs-tǝsoḍǝsen At bedtime ǝs-tǝsuḍǝsen (i.e. the time for the last of the 5 daily prayers) In the middle of the night dăɣ ammas n-ăhăḍ A few days hărăt ǝn-hăḍan A few days ărăt n-ăḍan Aside from the festivals of Ramadan and Tabaski the Islamic calendar is little referred to. The Roman calendar is almost unknown. Climatic seasons are used to locate in the year. 555.5...26262626 Indefinite terms One/some a / one some / other masculine ǝyyăn ǝyyaḍ feminine ǝyyăt tǝyyaḍ E.g.: Two men came one continued to meddăn ǝssin osăn-id ǝyyăn okăy Beyga, the other to Markoye ǝs-Băyga, wa hăḍăn ǝs-Mărkoy Two men came one continued meddăn ǝššin osăn-dǝd ǝyyăn okăy to Beyga, the other to Markoye ǝs-Băyga, wa hăḍăn ǝs-Mărkoy Some like cows, others ǝyyaḍ ărhân iwan, ǝyyaḍ prefer camels ăssôfăn imnas Some like cows, others ǝyyaḍ ǝrân šitan, ǝyyaḍ prefer camels ǝssôfăn imnas Whatever There are several ways of expressing this, e.g.: Whatever bull you get, bring it esu tǝǵrăwăd a eqqăl, awǝy-ti-d Whatever bull you get, bring it esăw tǝgrăwăd a iqqăl, awǝy-t-iddǝd Whatever bull you get, bring it esu tǝǵrăwăd kul, awǝy-ti-d Whatever bull you get, bring it esăw tǝgrăwăd kul, awǝy-t-iddǝd 318 Whatever bull you get, bring it esu tǝǵrăwăd a ămos, awǝy-ti-d Whatever bull you get, bring it esăw tǝgrăwăd a imos, awǝy-t-iddǝd Whatever bull you see, buy it i-tt-illân esu a tǝnhăyăd, šǝnšǝd-ti Whatever bull you see, buy it a-tt-illân esăw a tǝnăyăd, tăzzănzăd-tăy All of it Again several phrases are equivalent, e.g.: Bring all the milk awi-dd axx iket-ǝnnes Bring all the milk awi-dd axx kul-ǝnnes Bring all the milk awi-dd ax iket-nes Bring all the milk awi-dd ax kul-nes All of them E.g.: Bring all the camels awi-dd imnas iket-năsăn Bring all the camels awi-dd imnas kul-năsăn Bring all the camels awi-dd imnas a wăliyyăn Bring all the camels awi-dd imnas a wǝliyyăn Bring all the camels awi-dd imnas ǝmdân Each one Uses the word meaning each, e.g.: Bring every camel awi-d hak-ǝmnǝs Give each one his share ăkf e-hak-ǝyyăn tăẓunt-ǝnnes Give each one his share ăffu i-hak-ǝyyăn tǝẓunt-nes ‘Such a’ E.g.: Such a camel is better than two cows amnǝs măndam ufâ iwan sănatăt Such a camel is better than two cows amnǝs măndam ofâ šitan sănatăt A single E.g.: I saw a single donkey ǝnhăyăɣ ešeḍ ǝyyăn dăɣ I saw a single donkey ǝnăyăɣ ažăḍ ǝyyăn dăɣ All alone Tamasheq uses the phrase ‘only and itself’ to express all alone, e.g.: There is a lone camel ill-ê amnǝs ɣas ǝd man-nes Himself / itself E.g.: I saw the car owner himself ǝnhăyăɣ măss-is ǝn-torǝft iman-nes I saw the car owner himself ǝnăyăɣ măšš-iš ǝn-turǝft iman-nes 319 Most of it / them Two phrases express this: Most of them tǝššǝm-năsăn Most of them tăššăm-năsăn Most of them ăǵut-năsăn Most of them igǝt-năsăn A few E.g.: A few people hărăt n-ăddinăt A few people a-ntǝkkăn dăɣ ăddinăt A few people ărăt n-ăytedăm A few people a-nḍărrăn dăɣ ăytedăm … of them This is expressed by the number (plus ‘-ăn’ if masculine) with the short possessive prefix, e.g.: I saw two of them (m) ǝnhăyăɣ ǝssǝnăn-essăn I saw two of them (m) ǝnăyăɣ ǝššǝnăn-essăn Two of them (f) sănatăt-esnăt Three of us kăraḍăn-enăɣ Four of you ǝkkoẓăn-ewwăn Seven of them ǝssayăn-essăn 555.5...27272727 Idiomatic phrases A few examples are given here to illustrate idiom and syntax that are very different from English usage. Emotions and states Many phrases referring to emotions and temporary or lasting states use the verb ‘to be in’ impersonally. To describe the inception of such a state the verb ‘to enter’ is used, e.g.: He is angry ih-ê ălhăm (lit. ‘Anger is in him’) He became angry iggăš-ti ălhăm He became angry iggăz-tăy ălhăm (lit. ‘Anger entered him’) He / it is strong tǝh-ê ăṣṣahăt (lit. ‘Strength is in him / it’) He just wants to sit around tǝh-ê tăɣimit (lit. ‘Sitting is in him’) He became fearful iggăš-ti ǝmmǝttǝsu He became fearful tǝggăz-tăy tăsa (lit. ‘Fear entered him’) 320 He boasts a lot ǝhân-ti băraǵăn He boasts a lot ǝhân-tăy băragăn (lit. ‘Boasting is in him’) She is generous ǝhân-tăt huk (lit. ‘Giving is in her’) I’ve got an itch ih-âhi ukmaš I’ve got an itch ih-î ukmaz (lit. ‘Itching is in me’) He is dirty ǝhân-ti erdan (lit. ‘Dirtiness is in him’) You are tired ih-îk eḍǝs (lit. ‘Sleep is in you’) He came to tǝggăš-ti tiǵya ǝn-man-nes He came to tǝggăz-tăy tigya ǝn-man-nes (lit. ‘Consciousness of himself