Studies in African Linguistics (Jun 2009)
Luganda verb morphology
Abstract
In this paper, I propose a novel morphological analysis of the Luganda (ISO 639-3: lug) verbal suffixes [-YE] and [-A]. I argue that the suffix [-YE] is bi-morphemic: [-Y] is a Perfective aspect morpheme, while [-E] is a functional suffix found in linguistic contexts indicating a change of state in the immediate past or in the immediate future. The data analysis further suggests that suffix [-A] is a default marker used as phonological filler. Finally, I show that the different linguistic contexts of use of the markers [-Y] [-A] and [-E] explain their distribution across the Indicative, Subjunctive and Imperative moods.
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