Verb Scale III: 'aktēb and 'ennuktāb

Αμμίθκαλ Αθθωλιτεί: ακτήβ υεεννυκτώβ

7.1 Introduction to 'aktēb Verbs

'Aktēb (Active Scale III) is commonly known as the “causative” stem. Its most common function, not surprisingly, is causative, and it typically converts transitive katab verbs into ditransitive ones: ακτήβ 'aktēb “dictate [something to someone]” (lit. 'cause to write'), αηακήλ 'ahakēl “feed [something to someone]” (lit. 'cause to eat'). It can have a causative meaning on verbs whose base form is intransitive, but this is less common: ασκήβ 'askēb “lay down” (lit. 'cause to lie down'). For some verbs, it may also have a factitive meaning (“to have something done by somone”), as in ου αμήτετ 'ū 'amētet “I had him killed” (from *mūt “die”), or an assistive meaning, as in ασλήτ 'aslēt “help someone win” (from *slāth “win, prevail over”).

'Aktēb is distinguished by its prefixed /ʔ/, although in some forms this elides and may change the quality of the vowels around it. In Semitic studies this form is often known as the '-Stem or Š-Stem (the latter for historical reasons).

7.2 Triconsonantal Roots and 'aktēb

7.2.1 The Present Tense

The 'aktēb present tense is quite easy to form. It simply requires adding personal prefixes and suffixes to the stems *-C1C2ēC3 (when no suffix is present) or *-C1C2eC3- (when there is a suffix present). The prefix vowel is always /ɑː/, the product of the original prefix vowels merging together with the causative *'a- prefix.

Scale III Present Tense: 'aktēb “dictate”
Person Singular Plural
1st ωκτήβ
'āktēb
νωκτεβού
nāktebū
2nd Masc τωκτήβ
tāktēb
τωκτεβού
tāktebū
2nd Fem τωκτεβεί
tāktebī
τωκτεβού
tāktebū
3rd Masc ιωκτήβ
yāktēb
ιωκτεβού
yāktebū
3rd Fem ιωκτεβεί
yāktebī
ιωκτεβού
yāktebū

7.2.2 The Preterite Tense

The preterite tense is formed regularly by adding preterite suffixes to the stem *'aC1C2ēC3-. C3 lenition may take place in the second person.

Scale III Preterite Tense: 'aktēb “dictate”
Person Singular Plural
1st ακτήβετ
'aktēbet
ακτηβνώ
'aktēbnā
2nd Masc ακτήв̄τα
'aktēvta
ακτήв̄τυν
'aktēvtun
2nd Fem ακτήв̄σ̄ε
'aktēvše
ακτήв̄σ̄ιν
'aktēvšin
3rd Masc ακτήβ
'aktēb
ακτηβού
'aktēbū
3rd Fem ακτηβώ
'aktēbā
ακτηβού
'aktēbū

7.2.3 The Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense is formed by adding the imperfect suffixes to the stem *'aC1C2ieC3-. C3 lenition may take place in the first and second person forms.

Scale III Imperfect Tense: 'aktēb “dictate”
Person Singular Plural
1st ακτιήв̄
'aktiev
ακτιήв̄εν
'aktieven
2nd Masc ακτιήв̄ετ
'aktievet
ακτιήв̄τυν
'aktievtun
2nd Fem ακτιήв̄ες̄
'aktieveš
ακτιήв̄σ̄ιν
'aktievšin
3rd Masc ακτιήβ
'aktieb
ακτιηβού
'aktiebū
3rd Fem ακτιηβώ
'aktiebā
ακτιηβού
'aktiebū

7.2.4 The Perfective Subjunctive Tense

The perfective subjunctive is formed by adding a special set of prefixes to the stem *-C1C2eC3. The prefixes used in 'aktēb are *vā- in the first person singular, *vanā- in the first person plural, *vatā- in the second person, and *vyā- in the third person.

Scale III Perfective Subjunctive: 'aktēb “dictate”
Person Singular Plural
1st в̄ώκτεβ
vākteb
в̄ανώκτεβ
vanākteb
2nd в̄ατώκτεβ
vatākteb
в̄ατώκτεβ
vatākteb
3rd в̄ιώκτεβ
vyākteb
в̄ιώκτεβ
vyākteb

7.2.5 The Imperative

The imperative usually takes the form *'aC1C2ēC3 in the masculine singular, and *'aC1C2eC3- + suffixes in the feminine singular and plural.

Scale III Imperative: 'aktēb “dictate”
Person Singular Plural
Masculine ακτήβ
'aktēb
ακτεβού
'aktebū
Feminine ακτεβεί
'aktebī
ακτεβού
'aktebū

However, a handful of very common verbs preserve a different, older pattern. They form their imperative stems with the patterns *'isC1eC2ēC3 (masculine singular) and *'isC1eC2C3- (feminine singular and plural). This is especially common, for instance, with verbs of position such as ασκήβ 'askēb “lay down” (root *skīb “lie down”):

Scale III Imperative: 'askēb “lay down”
Person Singular Plural
Masculine ισσεκήβ
'issekēb
ισσεκβού
'issekbū
Feminine ισσεκβεί
'issekbī
ισσεκβού
'issekbū

7.2.6 Deverbatives

The infinitive is formed using the pattern *māC1C2ēC3 and the participle using māC1C2iC3.