entered him’) Other states especially those of discomfort and illness ‘get’ a person, e.g.: You are sad / worried ǝǵrăwăn-kăy nǝzgam You are sad / worried ǝgrăwăn-kăy nǝzgam (lit. ‘Worries have got you’) You’ve got hiccups iǵrăw-kăy ăhănăqqa You’ve got hiccups igrăw-kăy ăhănăqqa (lit. ‘Hiccups have got you’) I’m sweaty tǝǵrăw-ahi tide I’m sweaty tǝgrăw-i tarraft (lit. ‘Sweat has got me’) She has a cold iǵrăw-tăt ămaẓla She has a cold igrăw-tăt ămaẓla (lit. ‘A cold has got her’) Or they even ‘seize’, e.g.: He was ashamed tărmăs-ti tăkrakeṭṭ He was ashamed tobăẓ-tăy tăkărakiṭṭ I have got a fever tărmăs-ahi tănăde I have got a fever tobăẓ-i tănăde Others ‘strike/smite’, e.g.: I’m cold inaqq-ahi ăsămeḍ I’m cold inaqq-i ăsămeḍ She misses them inaqq-et ǝsuf-năsan (lit. ‘Their absence strikes her’) Only for a few things is the verb ‘possess / have’ used, e.g.: He is intelligent ilâ tayǝtte (lit. ‘He posseses intelligence’) 321 He is foolish wǝr ila eɣăf (lit. ‘He doesn’t have a head’) A few things are ‘upon’ the bearer, e.g.: She is honourable / noble iwâr-tăt sărho (lit. ‘Honour is on her’) Other Phrases He was amazed / it was amazing eqqân eɣăf He was amazed / it was amazing iqqân eɣăf (lit. ‘He / it hung head’) That woman is beautiful tamăṭṭ ta tǝlâ ašni dăɣ asǝǵrăh That woman is beautiful tanṭuṭ ta tǝlâ azni dăɣ asǝgri (lit. ‘That woman has blood in contemplation’) You have had a hard time tǝnhăyăd aɣăna You have had a hard time tǝnăyăd aɣăna (lit. ‘You have seen suffering’) You must be exhausted kăyy ǝd-tălayyeqq You must be exhausted kăyy ǝd-tǝlayyiq (lit. ‘You and exhaustion?’) I saw three men including John ǝnhăyăɣ meddăn kăraḍ iha Exya I saw three men including John ǝnăyăɣ meddăn kăraḍ iha Exya I have come from the fields right ǝfălăɣ-id tiwgas ămăra-dăɣ now, I have not even been home yet wăr d-oseɣ wăl’-ehăn harwa I have come from the fields right ǝfălăɣ-dǝd tiwǝgas ămăra-dăɣ now, I have not even been home yet wǝr d-oseɣ wăl’-ehăn hărwa I have taken his place ǝggăšăɣ edăgg-ǝnnes I have taken his place ǝggăzăɣ edăg-nes I have replaced him ǝšrăyăɣ-as I have replaced him ǝzrăyăɣ-as Calm down (‘curse the devil’) ǝlɣǝn Iblis He was ill to the point of death ofrăy har išwăr ămmut He was ill to the point of death ofrăy har ižwăr immut He was ill to the point of death ărhîn har hin-ăssuǵǵa He was ill to the point of death ărîn har din-iššǝgga (These last mean ‘until he was made to look down [into the grave]’.) They have had children together ohărăn aratăn They have had children together ohărăn bărarăn (lit. ‘They share children’) He works with me ohăr dǝr-i ǝššǝɣǝl She is past menopause iba-s tǝhâ ḍeḍen She is past menopause ăba-s tǝhâ tǝḍoḍen (lit. ‘She is no longer among women’) 322 I almost never drink tea šund kăla wǝr ǝsweɣ ătay I almost never drink tea žund kăla wǝr ǝsweɣ ătay I think he will come tomorrow ordêɣ a-dd-as ašǝkka I think he will come tomorrow ordêɣ a-dd-asu ažăkka Most people like tea tǝššǝm n-ăddinăt ărhân ătay Most people like tea tăššăm n-ăytedăm ǝrân ătay Some people don’t like it ašrut n-ăddinăt wăr t-ărhen Some people don’t like it azrut n-ăytedăm wǝr t-ǝren It seems like … / you would say that … ǝs-tǝnnǝd … Tidwal’s people ǝddǝd Tǝdwăl The singular is often used when talking about classes of things, e.g.: Camels are nasty amnǝs i lăbâsăn It is women who cook ‘porridge’ tamăṭṭ a săkădawăt ăsink It is women who cook ‘porridge’ tanṭuṭ a tǝsakădawăt ǝšink Millet stalks are expensive now aǵăbăl ăṣṣôhăt ămăr-a never mind high quality stalks băršeɣ abărom Millet stalks are expensive now agăbăl iṣṣôhăt ămăr-a never mind high quality stalks băršeɣ abărom ( is the best quality grass for making huts.) ––– meaning ‘chez’ / from / around This preposition is used in a variety of ways, e.g.: Who are you (staying) with? mi ɣor tǝllêd ? I’m lodging at my friend’s place ăzzûbbeɣ ɣor ǝmidi-nin Who are you (staying) with? mi ɣur tǝllêd ? I’m lodging at my friend’s place ǝzzîbbeɣ ɣur ǝmidi-nin The child is running by the well ara ošâl ɣor anu The child is running by the well bărar ozâl ɣur anu The child ran from the well to the town ara ošăl ɣor anu har aɣrǝm The child ran from the well to the town bărar ozăl ɣur anu har aɣrǝm Usage of certain verbs Some verbs work in ways that are not self-evident to English speakers. They may replace suffixes or prepositions in English usage for