Tasawaq affixes in Tamajeq Tuareg

Summary

Affix function number of borrowed affixes

Description

Information and examples are from Kossmann (2007). Tasawaq is the main language of the date palm oasis of In-Gall, with less than 10,000 speakers. Tuareg is the language of the main nomadic group in the desert around In-Gall and the main contact language (most Tasawaq speakers are bilingual in Tuareg). Tasawaq has developed a morphological system that makes a strict distinction between borrowed and native lexicon strata. Borrowed affixes are generally only used on borrowed roots. Only a few occasional hybrid formations are attested.

1 nominal number

  • -(t)àⁿ ‘plural’, e.g. gwánsì-tàn (snake-plural) ‘snakes’; 11 hybrid formations are attested.

1 adjectivizer

  • -àⁿ ‘adjectivizer’, e.g. bààráy-àⁿ (change-adjective) ‘changed’, kàkááy-àⁿ (build-adjective) ‘built’. This affix sometimes involves lengthening of the preceding syllable. It is borrowed from Tuareg participle forms.