7.3 Biconsonantal Roots and 'aktēb

Biconsonantal roots lose their internal vowel in 'aktēb and replace it with /ɛː/, gained by analogy with other 'aktēb verbs. This *-C1ēC2- stem remains intact in all forms, except in the imperfect, which uses the stem *-C1ieC2-, and the active participle, which uses *-C1ūC2- instead 1 .

The root *sāl “ask” may serve as an example, becoming 'asēl “lend” in 'aktēb. 2

Scale III Conjugation: 'asēl “lend”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg ωσήλ
'āsēl
ασήλετ
'asēlet
ασιήλ
'asiel
в̄ωσήλ
vāsēl
2nd Sg Masc τωσήλ
tāsēl
ασήλτα
'asēlta
ασιήλετ
'asielet
в̄ατωσήλ
vatāsēl
2nd Sg Fem τωσηλεί
tāsēlī
ασήλσ̄ε
'asēlše
ασιήλες̄
'asieleš
в̄ατωσήλ
vatāsēl
3rd Sg Masc ιωσήλ
yāsēl
ασήλ
'asēl
ασιήλ
'asiel
в̄ιωσήλ
vyāsēl
3rd Sg Fem ιωσηλεί
yāsēlī
ασηλώ
'asēlā
ασιηλώ
'asielā
в̄ιωσήλ
vyāsēl
1st Pl νωσηλού
nāsēlū
ασηλνώ
'asēlnā
ασιήλεν
'asielen
в̄ανωσήλ
vanāsēl
2nd Pl Masc τωσηλού
tāsēlū
ασήλτυν
'asēltun
ασιήλτυν
'asieltun
в̄ατωσήλ
vatāsēl
2nd Pl Fem τωσηλού
tāsēlū
ασήλσ̄ιν
'asēlšin
ασιήλσ̄ιν
'asielšin
в̄ατωσήλ
vatāsēl
3rd Pl ιωσηλού
yāsēlū
ασηλού
'asēlū
ασιηλού
'asielū
в̄ιωσήλ
vyāsēl
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg ασήλ
'asēl
Infinitive μωσήλ
māsēl
Fem Sg ασηλεί
'asēlī
Participle μωσούλ
māsūl
Pl ασηλού
'asēlū

The special s-imperative exists as well, as seen with the verb ακκήν 'akhēn “raise, set up” (*khūn “get up”):

Scale III Imperative: 'akhēn “raise”
Person Singular Plural
Masculine ισκήν
'iskēn
ισκηνού
'iskēnū
Feminine ισκηνεί
'iskēnī
ισκηνού
'iskēnū

7.4 Quadriconsonantal Roots and 'aktēb

Quadriconsonantal roots are allowed in 'aktēb, although they naturally have a different stem structure. The verb ακελκήλ 'akelkēl “ring (tr)” (root *kalkēl “ring (intr)”) will demonstrate.

In the present tense, the stem alternates between *-C1eC2C3ēC4 when there is no suffix and *-C1eC2C3eC4- when there is a suffix:

Scale III Present Tense: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Person Singular Plural
1st ωκελκήλ
'ākelkēl
νωκελκελού
nākelkelū
2nd Masc τωκελκήλ
tākelkēl
τωκελκελού
tākelkelū
2nd Fem τωκελκελεί
tākelkelī
τωκελκελού
tākelkelū
3rd Masc ιωκελκήλ
yākelkēl
ιωκελκελού
yākelkelū
3rd Fem ιωκελκελεί
yākelkelī
ιωκελκελού
yākelkelū

The preterite is based on the static stem *'aC1eC2C3ēC4-:

Scale III Preterite Tense: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Person Singular Plural
1st ακελκήλετ
'akelkēlet
ακελκηλνώ
'akelkēlnā
2nd Masc ακελκήλτα
'akelkēlta
ακελκήλτυν
'akelkēltun
2nd Fem ακελκήλσ̄ε
'akelkēlše
ακελκήλσ̄ιν
'akelkēlšin
3rd Masc ακελκήλ
'akelkēl
ακελκηλού
'akelkēlū
3rd Fem ακελκηλώ
'akelkēlā
ακελκηλού
'akelkēlū

The imperfect tense uses the stem *'aC1eC2C3ieC4-:

Scale III Imperfect Tense: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Person Singular Plural
1st ακελκιήλ
'akelkiel
ακελκιήλεν
'akelkielen
2nd Masc ακελκιήλετ
'akelkielet
ακελκιήλτυν
'akelkieltun
2nd Fem ακελκιήλες̄
'akelkieleš
ακελκιήλσ̄ιν
'akelkielšin
3rd Masc ακελκιήλ
'akelkiel
ακελκιηλού
'akelkielū
3rd Fem ακελκιηλώ
'akelkielā
ακελκιηλού
'akelkielū

The perfective subjunctive uses the stem *-C1eC2C3eC4:

Scale III Perfective Subjunctive: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Person Singular Plural
1st в̄ώκελκελ
vākelkel
в̄ανώκελκελ
vanākelkel
2nd в̄ατώκελκελ
vatākelkel
в̄ατώκελκελ
vatākelkel
3rd в̄ιώκελκελ
vyākelkel
в̄ιώκελκελ
vyākelkel

The imperative stem is *'aC1eC2C3ēC4 in the masculine singular and *'aC1eC2C3eC4- in the feminine singular and plural. There are no quadriconsonantal roots with s-imperatives.

