Open AccessLuganda verb morphology
Author(s) -
Franca Ferrari-Bridgers
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
studies in african linguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.178
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2154-428X
pISSN - 0039-3533
DOI - 10.32473/sal.v38i1.107294
Subject(s) - suffix , morpheme , linguistics , verb , morphology (biology) , morphophonology , mathematics , computer science , phonology , philosophy , genetics , biology
In this paper, I propose a novel morphological analysis of the Luganda (ISO 639-3: lug) verbal suffixes [-YE] and [-A]. I argue that the suffix [-YE] is bi-morphemic: [-Y] is a Perfective aspect morpheme, while [-E] is a functional suffix found in linguistic contexts indicating a change of state in the immediate past or in the immediate future. The data analysis further suggests that suffix [-A] is a default marker used as phonological filler. Finally, I show that the different linguistic contexts of use of the markers [-Y] [-A] and [-E] explain their distribution across the Indicative, Subjunctive and Imperative moods.