instance. The verb means ‘to accompany’ it often translates the English preposition ‘with’, e.g.: I went to market with Hawa ǝkkeɣ hebu, ăddêwăɣ ǝd Hawa I went to market with Hawa ǝkkeɣ hebu, ǝddêwăɣ ǝd Hawa (lit. ‘I went to market, I accompanied Hawa’) The verb means ‘to hit’,‘to perform’ or ‘to play (a musical instrument), e.g.: Exya the guitar player Exya wa itǝggatăn tehărḍant Exya the guitar player Exya wa iggatăn tahǝrḍant He performed his ablutions iwăt ălwăḷḷa 323 The verb means ‘to repeat’, it often translates the English prefix ‘re-’ or the prepositions ‘back’ or ‘again’, e.g.: He came here again olăs-id tassawt He came here again olăs-dǝd assa (lit. ‘He repeated here coming’) He went back again olăs oɣǝl He went back again olăs tewăɣle (lit. ‘He repeated return’) At harvest children went back to school ǝs-ɣarat aratăn olăsăn iki ǝn-likol At harvest children went back to school ǝs-ɣarat bărarăn olăsăn iki ǝn-likol The verbs / z and mean ‘do in the morning’ and ‘do in the afternoon’ respectively and are frequently used about travelling arrangements, e.g.: Will you go there this afternoon? a-hin-tadwǝd ? Will you go there this afternoon? a-din-tadwăd ? I will go to Markoye in the morning ad ǝnšǝyăɣ ǝs-Mărkoy I will go to Markoye in the morning ad ǝnzǝyăɣ ǝs-Mărkoy The verb meaning ‘to take out’ is used in the following type of phrase, e.g.: He gave up hope ikkăs ăṭṭăma I am convinced ǝkkâsăɣ ăššăk (lit. ‘I have taken out doubt’) He is not convinced wǝr ikkes ăššăk Impersonal Verbs A number of verbs in Tamasheq are only used in the third person (usually the masculine singular), and have an impersonal meaning. There are other verbs that may be used impersonally in certain contexts. Inability is expressed by ‘it is / was impossible (for s.o.)’, e.g.: He wasn’t able to construct it indăr-as oɣǝn-nes He wasn’t able to construct it indăr-as tewăɣne-nnes They were unable to stand up tǝndăr-asăn tăbădde Often translated by ‘ought / should’, means ‘it is usual / proper’, e.g.: He should come tomorrow ănîhăǵǵa a-dd-as ašǝkka He should come tomorrow inîhăgga a-dd-asu ažăkka Similar are and (and the Tawellemmet ), e.g.: He ought to bring money ănîmăhăl ad awǝy aẓrǝf He ought to bring money ohâr ad awǝy aẓrǝf He ought to bring money ihôr ad awǝy aẓrǝf Obligation is also expressed by meaning ‘it is upon …’, e.g.: I must go to Tin Akof iwâr-ahi tikawt ǝn-Tin-Akof I must go to Tin Akof iwâr-i iki ǝn-Tin-Akof Also common is / meaning ‘must / be obligatory’, e.g.: He must come here ăhhûššăl a-dd-as He must come here ihhîššăl a-dd-asu 324 The verb / means ‘it is certain’, e.g.: It is certain that what he said, happened ăddûttăt as awa inna, iǵâ It is certain that what he said, happened iddîttăt as awa inna, igâ The verb means ‘it is unlikely’, e.g.: It is unlikely that an old man will dance iškâm amɣar ad idlǝl The verb / z means ‘to keep busy / occupy’, e.g.: She is busy with her work išl-êt ǝššǝɣǝl-ǝnnes She is busy with her work izl-êt ǝššǝɣǝl-nes (lit. ‘Her work occupies her’) What kept you? (f) ma kăm-in-išlân ? What kept you? (f) ma kăm-in-izlân ? The verb ‘to touch’ used impersonally carries the sense ‘to happen to’, e.g.: Have you ever been to Tin Akof? tǝḍăs-kăy tassawt ǝn-Tin-Akof ? (lit. ‘Has arrival of Tin Akof touched you?’) Has he ever been married? kăla eḍăs-ti ǝdubǝn ? Has he ever been married? kăla iḍăs-tăy ăzălaf ? (lit. ‘Has marriage ever touched him?’) In certain contexts the verb / means ‘almost’, e.g.: It is almost finished išwăr ămmînda It is almost finished ižwăr immînda I almost went to Abidjan išwăr ǝkkeɣ Abiǵa I almost went to Abidjan ižwăr ǝkkeɣ Abiǵa They are almost the same išwăr olăhăn They are almost the same ižwăr olăn The verb / means ‘to lose’, e.g.: I have lost my pen ăb-âhi aɣănib-in I have lost my pen ăbh-âhi aɣănib-in I have lost my pen ăb-î ǝɣanib-in My camels are lost taḷmen-in ăbâ-tănăt My camels are lost toḷmen-in ăbâ-tănăt (My) Father is dead abba ăbâ-ti We haven’t seen each other for ages iba n-ǝmsini We haven’t seen each other for ages iba n-ǝmǝšinay (lit. ‘Lack of doing each other recently’) Usages of certain conjunctions / advadverbserbs The word prefixed to a verbal phrase means ‘to have just …’, e.g.: He has just arrived iket d-osa I have just eaten iket ǝkšeɣ I saw a new-born child ǝnhăyăɣ ara was iket iwa I saw a new-born child ǝnăyăɣ bărar was