Scale III Imperative: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Person Singular Plural
Masculine ακελκήλ
'akelkēl
ακελκελού
'akelkelū
Feminine ακελκελεί
'akelkelī
ακελκελού
'akelkelū

The infinitive of quadriconsonantal roots uses the pattern *māC1eC2C3ēC4 and the active participle uses *māC1aC2C3iC4:

Scale III Deverbatives: 'akelkēl “ring (tr)”
Infinitive Active Part.
Form μωκελκήλ
mākelkēl
μώκαλκιλ
mākalkil
Meaning ring ringing

7.5 Geminate Roots and 'aktēb

The behavior of geminate roots can be summarized with a simple rule: if the stem is followed by a suffix beginning with a vowel, it follows a biconsonantal pattern with gemination; otherwise (when word-final or followed by a consonant-initial suffix), it follows a triconsonantal pattern. The verb ασβήβ 'asbēb “cause, bring about” (root *sabb “turn”) will demonstrate:

Scale III Conjugation: 'asbēb “cause”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg ωσβήβ
'āsbēb
ασήββετ
'asēbbet
ασβιήв̄
'asbiev
в̄ώσβεβ
vāsbeb
2nd Sg Masc τωσβήβ
tāsbēb
ασβήв̄τα
'asbēvta
ασιήв̄в̄ετ
'asievvet
в̄ατώσβεβ
vatāsbeb
2nd Sg Fem τωσηββεί
tāsēbbī
ασβήв̄σ̄ε
'asbēvše
ασιήв̄в̄ες̄
'asievveš
в̄ατώσβεβ
vatāsbeb
3rd Sg Masc ιωσβήβ
yāsbēb
ασβήβ
'asbēb
ασβιήβ
'asbieb
в̄ιώσβεβ
vyāsbeb
3rd Sg Fem ιωσηββεί
yāsēbbī
ασηββώ
'asēbbā
ασιηββώ
'asiebbā
в̄ιώσβεβ
vyāsbeb
1st Pl νωσηββού
nāsēbbū
ασβηβνώ
'asbēbnā
ασιήв̄в̄εν
'asievven
в̄ανώσβεβ
vanāsbeb
2nd Pl Masc τωσηββού
tāsēbbū
ασβήв̄τυν
'asbēvtun
ασβιήв̄τυν
'asbievtun
в̄ατώσβεβ
vatāsbeb
2nd Pl Fem τωσηββού
tāsēbbū
ασβήв̄σ̄ιν
'asbēvšin
ασβιήв̄σ̄ιν
'asbievšin
в̄ατώσβεβ
vatāsbeb
3rd Pl ιωσηλού
yāsēbbū
ασηββού
'asēbbū
ασιηββού
'asiebbū
в̄ιώσβεβ
vyāsbeb
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg ασβήβ
'asbēb
Infinitive μωσβήβ
māsbēb
Fem Sg ασηββεί
'asēbbī
Participle μώσβιβ
māsbib
Pl ασηββού
'asēbbū

7.6 Introduction to 'ennuktāb Verbs

The passive counterpart of 'aktēb is 'ennuktāb. It contains the internal vowel pattern u-a commonly seen in passive forms. It later acquired a prefixed n- by analogy with the passive scale I nuktāb. To make the initial *n' cluster more pronounceable, an epenthetic /e/ was introduced at the beginning of the word. Over time the original glottal stop marking the causative assimilated into the /n/. The evolution of this form was thus roughly: 'uktābn'uktāb'en'uktāb'ennuktāb.

The noun functioning as the direct object in 'aktēb is promoted to subject in 'ennuktāb. Therefore, the actual verb 'ennuktāb means “be dictated” and takes an animate object (e.g., “he was dictated a letter”).

7.7 Triconsonantal Roots and 'ennuktāb

7.7.1 The Present Tense

The present tense forms are created regularly by adding standard prefixes and suffixes to the stems *-nnuC1C2āC3 (when no suffix is present) or *-nnuC1C2aC3- (when there is a suffix present). All prefixes have the vowel /i/ other than the first person singular, which has /a/.

