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Verbs

The verbal system of Viwdiwgu 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 = gɛɣuɣ- → Rprf = guɣɛɣ-

In addition to vowels, the diphthongs -jɛ-, -ju- and -iw- can be switched:

Rimp = čiwgul- → Rprf = čugiwl-

In disyllabic verbal root, all vowels are involved in the switching process.

However, multisyllabic verbal roots can be formed through morphological derivation by adding prefixes or suffixes or both of them. These morphological affixes are usually not involved in the switching process. The vowels involved are those belonging to the original disyllabic root:

Rimp = hūɣāzuz- → Rprf = hūɣuzāz-

Rimp = ṡihiwšōr- → Rprf = ṡiwhižōr-

Rimp = xjɛcɛɣilig- → Rprf = xjɛtsiɣɛlig-

Some monosyllabic roots are not involved in the vowel switching process, being thus deemed as invariable roots without a perfective form (or without an imperfective form, in the very rare case when the base meaning is intrisically perfective).

A very limited amount of roots, mostly loanwords and some monosyllabic roots, derive their perfective roots by adding the suffix -ig.

A threefold temporal distinction is also made, among present, past, and future tenses. In the present tense there is no aspectual distinction, being this tense built only on the imperfective root.

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

• Moods: indicative, subjunctive, potential
• Non-finite: infinitive, participle

The citation form of verbs is the present imperfective infinitive, marked by the ending -iwgɛ, 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.

All verbs are divided in two classes, depending on the outcome of the third singular person. In the first class (class I), the ending -jɛc/-́ɛc is used, with some possible irregularities, while in the second class (class II), a null ending is used, with a more regular outcome.

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

	class I	class II
1st sing.	-ū	-ū
2nd sing.	-ir	-ir
3rd sing.	-jɛc / -jɛc	-
1st dual	-iwhū	-iwhū
2nd dual	-iwhir	-iwhir
3rd dual	-iwcɛc	-iwh
1st plur.	-ü	-ü
2nd plur.	-ür	-ür
3rd plur.	-ünjɛc	-ün

In the 3^rd singular person, one of the endings displays two possible forms, -jɛc or -^jɛc. After some consonants this ending appears as -ɛc, and palatalizes the previous consonant, or it is added to an already palatalized consonant without further effects.

djumɛliwgɛ → djumɛʝɛc
to drink → he/she/it drinks

lilužiwgɛ → līlužɛc
to see → he/she/it sees

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

• indicative: Ø
• subjunctive: -iwň-
• potential: -jɛts- / -^jɛts-

The potential mood infix displays the same irregularities as the 3^rd singular person ending and it follows the same rules. All modal infixes merge with the 3^rd singular person ending:

• -iwň- + -jɛc = -iwňɛc
• -jɛts- + -jɛc = -jɛcɛc

The non-finite verbal forms are meant as nominal/adjectival forms of the same verbs. They do not add the personal endings, but they are 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: -iwgɛ
• passive participle: -juɣiw- / -^juɣiw-

The participle ending displays the same irregularities as the 3^rd singular person ending and it follows the same rules.

A distinction between an active diathesis and a passive diathesis is made. However, the passive diathesis distinguishes an extremely reduced amount of forms.