Formes et valeurs du passif en tamazight

Abstract

It is generally accepted that the Amazigh passive is realized by three forms : mm-, ttw- and the zero morpheme in the case of mixed verbs. It is often not explained why we find three different ways of expressing the same linguistic reality, which is in flagrant contradiction with the rule of linguistic economy valid for all natural languages. We will, within the framework of this contribution, try to remedy it by explaining the semantic and functional values ​​of each of these forms. We will also try to show the emergence of a fourth form. Indeed, derivatives in n-/nn- have always been considered as phonetically conditioned variants of the form in mm-, which is certainly true on the diachronic level. However, in synchrony, we have noted combinations of this morpheme with verbs incompatible with the passive morpheme mm-. These cases being extremely rare, we think that it’s about the beginning of appearance of a new form.

Keywords

• amazigh studies
• kabyle
• morphology
• semantics
• syntax