Scale III Present Tense: 'ennuktāb “be dictated”
Person Singular Plural
1st αννυκτώβ
'annuktāb
νιννυκταβού
ninnuktabū
2nd Masc τιννυκτώβ
tinnuktāb
τιννυκταβού
tinnuktabū
2nd Fem τιννυκταβεί
tinnuktabī
τιννυκταβού
tinnuktabū
3rd Masc ιννυκτώβ
yinnuktāb
ιννυκταβού
yinnuktabū
3rd Fem ιννυκταβεί
yinnuktabī
ιννυκταβού
yinnuktabū

7.7.2 The Preterite Tense

The preterite tense features regular preterite suffixes added to the stem *'ennuC1C2āC3-:

Scale III Preterite Tense: 'ennuktāb “be dictated”
Person Singular Plural
1st εννυκτώβετ
'ennuktābet
εννυκτωβνώ
'ennuktābnā
2nd Masc εννυκτώв̄τα
'ennuktāvta
εννυκτώв̄τυν
'ennuktāvtun
2nd Fem εννυκτώв̄σ̄ε
'ennuktāvše
εννυκτώв̄σ̄ιν
'ennuktāvšin
3rd Masc εννυκτώβ
'ennuktāb
εννυκτωβού
'ennuktābū
3rd Fem εννυκτωβώ
'ennuktābā
εννυκτωβού
'ennuktābū

7.7.3 The Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense is based on the stem *'ennuC1C2uoC3- and uses suffixes containing the vowel /a/:

Scale III Imperfect Tense: 'ennuktāb “be dictated”
Person Singular Plural
1st εννυκτυώв̄
'ennuktuov
εννυκτυώв̄αν
'ennuktuovan
2nd Masc εννυκτυώв̄ατ
'ennuktuovat
εννυκτυώв̄τυν
'ennuktuovtun
2nd Fem εννυκτυώв̄ας̄
'ennuktuovaš
εννυκτυώв̄σ̄ιν
'ennuktuovšin
3rd Masc εννυκτυώβ
'ennuktuob
εννυκτυωβού
'ennuktuobū
3rd Fem εννυκτυωβώ
'ennuktuobā
εννυκτυωβού
'ennuktuobū

7.7.4 The Perfective Subjunctive Tense

The perfective subjunctive is formed by adding a special set of prefixes to the stem *-nnuktab. In the first person singular the prefix is *va-, in the first person plural *vani-, in the second person *vati-, and in the third person *vē-.

Scale III Perfective Subjunctive: 'ennuktāb “be dictated”
Person Singular Plural
1st в̄άννυκταβ
vannuktab
в̄ανίννυκταβ
vaninnuktab
2nd в̄ατίννυκταβ
vatinnuktab
в̄ατίννυκταβ
vatinnuktab
3rd в̄ήννυκταβ
vēnnuktab
в̄ήννυκταβ
vēnnuktab

7.7.5 The Imperative

No imperative exists for 'ennuktāb.

7.7.6 Deverbatives

The infinitive uses the pattern *mannuC1C2āC3 and the passive participles use *munnaC1C2aC3.

Scale III Deverbatives: 'ennuktāb “be dictated”
Infinitive Passive Part.
Form μαννυκτώβ
mannuktāb
μύννακταβ
munnaktab
Meaning be dictated dictated

7.8 Biconsonantal Roots and 'ennuktāb

Biconsonantal verbs lose their internal vowel, replacing it with /ɑː/ in the present, preterite, perfective subjunctive, and infinitive, /uo/ in the imperfect, and /uː/ in the passive participle. Demonstrated with εννυσώλ 'ennusāl “be lent”:

Scale III Conjugation: 'ennusāl “be lent”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg αννυσώλ
'annusāl
εννυσώλετ
'ennusālet
εννυσυώλ
'ennusuol
в̄αννυσώλ
vannusāl
2nd Sg Masc τιννυσώλ
tinnusāl
εννυσώλτα
'ennusālta
εννυσυώλατ
'ennusuolat
в̄ατιννυσώλ
vatinnusāl
2nd Sg Fem τιννυσωλεί
tinnusālī
εννυσώλσ̄ε
'ennusālše
εννυσυώλας̄
'ennusuolaš
в̄ατιννυσώλ
vatinnusāl
3rd Sg Masc ιννυσώλ
yinnusāl
εννυσώλ
'ennusāl
εννυσυώλ
'ennusuol
в̄ηννυσώλ
vēnnusāl
3rd Sg Fem ιννυσωλεί
yinnusālī
εννυσωλώ
'ennusālā
εννυσυωλώ
'ennusuolā
в̄ηννυσώλ
vēnnusāl
1st Pl νιννυσωλού
ninnusālū
εννυσωλνώ
'ennusālnā
εννυσυώλαν
'ennusuolan
в̄ανιννυσώλ
vaninnusāl
2nd Pl Masc τιννυσωλού
tinnusālū
εννυσώλτυν
'ennusāltun
εννυσυώλτυν
'ennusuoltun
в̄ατιννυσώλ
vatinnusāl
2nd Pl Fem τιννυσωλού
tinnusālū
εννυσώλσ̄ιν
'ennusālšin
εννυσυώλσ̄ιν
'ennusuolšin
в̄ατιννυσώλ
vatinnusāl
3rd Pl ιννυσωλού
yinnusālū
εννυσωλού
'ennusālū
εννυσυωλού
'ennusuolū
в̄ηννυσώλ
vēnnusāl
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg Infinitive μαννυσώλ
mannusāl
Fem Sg Participle μυννασούλ
munnasūl
Pl

