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Imperative mood (IMP). The imperative mood is indicated by the absence of a
subject and the occurrence of a L tone on the first syllable of the verb stem. In the
negative form, a H tone occurs on both the verb root and the reduplicant.
(29) a. =CA( =CA( =CA( =CA( take(pl):IMP corn
‘Take the corn.’
DET
b. = = = = @ @ @ @ (J5( (J5( (J5( (J5(
go:IMP with good DET
‘Good-bye (lit: go well).’
c. I(C>= I(C>= I(C>= I(C>= =C= =C= =C= =C= AA AA AA AA
RED-eat meat animal NEG
‘Don’t eat meat.’
Obligations/Interdictions mood. Obligations and interdictions are indicated by a L
tone on the first syllable of the verb root. This is the same form as the imperative, but the
subject is present. In addition, this form usually appears in a subordinate clause.
(30) a. ( ( ( ( =@(A =@(A =@(A =@(A I I I I @ @ @ @ K(MKI(H K(MKI(H K(MKI(H K(MKI(H C=F=( C=F=( C=F=( C=F=( SS suffice:NF that 2SG be:OB with wisdom on-top DET
‘You need to have wisdom as well.’
b. I( I( I( I( ( ( ( ( @( @( @( @( =@(A =@(A =@(A =@(A =KC =KC =KC =KC @ @ @ @ ==5A ==5A ==5A ==5A
1SG be:NF INF-like DET that PL-sibling 1SG with PL-woman
A@A A@A A@A A@A C=( C=( C=( C=(
C=( C=( C=( C=( AA AA AA AA
3PL enter:OB inside DET there NEG
‘I didn’t want my sisters to go in there.’
c. F=(I( F=(I( F=(I( F=(I( (K (K (K (K = = = = =@(A =@(A =@(A =@(A J5 J5 J5 J5 F=H=
F=H=
1SG REP-be:NF INF-ask mother 1SG that 3SG look.for:OB
K(@K( K(@K( H H H H
B
rest thing DET BEN 1SG
‘I was again asking my mother to look for some leftovers for me.’
d. ( ( ( ( =@(A =@(A =@(A =@(A J( J( J( J(
it suffice:NF that 1SG tie:OB REFL-1SG
‘I need to go to the bathroom.’
Subjunctive mood (SUBJ). The subjunctive mood is indicated by a M tone on the
first syllable of the verb root. It is often used to connote the idea of correctness or advice,
and it is conveyed in an English translation by use of the auxiliary ‘should’ (31). In
addition, it is employed in a reason-result structure (32).
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