Re: Verbs Outside of the Slavic

Old Irish marks perfective and potential aspect by
augmenting the verb with a derivational prefix. For
most verbs it is "ro-" (or some phonologically
conditioned variant). But, for some a range of other
prefixes are used. Note also, that in the examples
this "prefix" is often inserted between the root and
another prefix which is in Old Irish grammar called  a
"preverb". I'll mark the preverb off from the root
with a colon.

éíúáó

 with ro-
   -gab "he seized"  > rogab "he has seized"
   as:bert "he said" > as:rubart "he has said"

   im:foling "he caused salvation" > im:forling
   (note the placement of the "ro" in this one)

   do:melt "he consumed" > do:romalt "he has consumed"

etc. etc.

 Some verbs can take the prefix "com-"

   do:indnacht "it was bestowed"  >  do:écomnacht
      (note that "ind" becomes "é" become the "com",
       this is fairly regular)

  Some verbs can take the prefix "ad-/at-"

     con:tuil "he slept" > conattail "he has slept"


And a lot of others prefixes. But mostly it's "ro".
Also, some verbs add some other prefix to a suppletive
root to for the potential or the perfective.


I also think that Georgian has a system like Russian
or Old Irish, more like Russian probably. I can't
think of many examples right now.

~Elliott



--- Kevin Athey <kevindeanathey@...> wrote:

> Does anyone know of any non-Slavic languages that
> mark aspect distinctions
> on verbs via non-productive or semi-productive
> derivational affixes rather
> than inflections?  Or tense or mood, for that
> matter?  I'm playing around
> with the idea and would like more than one natlang
> (family) as a model.
>
> Athey
>
>
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