iket ihu (lit. ‘I saw a child which had just been born’) 325 The conjunction / means ‘still’ and in the negative ‘not yet / before’, e.g.: He came before I was up os-ahi-d harwa wăr d-ǝnkerăɣ He came before I was up os-i-ddǝd hărwa wǝr d-ǝnkerăɣ I will come before the rains ad asăɣ harwa wăr d-osa ăkăsa I will come before the rains ad asăɣ hărwa wǝr d-osa ăkăsa Weather It is sunny tăfukk tǝǵâ It is sunny tǝfuk tǝgâ (lit. ‘Sun is doing’) It is windy aḍu iǵâ It is windy aḍu igâ (lit. ‘Wind is doing’) It is windy aḍu ill-ê (lit. ‘There is wind’) It is hot today tăkusse tǝǵâ ašăl-i It is hot today tukǝse tǝgâ azǝl-a (lit. ‘Heat is doing this day’) It is cloudy edălegi a iǵa It is cloudy edălegi a iga (lit. ‘Cloudiness is what is doing’) Superlatives These are expressed by a number of idiomatic phrases, e.g.: She is very beautiful tǝknâ tihussay hullen (lit. ‘She has made beauty well’) It is very deep iknâ atlǝkki hullen It is very deep iknâ atǝlǝkki hullen (lit. ‘It has made depth well’) I saw it, it is really big ǝnhăyăq-qi măšan i măqqărăn I saw it, it is really big ǝnăyăq-qe măšen i măqqărăn (lit. ‘I saw it, but it is one that is big’) Irony This can be used to express extremes, e.g.: It is extremely cold wǝdde esămeḍ It is extremely cold wǝgge esămeḍ (lit. ‘It is not cold’) That wind was unbelievably strong wǝdde aḍu That wind was unbelievably strong wǝgge aḍu (lit. ‘That was not wind’) It is more than just hot wǝdde tăkusse It is more than just hot wǝgge tukǝse (lit. ‘It is not heat’) 326 This phrase describes someone who’s behaviour is beyond the limits of what is reasonable: He is beyond the pale wǝdde ăwadǝm He is beyond the pale wǝgge ăwadǝm (lit. ‘He is not a person’) Finding The English word ‘find’ covers a variety of different concepts, e.g.: I found it (picked it up) in the bush ăkkummeq-qi dăɣ ăroǵǵ I found it (picked it up) in the bush ǝkkǝmmeq-qe dăɣ ǝsuf I found it (got it) in the market ǝǵrăwăq-qi dăɣ hebu I found it (got it) in the market ǝgrăwăq-qe dăɣ hebu I found him at home ogăẓăq-qi ɣor-ǝs I found him at home ogăẓăq-qe ɣur-ǝs If he comes he will not find me here as d-osa wăr ma hi-dd-agăẓ If he comes he will not find me here as d-osa wǝr za di-dd-agăẓ I found (coincided with) a ămzăyyeɣ-in ǝd torǝft vehicle going to Djibo takkăt Ǵibo I found (coincided with) a măzăyyeɣ-in ǝd turǝft vehicle going to Djibo takkit Ǵibo 555.5...28282828 Proverbs The Tamasheq use proverbs as a way of passing on traditional wisdom. The meaning is not always straightforward. These proverbs are all given in the Tamaghit form, although all of them exist also in Tudalt. The first set of proverbs all mean ‘watch what you are saying as there is someone present / coming who might betray you’. The same message is given silently by scratching the palm of the other person’s hand with one finger: allol olâl tebăremt The stalk of a cereal grass holds the head taylalt tǝhâ aɣrǝǵ The guinea fowl is in the sack wăr toẓemăd tas tǝnâyăd awdes Don’t insult the cow while riding the ox tamăẓẓukk wăr tuǵǝǵ eɣăf The ear is not far from the head Here follow more proverbs with literal translations and an idea of their meaning if needed and known. tidǝt tărras dăɣ man šund asǝnnan Truth enters the soul like a thorn (Said when a reaction reveals guilt.) i wăren ošel atwǝšǝǵ a wǝr iǵa The one who isn’t running isn’t being chased (Said when two people are together and only one is in a hurry.) tas ta niǵǵut toǵăr-tăt ta wăren The cow that doesn’t moo gives niǵǵu ax more milk than one that does (A person who doesn’t draw attention to himself is more productive.) 327 wăr mad ǝwăr ăwadǝm anu A person will not be at the well ar ǝd tǝla-nnes except with what he has (He will give / do what is in his means.) ufâ oḍǝf ohun ădabu Possession is better than ability (A bird in the hand …) ayǝs măss-is ti-dd-ogăẓăn ɣor ti-s A good horse is inherited from one’s father (Like father, like son.) tǝǵăr-tăt ḍar-ăk Throw it behind you, a-tăt-hannăyăd dat-ăk you will see it before you (Help people now, they will help you later.) tăfukk wăr tăt-iher ădekǝl The palm of the hand doesn’t close the sun tas tǝswăt ǝd ta wăren tǝswa The cow that has watered and the wăr tidawnăt one that hasn’t don’t travel together itaǵǵ ăfus dăɣ tăsa a wăr d-ǝs You can’t take things out of the di-tǝkkǝs stomach by putting your hand in anhăraǵ-ǝnnăk ohâẓăn