There are a number of Cushitic languages that have a gender system that includes a gender known as ‘plural gender’. The existence of ‘plural’ gender is a peculiar feature in these languages and for...Show moreThere are a number of Cushitic languages that have a gender system that includes a gender known as ‘plural gender’. The existence of ‘plural’ gender is a peculiar feature in these languages and for that reason this thesis aims to find out how this gender developed. This thesis analyzes three languages in each of two branches of East-Cushitic languages. For each of the two branches this thesis examines at least one language with plural gender and one without.Show less
This thesis will discuss how the final vowel of the subject concord has merged with the TAM paradigm in shiYeyi (R.40). In addition, shiYeyi expresses merely aspect and modality on the verb phrase,...Show moreThis thesis will discuss how the final vowel of the subject concord has merged with the TAM paradigm in shiYeyi (R.40). In addition, shiYeyi expresses merely aspect and modality on the verb phrase, where absolute tense is expressed lexically. In contrast to previous research, the final vowel of the subject concord is not determined by prefix-to-stem vowel harmony, nor does it express the notion of past versus non-past. The subject concord’s final vowel shows a discrete aspectual or modal function and occurs in discrete environments. At the same time, the final vowel of the verb phrase expresses modality, rather than a reduplication of the stem vowel to express absolute tense. For this analysis a previously published data set was used (Sommer, 1995).Show less
