Chapter published in:
Afroasiatic: Data and perspectives
Edited by Mauro Tosco
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 339] 2018
► pp. 105–130

Condition, interrogation and exception

Remarks on particles in Berber

Comparison of the different Berber dialects shows that there are many shared characteristics, particularly typological ones. The degree of similarity varies, however, depending on the element. Conjunctions have been recognized as a class with very little similarity among the varieties.

This diversity is indeed found in the inventory of those Berber particles which introduce the protases of hypotheses. However, the number of markers is much lower if one takes into account the probable origin of the basic units these markers are built upon. From this perspective, we examine all of these particles’ uses and meanings and find true convergences.

Convergences have a spatial dimension. They are also to be found in the meanings of the particles. Particles which introduce the protasis of a conditional are often closely linked to, on the one hand, those which introduce interrogative clauses and, on the other, those used to express exceptions.

Keywords: conditional particle, Berber, grammaticalization path, question, exceptionality
Article outline
  • 1. ad in Zenaga
  • 2. is in Tamazight and Tashlhit
  • 3. m(a) in the northern varieties
    • 3.1 The polyfunctional ma
    • 3.2 m(a) derivatives
  • 4. Variants to the element k(a)
  • 5. kan in the eastern varieties
  • 6. kud and its variants in the southern central area
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Specific abbreviations
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 01 February 2018
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.339.07tai
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Aubrey, Rachel & Michael Aubrey
2022. Bibliography of Conditionals. Journal of Translation 18:2 ► pp. 135 ff. Crossref logo

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