Your neighbour who is nearby ufa ror-es ǝn-ma-k uǵǝǵăn is better than a distant brother sănatăt tǝsokalen wăr rǝttǝynăt dăɣ ăm Two spoons don’t mix in the mouth (You can’t do two jobs at once.) ikassăn as ǝggǝšăn edăgg ǝyyăn Pots in one place will bash ad ǝmbărăqqǝsăn together (People will argue under pressure.) as tărɣa tămart ǝn-ti-k tărɣa If your father’s beard is on fire and ta-nn-ăk sǝmmǝkid ta-nn-ăk tǝzzar yours is, put your own out first ǝmmutăn enwan ǝnkărnăt tenwaten When wells die small ones arise (Said on the death of a leader.) ihannăy ămɣar iǵânăn a wǝr An old man on his knees sees ihǝnnǝy ăbăraḍ ibdâdăn more than a youth standing up as ămehăɣnăt wan ma ohăɣăn If your cows are pillaged tayǝtte ? what can pillage intelligence? (The intelligent can recover from disaster.) aǵuǵǵ n-esu wǝr itǝwwer ehădăl A bull’s load isn’t put on a calf awa hăkkăd taylalt tǝggǝd dǝr-ǝs What you give to a guinea fowl ăkf-e tekăzit tǝǵǝn dǝr-ǝs it flies off with, give it to a chicken it will sit on it (Be careful who you entrust things to.) wădde ašăl n-ăddălăn ad năššăn Good horses are not sold on ǝyyǝsan feast days 328 ilǝs n-ămăros wǝr itǝǵǵ ăhalǝs a A man who isn’t bad doesn’t wăr ămos say bad things These last two are sayings rather than proverbs: (anăhil innăn) ăddăl wǝr ih’-er (It was the ostrich who said) play is not in the neck aman iman, axx isudar Milk nourishes, but water is life 329 666 Appendix I ––– Overview of Dialects 666.6...1111 Differences between Tamaghit ( ) and Tudalt ( ))) The two dialects spoken in Oudalan differ in a number of ways. This can be seen clearly in the examples given in the main text of this grammar. A summary of the differences is given here. Pronunciation Tamaghit often has ‘š’ where Tudalt has ‘z’ or ‘ž’, e.g.: Today ašăl-i-dăɣ azǝl-a-dăɣ Enemy ašănǵo azăngo He ran ošăl ozăl / ožăl Donkey ešeḍ ažăḍ A fly ešš iži Tamaghit retains (or adds) a ‘h’ that Tudalt does not have, e.g.: Man ăhalǝs alǝs Sheep tehăle telăy He saw inhăy inăy Tamaghit has a palatalised ‘ǵ’ which is always hard ‘g’ in Tudalt, e.g.: Talk măǵrăd măgrăd Chewing (tobacco) aǵămam agămam Fence afăraǵ afărag Herds irǝzzeǵăn irǝzzegăn It is far away uǵǝ̂ǵ iggûg He did iǵa iga An exception to this rule is the word ‘iǵăr’ meaning ‘he / it is bad’ in Tudalt. Note that all Tamasheq dialects also have the hard ‘g’, especially in cases where its origin is the ‘w’ doubled, e.g.: Bride-price taggalt taggalt Mother-in-law taḍăggalt tăḍăggalt Load aggay aggay Protection taggaṣt taggaṣt Funnel asǝggǝfi asǝggǝfi Place edăgg edăg(g) He protected ogăẓ ogăẓ Bird egăḍed agǝḍiḍ They are equal ogdâhăn ogdân In certain words Tamaghit has ‘s’ while Tudalt has ‘š’, e.g.: He travelled ăssekăl iššokăl Washing asirǝd aširǝd 330 Thorn asǝnnan ašǝnnan Millet porridge ăsink ǝšink Knife ălmosi ǝlmoši Clan tawset tăwšet Spoons tisokalen tišokalen Sometimes the vocalisation varies as can be seen in the above examples. Vocabulary E.g.: Woman tamăṭṭ tanṭuṭ Moon ăyor tallit He walked erǵăš ižăwănkăt Shoes tifădelen iɣătemăn They will move camp ad ăhanăn ad ăggălen He married ădobăn izlăf Grammar Group IA3 positive cursive is different, e.g.: He steals itikăr itakăr In Tudalt groups IA7 and IA8 are combined into one group. See the verb tables for the differences. Verbs of the vowel ending variety often have a ‘u’ ending in Tudalt and none in Tamaghit. See verb tables for details. Directional particles vary in form, e.g.: he arrived os-id os-ăddǝd he won’t be long wăr hin-ăhaǵ wǝr din-ăhag Where Tamaghit indirect object pronouns begin with ‘h’ it is Tudalt has ‘d’, e.g.: What did you tell him? ma has-tǝnned ? ma das-tǝnned ? Some verbs exist in both dialects but fall into different groups, e.g.: It is certain ăddûttăt (group XII) ăddîttăt (group III) It is like olâh (group IA3) olâ (group IA10) The future marker for negatives and questions are different, e.g.: He will not wăr mad ǝlmǝd wǝr z-ilmǝd learn Tamasheq Tămašăq Tǝmažǝq 666.6...2222 Western Tawellemmet (Meneka dialect) The Meneka dialect ( ) is similar to Tudalt; indeed the Oudalan almost certainly came from Meneka and are an offshoot of the Iwellemmedan of the west. The Meneka dialect differs in that it has much less assimilation to Tamaghit. The Tawellemmet form is sometimes heard in Oudalan especially among older . 