Aorist, resultative and perfect in Shiri Dargwa and beyond

Abstract

In this paper, I describe the system of core perfective past-tense forms of Shiri Dargwa (East Caucasian). This is one of the few languages where an evidential resultative coexists with a bona fide perfect paradigm. This fact is curious within the Dargwa branch of East Caucasian, as the Shiri Perfect corresponds to the Aorist forms in most other dialects, while the Shiri Aorist corresponds to the Aorist in Kubachi but has no corresponding form anywhere else. Based on comparative data, I reconstruct the Proto-Dargwa system of perfective past-tense forms. I argue that this was a tripartite system of Aorist, Perfect and Resultative, similar to the Shiri system. This system further underwent changes in two different directions: either the old Perfect was displaced by the extended Resultative (creating the Kubachi system), or the old Aorist was displaced by the extended Perfect (creating the system in most other varieties).

Publication
Diana Forker, Timur Maisak (eds.). The semantics of verbal categories in Nakh-Daghestanian languages. Leiden: Brill
Date