7.9 Quadriconsonantal Roots and 'ennuktāb

Quadriconsonantal roots are conjugated regularly using just three basic stems: *-nnuC1aC2C3āC4- in the present tense (unsuffixed), preterite, and infinitive, *-nnuC1aC2C3aC4- in the present tense (suffixed), perfective subjunctive, and passive participle, and *-nnuC1aC2C3uoC4- in the imperfect. With 'ennukalkāl “be rung”:

Scale III Conjugation: 'ennukalkāl “be rung”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg αννυκαλκώλ
'annukalkāl
εννυκαλκώλετ
'ennukalkālet
εννυκαλκυώλ
'ennukalkuol
в̄αννύκαλκαλ
vannukalkal
2nd Sg Masc τιννυκαλκώλ
tinnukalkāl
εννυκαλκώλτα
'ennukalkālta
εννυκαλκυώλατ
'ennukalkuolat
в̄ατιννύκαλκαλ
vatinnukalkal
2nd Sg Fem τιννυκαλκαλεί
tinnukalkalī
εννυκαλκώλσ̄ε
'ennukalkālše
εννυκαλκυώλας̄
'ennukalkuolaš
в̄ατιννύκαλκαλ
vatinnukalkal
3rd Sg Masc ιννυκαλκώλ
yinnukalkāl
εννυκαλκώλ
'ennukalkāl
εννυκαλκυώλ
'ennukalkuol
в̄ηννύκαλκαλ
vēnnukalkal
3rd Sg Fem ιννυκαλκαλεί
yinnukalkalī
εννυκαλκωλώ
'ennukalkālā
εννυκαλκυωλώ
'ennukalkuolā
в̄ηννύκαλκαλ
vēnnukalkal
1st Pl νιννυκαλκαλού
ninnukalkalū
εννυκαλκωλνώ
'ennukalkālnā
εννυκαλκυώλαν
'ennukalkuolan
в̄ανιννυσώλ
vaninnusāl
2nd Pl Masc τιννυκαλκαλού
tinnukalkalū
εννυκαλκώλτυν
'ennukalkāltun
εννυκαλκυώλτυν
'ennukalkuoltun
в̄ανιννύκαλκαλ
vaninnukalkal
2nd Pl Fem τιννυκαλκαλού
tinnukalkalū
εννυκαλκώλσ̄ιν
'ennukalkālšin
εννυκαλκυώλσ̄ιν
'ennukalkuolšin
в̄ατιννύκαλκαλ
vatinnukalkal
3rd Pl ιννυκαλκαλού
yinnukalkalū
εννυκαλκωλού
'ennukalkālū
εννυκαλκυωλού
'ennukalkuolū
в̄ηννύκαλκαλ
vēnnukalkal
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg Infinitive μαννυκαλκώλ
mannukalkāl
Fem Sg Participle μυννάκαλκαλ
munnakalkal
Pl

7.10 Geminate Roots and 'ennuktāb

Geminate roots in 'ennuktāb follow the same rule as in 'aktēb: if the stem is followed by a suffix beginning with a vowel, it follows a biconsonantal pattern with gemination; otherwise (when word-final or followed by a consonant-initial suffix), it follows a triconsonantal pattern. With εννυσβώβ 'ennusbāb “be caused, be brought about”:

Scale III Conjugation: 'ennusbāb “be caused”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg αννυσβώβ
'annusbāb
εννυσώββετ
'ennusābbet
εννυσβυώв̄
'ennusbuov
в̄άννυσβαβ
vannusbab
2nd Sg Masc τιννυσβώβ
tinnusbāb
εννυσβώв̄τα
'ennusbāvta
εννυσυώв̄в̄ατ
'ennusuovvat
в̄ατίννυσβαβ
vatinnusbab
2nd Sg Fem τιννυσωββεί
tinnusābbī
εννυσβώв̄σ̄ε
'ennusbāvše
εννυσυώв̄в̄ας̄
'ennusuovvaš
в̄ατίννυσβαβ
vatinnusbab
3rd Sg Masc ιννυσβώβ
yinnusbāb
εννυσβώβ
'ennusbāb
εννυσβυώβ
'ennusbuob
в̄ήννυσβαβ
vēnnusbab
3rd Sg Fem ιννυσωββεί
yinnusābbī
εννυσωββώ
'ennusābbā
εννυσυωββώ
'ennusuobbā
в̄ήννυσβαβ
vēnnusbab
1st Pl νιννυσωββού
ninnusābbū
εννυσβωβνώ
'ennusbābnā
εννυσυώв̄в̄αν
'ennusuovvan
в̄ανίννυσβαβ
vaninnusbab
2nd Pl Masc τιννυσωββού
tinnusābbū
εννυσβώв̄τυν
'ennusbāvtun
εννυσβυώв̄τυν
'ennusbuovtun
в̄ατίννυσβαβ
vatinnusbab
2nd Pl Fem τιννυσωββού
tinnusābbū
εννυσβώв̄σ̄ιν
'ennusbāvšin
εννυσβυώв̄σ̄ιν
'ennusbuovšin
в̄ατίννυσβαβ
vatinnusbab
3rd Pl ιννυσωββού
yinnusābbū
εννυσωββού
'ennusābbū
εννυσυωββού
'ennusuobbū
в̄ήννυσβαβ
vēnnusbab
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg
Infinitive μαννυσβώβ
mannusbāb
Fem Sg
Participle μύννασβαβ
munnasbab
Pl

