Block 15 · pages 134-142
Chapter 3: Adjectives and Numerals
3.2.8 Adjectives
Adjectives are distinct from verbs and nouns based on morphological properties. All adjectives correspond to a verb and are mostly derived from it.
3.2.8.1 'Songhay' derivation: -i/-u and zero-derivation
Monosyllabic Songhay verbs add a stressed high vowel: -i after mid vowels, -u after low /a/. Long vowels resurface (e.g., zen 'old' > zeen-i; ber 'big' > beer-i; qoq 'dry' > qooy-i; nas 'fat' > naas-u; baq 'broken' > baaq-u). Basic color terms 'white' (kooray), 'black' (bibi), 'red' (ciday) use zero-derivation.
3.2.8.2 Tamasheq cognates: derivation with -an
Disyllabic stative verbs of Tamasheq origin take the suffix -an (e.g., dalat 'blue/green' > dalat-an; yibrar 'bad' > yibrar-an). Songhay disyllabic cognates may also take -an (e.g., ceena 'small' > ceen-an).
3.2.8.3 Reduplication + -an
Monosyllabic Songhay roots reduplicate and add -an (e.g., ban 'soft' > bam-ban-an; nas 'fat' > nas-nas-an). Some roots allow multiple forms (e.g., ber 'big' > beer-i ~ babb-ar-an).
3.2.8.4 Irregular adjectives
Frequent adjectives show variation between -i, -u, reduplicated + -an, and reduplicated + -i (e.g., mor 'distant' > mom-mor-i). The system appears to be merging toward the Tamasheq pattern (reduplication + -an).
3.2.8.5 Plural
Adjectives agree in number. The plural suffix is -anin or -aanin, added to the adjectivizer suffix (e.g., zadig-an > zadig-anin 'clean'). Roots without derivational suffix take -nin (e.g., bibi > bibi-nin 'black').
3.2.9 Quantificational adjectives
3.2.9.1 Basic numerals
Numerals are mostly of Tamasheq origin except 'one' (a-ffó / fo), 'two' (hinká), and 'twenty' (táafinda). One follows the singular noun; two to ten follow the plural noun. Numerals can be used as nouns.
Cardinals: 1: a-ffó / fo(oda); 2: hinká; 3: kaarád; 4: akkóz; 5: fammúf; 6: ʃaadíʃ; 7: ifʃá; 8: ittám; 9: taasá; 10: maará; 20: táafinda; 100: t-a-méedi; 1000: a-jím.
3.2.9.2 Compound numerals
Multiples of ten are built by juxtaposition: unit + t-a-merw-in (e.g., akkoz-a-t-a-merw-in '40'). '11-19' use maará anda X ('ten and X'). Hundreds and thousands are heads of NPs taking plural when needed (t-a-méedi > t-a-mmad 'hundreds'; a-jím > i-jimm-an 'thousands').
4.1.5.4 Ordinals
Ordinals are formed with ayo (DET) + anda + numeral. 'First' is suppletive: ayo yizzar-an (DET be.ahead-ADJZR).
Keywords : adjectives adjective derivation reduplication adjective plural numerals cardinal numbers compound numerals ordinals
This grammar point in the works
Passages from the site’s works on this topic, with the page cited: the original text is authoritative.
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v 3.2.8.3 Reduplication + -an ........................................136 3.2.8.4 Irregular adjectives .........................................137 3.2.8.5 Plural..............................................................138 3.2.9 Quantificational adjectives ....................................139 3.2.9.1 Basic numerals...............................................139 3.2.9.2 Compound numerals ......................................140 4 Syntax............................. …
Christiansen-Bolli (2010), A Grammar of Tadaksahak, a Northern Songhay Language of Mali, p. 8
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… marked reciprocals and middles .................................................60 3.1.3.4 Passive t(ə)-, tuw- and tuwa- ............................65 3.1.3.5 Reduplication ...................................................68 3.1.3.6 Directional -kat and -an ....................................71 3.1.4 Verb Inflection.........................................................74 3.1.4.1 Subject clitic .....................................................75 3.1.4.2 Mood-Aspect- …
Christiansen-Bolli (2010), A Grammar of Tadaksahak, a Northern Songhay Language of Mali, p. 6
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10 Descriptive attributes Adjectives in Tadaksahak are typically derived from stative verbs. When such an adjective modifies a noun, it is usually preceded by the relative pronoun, unless the entity is being introduced to the story (see sec. 3.2). In such constructions, the entity does not have to be definite, as long as its existence has already been established. In the following example, for instance, ‘a horse of good quality’ is an indefinite but established entity. (34) D …
Christiansen & Levinsohn (2003), Relative Clauses in Tadaksahak, p. 10
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… n Songhay word order, with the possessor before the possessed: borá nn áaɣil, “a person’s right hand”, where Tawillimidt says aɣil n-awadim (p. 39 and 41). Its numerals are Songhay for one and two (a- ffó, hiŋká) and Tuareg from three onwards (kaaṛáḍ, akkóz, ʃammúʃ); its pronouns, unlike those of Tuareg, do not distinguish gender (p. 40, 42–43). The authors conclude that mutual intelligibility between the two languages is limited and see Tadaksahak as “the result of a linguis …