331 Key differences Tudalt has ‘lost’ a number of Tawellemmet terms which are retained in the Meneka dialect, e.g.: Tawellemmet Tudalt Word awal măgrăd Also tolăs deɣ Camp / home aɣiwăn ehăn He was liberated ifsa eɣlăs He is big / important zǝwwǝr măqqăr (In Tudalt this means ‘thick/fat’.) He is tired iḍḍăz ilḍăz He hobbles (an animal) ikyăf ikrăf Where is he? mǝni-d illâ ? ǝndek dad illâ ? Thousand ăgim efăḍ Name eṣǝm isǝm This last pronunciation reflects the tendency in Tawellemmet to make words ‘emphatic’ even though they do not contain one of the emphatic consonants ‘ḍ, ṭṭ, ẓ’ Prasse describes this phenomenon as ‘uvularisation’. It affects the vowel sounds of those words which become emphasised (uvularised) such as which sounds like hence . Prasse discusses briefly in the second edition of his Lexique the problems of orthography that this raises. Western Tawellemmet (including the most conservative Tudalt speakers) also has this ‘extended emphatisation’, e.g. ‘he passed’ is pronounced as if an emphatic follows the ‘o’. Among Tudalt speakers this is common among those born before about 1950 and pretty much absent in the younger generation who have somewhat assimilated to Tamaghit pronuciation here. There are also a number of words where Tudalt has assimilated to Tamaghit pronunciation, at least in the younger generation, e.g.: Person ăwedăm ăwadǝm Back aruru ărori He overcame orna erna He knew izdăy izzăy … him -tu -te (cf ‘-ti’) Elder aɣmar amɣar The second person singular verb form. You (sg) t…ɣ t…d The Tudalt form of the directional particle in final position is the archaic form probably preserved only in this dialect. Towards here -du -dǝd Tudalt has lost the palatalisation of the initial ‘ti’ of feminine plural words, e.g.: Women šiḍoḍen tiḍoḍen However, traces still remain in other words that begin ‘ti’ in Tamaghit, e.g.: Eye šăṭṭ šăṭṭ His father ši-s ši-s / ti-s 332 The form of verbal nouns varies, there is a tendency for Tudalt to assimilate to Tamaghit but it is incomplete, e.g.: Entry iguz ugǝz Seizure abbaẓ abbaẓ / ibboẓ 666.6...3333 (Eastern) Tawellemmet (Tahoua dialect) The Tawellemmet of Niger ( ) is significantly more different from Tudalt than is the Meneka dialect. There are a number of key differences. In all the things noted above as differences between the Oudalan and Meneka dialects the Tahoua dialect is like Meneka. PronPronunciationunciation E.g.: Tahoua Tudalt / WW God Mǝššina Mǝssinăɣ He refused ugăy ungăy His -net -nes We năkkănăy năkkăned You (mpl) kăwănăy kăwăned You (fpl) kămătăy kămăted They (mpl) ǝntănăy ǝntăned They (fpl) ǝntănătăy ǝntănăted Grammar The plural demonstrative pronouns are and in Tahoua Tawellemmet as compared with and in Meneka Tawellemmet and and in Tudalt. Some verbs that are in group IA3 have lost their vocalisation and become IA5 in Tawellemmet, e.g.: He seized ibăẓ obăẓ He tried irăm orăm He contributed irăg orăg VocabulVocabularyaryaryary The Tahoua dialect includes a number of words (generally shared with Tayert and possibly borrowed therefrom) that are not used in the Meneka or Oudalan dialects, e.g.: He is able ifrăg iddobăt He bowed his head inăz iddǝnkăt He / it began ofăr issǝnta He insisted igžăž oɣăs He was careful inkăd iga ǝnnǝyăt With difficulty gǝrriḍ zărnaz Suffering ărk-ănay aɣăna Or medăɣ meɣ Bed teṣṣat ǝṣṣǝrir There are numerous borrowings from Hausa, e.g.: Fish kifi emăn 333 Tax buda baya Leprosy kǝtǝru gări / anăɣu wa-n ǝkǝtǝmmi Fault lefi taḍlǝmt Soldier soži ăssărdasi 666.6...4444 Tayert (Agadez region dialect) Tayert ( ) is closer to the Tahoua dialect than either the Meneka or Oudalan dialects. It is the furthest from the Oudalan dialect the differences below being in addition to those between Oudalan and Tahoua. It has a number of unique peculiarities. Pronunciation The plural pronouns are somewhat different: We nǝkkǝni You (mpl) kuni / kǝwǝni You (fpl) kǝmǝti They (mpl) ǝntǝni They (fpl) ǝntǝnǝti The most striking tendency is the palatalisation of the sounds t, ṭ, d, ḍ, s, z, ẓ before i or y, e.g.: Tayert Tudalt etc. Truth tyidet tidǝt (The group ‘ty’ sounds something like the ‘t’ in ‘tune’. It is a common sound in Hausa and following the convention of Hausa Roman script literacy is often written ‘c’, e.g. c ‘truth’.) The final ‘-ăɣ’ of verbs (1 st and 2 nd person singular) become ‘-ă’, e.g.: I learned ǝlmădă ǝlmădăɣ The pronoun ‘us’ undergoes the same contraction, e.g.: Those who heard us wǝn dan-ǝslănen wi danăɣ-ǝslănen Many other words are pronounced a bit differently, e.g.: Friend emiži / emǝži amidi Woman tamṭǝṭ tanṭuṭ Name isǝn isǝm Face udǝn idǝm (udǝm W) Thirty kădewăt tǝmǝrwen kăraḍăt tǝmǝrwen Six ṣăgis sǝḍis All kǝllu kul Day ǝžil azǝl Conversation betu batu Time ălăq ălwăq He is healed ižžăy izzăy Grammar There are a number of peculiarities. 