7.11 Weak Roots in Scale III

7.11.1 C1 = Ř

Root-initial *Ř is completely regular. One example is the root *řlīb “milk” (cf. Scale I ρ̄άλαβ řalab “give milk”), giving the verbs αρ̄λήβ 'ařlēb “milk” and εννυρ̄λώβ 'ennuřlāb “be milked”.

7.11.2 C2 = Ř

Medial *Ř is also completely regular. Once example is the root *břāṯ “mix, agitate”, giving the verbs αβρ̄ήθ 'abřēṯ “anger” and εννυβρ̄ώθ 'ennubřāṯ “be angered”.

7.11.3 C3 = Ř

The effects of root-final *Ř are the same as in other scales, and only affect the feminine suffix *-ī in the present tense and imperative, and the vowels of the active participle. The root *ftāř “open” may serve as an example, giving the Scale III verbs αφτήρ̄ 'aftēř “have someone open, help open, open for business” and εννυφτώρ̄ 'ennuftāř “be opened for business”.

In the present tense of both 'aktēb and 'ennuktāb and the imperative of 'aktēb, the feminine marker *-ī is replaced by *ēyi, spelled -ηι: αφτερ̄ήι 'afteřēyi “have [someone] open! open [for business]! (f)” (not **'afteřī), ιννυφταρ̄ήι yinnuftařēyi “it (f) is being opened for business” (not **yinnuftařī).

In addition, the /i/ that immediately precedes C3 in the active participle is lowered to /e/: μώατερ̄ māfteř “having open, opening for business” (not **māftiř).

7.11.4 C1 = '/H

Root-initial *' and *H both surface as consonantal /h/, with an epenthetic /a/ inserted immediately afterwards to prevent illegal clusters. Two common examples are the roots *'kāl “eat” and *hbād “work”, giving the Scale III verbs αηακήλ 'ahakēl “feed”, εννυηακώλ 'ennuhakāl “be fed”, αηαβήδ 'ahabēd “employ”, and εννυηαβώδ 'ennuhabād “be employed”: αηακιήλετ 'ahakielet “you (m) were being fed” (not **'a'kielet), αννυηαβώδ 'annuhabād “I am employed” (not **'annuhbād).

For the purposes of assigning stress, the epenthetic /a/ is ignored. Thus, the perfective subjunctive form в̄ατίννυηαβαδ vatinnuhabad “[that] you were employed” is stressed on the syllable *-tin- rather than *-nu-, even though the former is now four syllables from the end of the word.

7.11.5 C2 = '/H

Medial *' and *H assimilate into the preceding C1, causing gemination or aspiration. The root *fhāl “make, do, use”, for instance, becomes αφφήλ 'affēl “turn on [a device, etc.], enforce [a rule, etc.]” and εννυφφώλ 'ennuffāl “be turned on, be enforced”. Shown below are the present and preterite of αφφήλ 'affēl:

7.11.6 C3 = '

As elsewhere, root-final *' behaves erratically. The root *ldā' “go up, rise” gives the verbs αλδή 'aldē “lift up, pull up” and εννυλδώ 'ennuldā “be lifted up, be pulled up”.

In the present tense, the glottal stop drops when word-final and is present elsewhere:

The preterite features the special set of aspirated suffixes rather than the normal set. The glottal stop disappears in all forms other than the third person singular feminine and third person plural. Additional contraction takes place in the first person singular:

In the imperfect the glottal stop also drops in all forms other than the third person singular feminine and third person plural. The sequences -ie'e- ('aktēb) and -uo'a- ('ennuktāb) contract to just -ie- and -uo-. The second person plural forms continue to use an aspirated ending.

The glottal stop simply drops in the perfective subjunctive:

The typical imperative works as expected: the glottal stop drops in the masculine singular (when word-final), and remains in the other forms. In the s-imperative, the glottal stop drops in all forms and causes C2 gemination/aspiration in the feminine singular and plural forms:

Scale III Imperative: 'aldē “lift up”
Person Singular Plural
Masculine ισλεδή
'isledē
ισλεδδού
'isleddū
Feminine ισλεδδεί
'isleddī
ισλεδδού
'isleddū

The deverbatives simply lose the glottal stop:

7.11.7 C3 = H

Roots with final *H lose this radical and conjugate as though they were biconsonantal. The root *mnāh “forbid”, for instance, behaves as though it were *mVn (the vowel is unrecoverable), giving the verbs αμήν 'amēn “contest, dispute” and εννυμών 'ennumān “be contested, be disputed”. These then follow a regular biconsonantal paradigm.

