Block 29 · pages 272-284

Chapter 4: Conditionals, Temporal Subordination, Spatial and Manner Adverbial Clauses

4.8.3 Conditionals

4.8.3.1 ənda 'with' and similar forms

ənda clauses state general conditions (e.g., ənd(a) aɣá-n cáy a-ddigdig a-bb-aṣór aɣáy 'when my leg is broken, it hurts'). The main clause can be imperative or question. əndáŋga (fast speech náŋga) is composed of ənda + áŋga 'with it', stating more specific conditions with imperfective or future. With wiji 'is not', it introduces exceptions (e.g., əndáŋga wiji t-a-káṛḍaṣ-t 'nothing except a letter').

4.8.3.2 (əmm)əs-ká(ba)(ha)r 'maybe-when'

This marker contains əmməs 'maybe' (often reduced to əs) + kábahar 'when'. It introduces a condition whose fulfillment leads to the main clause. Various MAN markers occur (e.g., əs-káhar Máadiḍ a-b-s-əgdá i-ʒínn-an 'when the Milky Way is in the zenith'). The first element can be omitted in thematically related sequences.

4.8.3.3 əndár 'if'

əndár posits a hypothetical or counterfactual condition. The subordinate clause is in perfective (e.g., əndár aɣa-bbáy sa Táḥa a-ʃʃí n(e) áyda ay-sə-kóy-kat 'if I had known that T. is not here, I wouldn't have come').

4.8.3.4 kud daɣ 'even if'

kud dáɣ 'if also' means 'even if' (e.g., íttill(a) agg áadəm máṇṇ(a) a-tə-ḍáṛ kud dáɣ a-sə́-mmay almán 'everybody suffers from lack of grazing even if he does not own animals').

4.8.4 Temporal subordination

4.8.4.1 sa 'when...'

sa 'when' introduces a temporal clause in perfective (e.g., sa Mússa a-ttén arə-bbén ənd(a) a-múnsu 'when Mussa arrived we had finished the meal'). sa jé means 'as soon as'.

4.8.4.2 Temporal use of dá 'intensifier'

dá with an anaphoric NP expresses temporal sequence (e.g., dá hé (a)yd(a) a-ddá... 'when this was done...').

4.8.4.3 Temporal clauses based on temporal nouns

Nouns like agúd 'time' or assáʕat 'hour' head postpositional relative clauses (e.g., agúd aɣo k(a) arə-kkéed(i) ay-n béena 'when we were up on the top').

4.8.4.4 t-izzár-t 'before...'

t-izzár-t 'before' is followed by a verb usually in subjunctive (e.g., t-izzár-t a-m-huur(ú) a-múnsu 'before he begins to eat').

4.8.4.5 har 'until...'

har 'until' introduces temporal clauses (e.g., a-b-húrru áy-n yíddər har a-yyiḍáz 'he was trying to hold him until he was tired'). It can also convey purpose (see 4.8.2.1).

4.8.4.6 zamá 'after...'

zamá 'after' precedes a clause (e.g., Zam(á) arə-ddə́wənn-ət andi s(e) alxér k(a) aɣo gánda wani 'after we spoke to you about the wellbeing of the earth...'). də́ffər 'after' is followed by a non-verbal element.

4.8.4.7 Simple juxtaposition of a temporal clause

Temporal expressions can be complete clauses juxtaposed to the main clause (e.g., záɣr(i) a-ddá t-á-mɣar-t a-ṣṣót-kat '(when) it was day, the old woman jumped'). The particle ʃeddí ~ ceddí 'yet' can precede an imperfective verb meaning 'while' (e.g., ni-m-hímay-a ʃedd(í) á-f-ṭay 'wash it while it is yet moist') or a negative perfective meaning 'before' (e.g., ʃeddí gánd(a) a-nə-huur(ú)-á 'before earth has entered it').

4.8.5 Spatial adverbial clauses

Spatial clauses are relative clauses modifying né 'here/location' (e.g., né k(a) áy-n t-ə-búuɣar i-yyée-kat gánda ka 'there where his camels go round').

4.8.6 Manner adverbial clauses

Manner clauses are relative clauses with the instrumental preposition ənda and the noun ə́mmək 'manner' (e.g., ə́mmək aɣó (ə)nda ay-tə-d(á)-a 'the manner with which I will do it').

Keywords : conditionals ənda əndáŋga əmməs-káhar əndár kud daɣ temporal subordination sa t-izzár-t har zamá spatial clauses manner clauses