Verb – μ, ν endings

ObjectivesLearning objectives

• The morpho-phonology of verbs with stems ending in μ or ν
• The iterative use of Luo

VocabularyVocabulary

MorphologyMorphology: Verb - μ, ν endings

• Just like liquid verbs (42.2.3.1), nasal verbs do not like σ, so in Luso and Elusa the σ drops out, e.g. κρίνω → ἔκρινα, and in Luso the theme vowel also lengthens, e.g. κρίνομεν → κρινοῦμεν
• In the Elusa, the stem occasionally lengthens when the σ drops out, e.g. μένω ‘stay’ becomes ἔμεινα

• Unlike liquid verbs, the nasal consonant drops out before the κ of the Leluka and before the θ of the psv Elusa and Luso

SemanticsSemantics: Verb – Luo (9 – Iterative)

Verb – Luo: all 4 parts on one page →Also in Lesson 38.1, Lesson 40.1, Lesson 42.2

Generics like Foxes have holes or habituals like Jesus eats with sinners involve multiple events or states. These sentences would not be true if only one fox had a hole or if Jesus only ate with sinners one time. Rather, these sentences describe characteristics of foxes and Jesus. We can also refer to multiple events that are not characteristics of an individual or group of individuals with the Luo form. This is called the iterative use of the present. We see it with a special class of events called semelfactives that have no duration or natural endpoint, such as the verb κρούω ‘knock’:

In this description of Peter’s escape from prison, we are not to understand Peter knocking one time and then stopping. It seems as if Peter is knocking multiple times, since verse 13 describes him starting to knock and verse 16 says he continues knocking (seemingly multiple times). This description, then, refers to multiple knocking-events, even though Peter’s knocking is not a characteristic of him (i.e. this is not a generic or habitual).