Verbs

Verbs + Habitual Suffixes

Remarks

ɖa (to cook)

ɖa-a

Lengthening of the verb-stem-final vowel

ʄu (to run)

ʄuw-ɔ

Raising of the central vowel /a/, (the truncated form of the habitual marker -na), to the level of mid back vowel ɔ due to the insertion of /w/ between “u” and “-a”.

dze (to split)

dz[e]-iy-e

The verb-stem-final vowel e is interchanged with i, a higher front vowel and the habitual marker -a is then assimilated to -e to harmonise with the front vowel. There is also an insertion of “y”.

ʄo (to beat)

ʄ[o]u w-ɔ

There is a substitution of the high back vowel /u/ for the low back vowel /o/ in some cases. /w/ is inserted between the “u” or “o” in some cases, and the habitual marker -a. The -a is subsequently backed, raised and rounded to /ɔ/.

wɔ (to perform a role)

wɔ-ɔ

Lengthening of the verb-stem-final vowel instead of the clipped habitual marker -a.

dzi (to sing)

dziy-e

Insertion of /j/ between “i” and -a. Raising of the central vowel /a/ to “e” due to the insertion of /j/.