7.11.8 C1 = Y/W

Initial *Y and *W simply merge into the preceding vowel according to some relatively straightforward rules:

This applies for roots such as *ymīn “right”, yielding the verbs ημήν 'ēmēn “direct to the right” and εννουμών 'ennūmān “be directed to the right”, and *wtīr “stay, remain”, yielding ουτήρ 'ūtēr “have left over” and εννουτώρ 'ennūtār “remain left over, be in excess”. The following tables show the present tense and preterite of the two active verbs (though *ymīn has root final *N in addition, resulting in irregular preterite endings):

7.11.9 C3 = Y/W

Root-final *Y and *W are simpler to conjugate in Scale III than in Scales I or II. These consonants are preserved when intervocalic, and are lost in all other positions with no change to neighboring vowels. Consider, for instance, the preterite tense forms of the verbs αβνή 'abnē “have build, help build” (*bnāy “build”) and αμνή 'amnē “have count, help count” (*mnāw “count”):

The one exception to this pattern are the participles. In the active 'aktēb participle, both *Y and *W drop with compensatory lengthening: μώβνει mābnī “having build”, μώμνει māmnī “having count” (not **mābniy, **māmniw). In the passive 'ennuktāb participle, monophthongization takes place: μύνναβνη munnabnē “being made to build”, μύνναμνού munnamnū “being made to count” (not **munnabnay, **munnamnaw). Note that the new long vowels do not draw the stress.

7.11.10 C1/C2/C3 = N

Roots with initial *N (as in *nkīr “recognize”, giving ακκήρ 'əkhēr “introduce” and εννακκώρ 'ennəkhār “be introduced”) undergo assimilation in all forms, with C2 being geminated or aspirated. They are otherwise regular, although if aspiration appears, it will be accompanied by vowel reduction.

Roots with medial *N (as in *knās “gather”, giving ακνής 'aknēs “insert” and εννυκνώς 'ennuknās “be inserted” 3 ) are regular.

Root-final *N is irregular only in the two past tenses, where assimilation takes place in a number of forms. With the root *šfān “cover” we get the verbs ασ̄φήν 'ašfēn “tell a secret, make someone swear to secrecy” and εννυσ̄φών 'ennušfān “swear to secrecy”:

7.11.11 C1 = PH/TH/KH/TSH/ČH

Roots with initial aspirates are largely unproblematic. Since C1 is always in a cluster, it will always surface in an unaspirated state. The only difference between this and the regular paradigms is that any short vowel immediately preceding C1 will reduce to /ə/; in 'aktēb this is not even noticeable orthographically, though the reduction is clear in 'ennuktāb. One such root is *thrād, yielding the Scale III verbs ατρήδ 'ətrēd “send quickly” and εννατρώδ 'ennətrād “be sent quickly”.

7.11.12 C2 = PH/TH/KH/TSH/ČH

Root-internal aspirates are completely regular, always surface in an unaspirated form, and never show any vowel reduction. For instance, the root *lkhīn “kiss” becomes αλκήν 'alkēn “touch [something to something], place in contact” and εννυλκών 'ennulkān “be touched [to], be placed in contact, lie tangent to”.

7.11.13 C3 = PH/TH/KH/TSH/ČH

The one aspirate subclass that is particularly irregular in Scale III are the C3 aspirates, although this irregularity is the same as in other scales. The aspiration will only surface when intervocal, short vowels immediately preceding C3 will reduce to schwa, and the preterite and imperfect use the special set of aspirated endings, plus an epenthetic schwa in some of the second person forms. The chart below demonstrates the conjugation of the two derivatives of the root *ǧrīkh “sink”, namely αγ̄ρήκ 'aǧrēk “submerge, immerse, dunk” and εννυγ̄ρώκ 'ennuǧrāk “be submerged, immersed”.