334 The stative aspect of group I verbs has a special form in the first and second person singular only, where the ‘â’ is replaced by ‘ê’, e.g.: I (already) know ǝssênă ǝssânăɣ The use of meaning ‘not / don’t’ (borrowed from Arabic). This is used with the perfective rather than the imperfective to express prohibition, e.g.: Do not go to Tahoua ma tǝkkăm Tawa ad wǝr tăkkim Tawa The marker for the future negative / relative is in place of z , e.g.: He told you what they inn-ak ǝnken he-ăgin inn-ak awa z-ăgin will do The plural supporting pronouns are slightly different again. Those (m) wǝn wi Those (f) tyǝn ti Vocabulary Tayert has a special pronoun , which replaces , or z depending on the context. Similarly replaces . Compassion tǝlefeq tǝhanint He accepted osăb iqbăl He entered oṭăf iggăz He went out imbăɣ izgăr He hoped odma orda It / he exceeds ogla ogăr He got lost ibbǝtwăy oška / ixrăk It is expensive iẓgăr iẓẓǝwwăt He fell imbăg uḍa Bed tedǝbut ǝṣṣǝrir Ears tinḍǝrgen timăẓẓugen If ǝmmos kud Tayert includes even more Hausa terms than the Tahoua dialect, e.g.: Goods kayatăn ilalăn Tradition gaḍo ălɣada Effort kokări ǝnnǝyăt Magic acts šafităn išăɣăwăn Wall băngo ǝgadir Darkness dǝfu tihay / tǝyyay 666.6...5555 Tadghaq (Kidal dialect) The Tadghaq of Kidal is very close to the Tamaghit of Oudalan. Kidal Tadghaq tends to use Arabic terms more often than Tamaghit. There are a however a number of differences as follows: The third person singular possessive pronoun is --- rather than --- , e.g.: Tadghaq Tamaghit His friend amidi-nnet amidi-nnes The construction for the negative participle is slightly different – especially the feminine, e.g.: 335 A man who has not ăhalǝs wărăn ilmed ăhalǝs wăren learned Arabic tarabt ilmed tarabt A woman who has not tamăṭṭ wărăt tǝlmed tamăṭṭ wăren learned Arabic tarabt tǝlmed tarabt People who have not ăddinăt wărăn ilmed ăddinăt wăren learned Arabic tarabt ilmed tarabt The negative future is also different, where Oudalan Tamaghit has , Kidal Tadghaq has . This becomes if it follows the subject, e.g.: He will not learn Arabic wăr-e-ilmǝd tarabt wăr mad ilmǝd tarabt The story she will learn tǝsawit ta he-tǝlmǝd tǝsawit ta mad tǝlmǝd Note also the future participle, e.g.: The woman who tamăṭṭ ta tamăṭṭ ta will learn it tăt-e-tǝlmǝdăt maden-tăt-tǝlmǝd The future participle can also use , but still differs slightly from Tamaghit, e.g.: The woman who tamăṭṭ ta tamăṭṭ ta will learn it madăt-tăt-tǝlmǝdăt maden-tăt-tǝlmǝd Group IA4 has a slightly different form in the perfective /stative (for both dialects there is are two possible orthographies as shown). I brought ăwwăyăɣ ǝwwăyăɣ I brought owăyăɣ uwăyăɣ Group IA5 has a different form for the cursive. He begs iddal itǝddal He does not beg wǝr iddil wǝr itǝddil Kidal Tamaghit distinguishes the passives and reciprocals of Groups IA7 and IA8. (In practice all this means is that the cursive and imperfective take a ‘u’ ending if they are from Group IA8.), e.g.: It will be finished ad itwǝmdu ad itwǝmd We are useful to nǝtinmǝnfu nǝtinmǝnfi each other Group XIV weak ‘t’ endings differ slightly in the condensed forms of the imperfective, e.g.: They will kiss ad ǝmmullun ad ǝmmǝllun Group XIV causatives are slightly different in the imperative / imperfective, e.g. He will get it down a-t-izǝzzǝbbǝt a-t-izǝzzubbǝt There are a number of cases where Tamaghit shares the pronunciation of Tudalt against that of Tadghaq, e.g.: Especially hullan hullen If (hypothetical) kunta kud-ǝnta Since / when ed id Until hundăɣ har har Injustice / crime uḍlem taḍlǝmt Basket deka deke Fear tuksăḍa tǝksǝḍa 336 Others ǝyyăḍ ǝyyaḍ Always hărkuk harkuk Key asăyar asǝyar Jealousy tismiten tiṣmiten Astonishment / shock tăkunt tǝkunt It will be short ad ikšal ad igzal He opposed her ikšăr-tăt igzăr-tăt Law alămăr ălămăr Origin / tradition alăṣăl ălăṣăl Friends imidiwăn imidawăn He lifted iṭkăl itkăl However in some cases other Oudalan ‘sha’ speakers use the Tadghaq form. Also daɣ deɣ Noise tăkat tăkalt Men meddǝn meddăn Path tabarăt taberăt Paths tibarăten taberăten Tree ahǝšk ašǝk Trees ihǝškan eškan Tamaghit also has the hard ‘g’ in a number of words where Malian ‘sha’ dialects have the palatalised ‘ǵ’, e.g.: He entered iǵǵăš iggăš He left izǵăr izgăr He listened ăsǵăd ăsgăd He escaped iǵmăḍ igmăḍ Cold season taǵrǝst tagrǝst Worries inǝzǵam inǝzgam Brush eǵesǝn egesǝn Cheek ăǵeẓ ăgeẓ Sunset eǵăḍăl ǝn-tăfukk egăḍăl ǝn-tăfukk There are very few examples the other way round: Insults tigǝggar tiǵǝǵǵar A few verbs are in different verb groups, e.g.: Swim ǝšyǝf (IA1) ǝššǝf (IA2) Work ǝšɣǝl (IA1) šăɣăl (III) Climb on awǝn (IA4) ǝwǝn (IA6) Lead astray šǝšk (IA7 caus.) šišk (IA3 caus.) Make ill sirhǝn (IA3 caus.) sǝrhǝn (IA1 caus.) Believe amǝn (IA3) mumǝn (XII) Be calm azgu (IA10) ǝzgu (IA8) Gather kămăt (III) kummǝt (XII) Trick kărrăs (III) korrǝs (XII) Accuse kulmǝt (XII) kălmăt (III) A number of other words have small differences in prononciation, e.g.: Is it not wădden wǝdden Sell / buy žănš šănš 337 (Question marker) aǵăn ayǵǝn Dream tăharǵit tăhorǵit His sons măddan-as mǝddan-ǝs His daughters ešš-es iss-es He pushed imhăl ibhăl He travelled ăsokăl ăsekăl Genie alšin ălšin He lost out ăfota ăfeta It will be much ad iǵat ad uǵat Times ihăndăggan idăggan He refused uǵăy unǵăy There are various differences of vocabulary, e.g.: Moon ewăr ăyor Giving isuf ihuk Millet allon enăle Chaff tibẓaẓ du Prison takărmut kăso Millet heads tiǵenen tiɣaɣănen Boubou anăkăbba tekăṭkăṭṭ Dawn emăɣăr ăɣora 666.6...6666 Timbuktoo dialect ( ) also known as TanTanǝslǝmtǝslǝmt The Timbuktoo dialect is somewhat different from the other ‘sha’ dialects. It shares some elements of Oudalan Tamaghit but in other ways is more like the Kidal Tadghaq. It has a number of its own particuliarities and in general a high degree of Arabic influence. There are a few minor variants in pronunciation, e.g.: TanTanTanǝslǝmt Tan ǝslǝmt Tadghaq But mušam măšan … him -t -ti Path abǝriǵ abarid / tabarăt Question marker aǵim aǵăn He left iǵla igla In terms of the negative and relative future Taneslemt is more like Oudalan Tamaghit than Kidal Tadghaq. It does not use but has where Oudalan Tamaghit has . Indeed the future marker is very often replaced by . A number of vocabulary items are different, e.g.: Listen ărdăɣ sǝǵǝd If / when edăɣ as / ifăl Tree emăɣt ašǝk / ahǝšk All fuk / ɣǝrǝdd kul Also tolăs daɣ Sow (seed) wăšăt dumǝt Plant (sth.) sănǵăt săɣtu 338 Strain / filter ăẓrăh šǝnšǝš Dawn emăɣăr ăɣora Harvestime hăǵăy ɣarat Evening ardǝl almăẓ A number of Arabic words are in common use that are not well known in Oudalan, e.g.: He was preaching itawăɣaz itaǵǵ wazo / ălžawăb He confessed ăqqorrăt omăl A merchant ălmusăbbib ăw mamăla Famine ǝššidda mănna Example ălmital He denied ănekăr Honour ašruf Be innocent borr 339 777 Appendix II ––– Short Bibliography Of the works listed below the ‘tableaux morphologiques’ and the two ‘lexique touareg-francais’ have been invaluable reference points in the writing of this grammar. Ag Khammad, Ekhya, M., , Niamey: CELHTO , 1970, 1974. Ag Sidiyène, Ehya, S , Paris: ORSTOM /CIRAD, 1996. Akhmedou Khamidun, c g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1976. Barral, H , Paris: ORSTOM, 1977. Brett, M., Fentress, E., , Oxford: Blackwell, 1996. Claudot-Hawad, H., g , Aix-en-Provence: Edisud, 1993. DNAFLA, , Bamako, 1986. Ghoubeïd Alojaly, g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1975. Ghoubeïd Alojaly, g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1980. Guignard, E., c z g , Paris: L’Harmattan, 1984. Heath, J., , Berlin – New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2005. Heath, J., c g Paris: Karthala 2006. Kélétigui Mariko, g , Paris : Karthala, 1984. Nicolas, F., , Paris: Imprimérie Nationale, 1950. Pichler, W., g c Sc , Cologne: Köppe, 2007. Prasse, K.G., g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1972. Prasse, K.G., g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1973. Prasse, K.G., g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1985. Prasse, K.G., Ghoubeïd Alojaly, Ghabdouane Mohamed, g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 1998. Prasse, K.G., Ghoubeïd Alojaly, Ghabdouane Mohamed, c g , Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag, 2003 (2 vol.). 340