Re: Compound Tense Mystery

Steg Belsky sikyal:

> There are 5 vowels/diphthongs used for this:
>
> U /u/ = past (perfect)
> OI /Oj/ = present-routine
> A /a/ = present-immediate
> II /aj/ = future (irrealis)
> E /E/ = command (imperative/jussive)
>
> EZUZII-RIS = ?
You were going to learn.


> EZUZE-RIS = ?
You should/must have learned.

> EZOIZU-RIS = ?
Past habitual, of course! You were (generally) learning.

> EZOIZII-RIS = ?
Likewise, future habitual.

> EZOIZE-RIS = ?
Present habitual imperative--You must (in general) learn.

> EZAZE-RIS = ?
Hmmmm. Perhaps something like the Greek aorist imperative--Learn (now,
quickly, not with reference to extended times.

> EZIIZE-RIS = ?
You should learn.

I noticed that some of these meanings overlap with ones that you've
already assigned, but with a different order of tenses. Perhaps in this
case the order of tenses affects prominence: ezoizu-ris refers to a
habitual action which happens to be in the past (and perhaps continues
into present time), while ezuzoi-ris refers to a past action that also
happened to be habitual.

(Also: Does any natlang actually allow you to vary the order of affixes
with a difference in meaning?)


Jesse S. Bangs jaspax@u.washington.edu
http://students.washington.edu/jaspax/
http://students.washington.edu/jaspax/blog

Jesus asked them, "Who do you say that I am?"

And they answered, "You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground
of our being, the kerygma in which we find the ultimate meaning of our
interpersonal relationship."

And Jesus said, "What?"