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Verbs

The verbal system of Biwdiw language is based on the fundamental dichotomy between imperfective aspect and perfective aspect. This distinction is conveyed by two different verbal roots for every verbal meaning, the imperfective root (R_imp) and the perfective root (R_prf). The perfective root is usually derived from the imperfective one through an introflexive process of vowel switching:

CV1CV2C → CV2CV1C

Example:

Rimp = gɛgug- → Rprf = gugɛg-

Oltre alle vocali semplici, anche i dittonghi -jɛ-, -ju- e -iw- possono scambiarsi con il medesimo processo:

Example:

Rimp = čiwgul- → Rprf = čugiwl-

I dittonghi ascendenti -jɛ- e -ju- possono tuttavia palatalizzare alcune consonanti. È perciò abbastanza comune trovare radici perfettive irregolari:

Example:

Rimp = cɛgil- → Rprf = ʈigjɛl-

Nel caso delle radici verbali di forma bisillabica, le vocali sottoposte al processo di scambio sono quelle presenti nella radice.

Possono essere presenti, tuttavia, radici verbali trisillabiche o plurisillabiche. In questo caso le vocali sottoposte al processo di scambio vocalico sono quelle appartenenti alla radice bisillabica originale. Queste radici plurisillabiche sono in generale derivate morfologicamente tramite l’aggiunta di prefissi o di suffissi, i quali non vanno a partecipare allo scambio vocalico.

Examples:

Rimp = hūgāsus- → Rprf = hūgusās-

Rimp = ʂēhiwšōr- → Rprf = ʂiwhēšōr-

Rimp = xjɛcɛgilig- → Rprf = xjɛʈigjɛlig-

Le radici monosillabiche, come çɛň-, generalmente non presentano questa alternanza e si considerano quindi prive di alternanza aspettuale e di forma perfettiva (o imperfettiva se il senso è intrinsecamente perfettivo). Tale regola vale soventemente anche per le radici derivate dai prestiti.

Another distinction is made, on a temporal level, between a non-past tense, generally called “present”, and a past tense, by means of the prefix ʔa-, known as augment, which conveys the past tense, while non-past actions are marked by its absence.

Rimp = gagok- → Rimp-past = ʔagagok-

There are three verbal moods and three non-finite forms:

• Moods: indicative, subjunctive, conditional
• Non-finite: infinitive, agentive participle, passive participle

The citation form of verbs is the present imperfective infinitive, marked by the ending -ɑme, added to the imperfective root in its present form. From such form the imperfective root can be inferred and can be changed in its perfective equivalent.

The following personal endings are then added to the various aspectual and temporal forms. In this way, verbs show their agreement with the clause subject in person and number:

1st sing.	-ow
2nd sing.	-er
3rd sing.	-ɑt
	-
1st plur.	-onow
2nd plur.	-oner
3rd plur.	-onɑt
	-on

The different moods are formed by adding the following infixes to the verbal root, before the personal endings:

• indicative: Ø
• subjunctive: -iñ-
• conditional: -ɑts-

The non-finite verbal forms are meant as nominal/adjectival forms of the same verbs. They do not use the personal endings, but they declined as nouns or adjectives with the nominal declension endings.

As verbal forms can, however, be formed on both roots and add the past prefix. They can also add the modal infixes before their typical endings.

The non-finite endings are:

• infinitive: -ɑme
• agentive participle: -ī́to
• passive participle: -uki

The infinitival form is meant as a 2^nd class noun.