Scale III Conjugation: 'aǧrēk “immerse”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg ωγ̄ρήκ
'āǧrēk
αγ̄ρήκκετ
'aǧrēkhet
αγ̄ριήκ
'aǧriek
в̄ώγ̄ρακ
vāǧrək
2nd Sg Masc τωγ̄ρήκ
tāǧrēk
αγ̄ρήκκαττα
'aǧrēkhətha
αγ̄ριήκκετ
'aǧriekhet
в̄ατώγ̄ρακ
vatāǧrək
2nd Sg Fem τωγ̄ρακκεί
tāǧrəkhī
αγ̄ρήκκατζζε
'aǧrēkhəčhe
αγ̄ριήκκες̄
'aǧriekheš
в̄ατώγ̄ρακ
vatāǧrək
3rd Sg Masc ιωγ̄ρήκ
yāǧrēk
αγ̄ρήκ
'aǧrēk
αγ̄ριήκ
'aǧriek
в̄ιώγ̄ρακ
vyāǧrək
3rd Sg Fem ιωγ̄ρακκεί
yāǧrəkhī
αγ̄ρηκκώ
'aǧrēkhā
αγ̄ριηκκώ
'aǧriekhā
в̄ιώγ̄ρακ
vyāǧrək
1st Pl νωγ̄ρακκού
nāǧrəkhū
αγ̄ρηκνώ
'aǧrēknā
αγ̄ριήκκεν
'aǧriekhen
в̄ανώγ̄ρακ
vanāǧrək
2nd Pl Masc τωγ̄ρακκού
tāǧrəkhū
αγ̄ρήκκαττυν
'aǧrēkhəthun
αγ̄ριήκκαττυν
'aǧriekhəthun
в̄ατώγ̄ρακ
vatāǧrək
2nd Pl Fem τωγ̄ρακκού
tāǧrəkhū
αγ̄ρήκκατζζιν
'aǧrēkhəčhin
αγ̄ριήκκατζζιν
'aǧriekhəčhin
в̄ατώγ̄ρακ
vatāǧrək
3rd Pl ιωγ̄ρακκού
yāǧrəkhū
αγ̄ρηκκού
'aǧrēkhū
αγ̄ριηκκού
'aǧriekhū
в̄ιώγ̄ρακ
vyāǧrək
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg αγ̄ρήκ
'aǧrēk
Infinitive μωγ̄ρήκ
māǧrēk
Fem Sg αγ̄ρακκεί
'aǧrəkhī
Participle μώγ̄ρακ
māǧrək
Pl αγ̄ρακκού
'aǧrəkhū
Scale III Conjugation: 'ennuǧrāk “be immersed”
Present Preterite Imperfect Pf. Subj.
1st Sg αννυγ̄ρώκ
'annuǧrāk
εννυγ̄ρώκκετ
'ennuǧrākhet
εννυγ̄ρυώκ
'ennuǧruok
в̄άννυγ̄ρακ
vannuǧrək
2nd Sg Masc τιννυγ̄ρώκ
tinnuǧrāk
εννυγ̄ρώκκαττα
'ennuǧrākhətha
εννυγ̄ρυώκκατ
'ennuǧruokhat
в̄ατίννυγ̄ρακ
vatinnuǧrək
2nd Sg Fem τιννυγ̄ρακκεί
tinnuǧrəkhī
εννυγ̄ρώκκατζζε
'ennuǧrākhəčhe
εννυγ̄ρυώκκας̄
'ennuǧruokhaš
в̄ατίννυγ̄ρακ
vatinnuǧrək
3rd Sg Masc ιννυωγ̄ρώκ
yinnuǧrāk
εννυγ̄ρώκ
'ennuǧrāk
εννυγ̄ρυώκ
'ennuǧruok
в̄ήννυγ̄ρακ
vēnnuǧrək
3rd Sg Fem ιννυγ̄ρακκεί
yinnuǧrəkhī
εννυγ̄ρωκκώ
'ennuǧrākhā
εννυγ̄ρυωκκώ
'ennuǧruokhā
в̄ήννυγ̄ρακ
vēnnuǧrək
1st Pl νιννυγ̄ρακκού
ninnuǧrəkhū
εννυγ̄ρωκνώ
'ennuǧrāknā
εννυγ̄ρυώκκαν
'ennuǧruokhan
в̄ανίννυγ̄ρακ
vatinnuǧrək
2nd Pl Masc τιννυγ̄ρακκού
tinnuǧrəkhū
εννυγ̄ρώκκαττυν
'ennuǧrākhəthun
εννυγ̄ρυώκκαττυν
'ennuǧruokhəthun
в̄ατίννυγ̄ρακ
vatinnuǧrək
2nd Pl Fem τιννυγ̄ρακκού
tinnuǧrəkhū
εννυγ̄ρώκκατζζιν
'ennuǧrākhəčhin
εννυγ̄ρυώκκατζζιν
'ennuǧruokhəčhin
в̄ατίννυγ̄ρακ
vatinnuǧrək
3rd Pl ιννυγ̄ρακκού
yinnuǧrəkhū
εννυγ̄ρωκκού
'ennuǧrākhū
εννυγ̄ρυωκκού
'ennuǧruokhū
в̄ήννυγ̄ρακ
vēnnuǧrək
Imperative Deverbatives
Masc Sg Infinitive μαννυγ̄ρώκ
mannuǧrāk
Fem Sg Participle μύνναγ̄ρακ
munnaǧrək
Pl

1) This -ū- is the reflex of an historical Semitic *ā stative marker, seen in some other Semitic languages but largely lost in Alashian.

2) The semantic progression from 'cause to ask' to 'lend' is not entirely clear. There was presumably an intermediate stage something along the lines of “offer”.

3) The semantic connection between between the katab meaning “gather” and the 'aktēb meaning “insert” is not clear, yet this pair is seen in several Semitic languages. The semantic divergence is either very old, or else these two forms represent entirely unrelated roots that happened to merge phonetically in Semitic.