The inflection of Tigre weak-final and strong verbs

Abstract

This paper provides a complete, exclusively phonological account of the alternations in the paradigms of the two largest verbal types in the Ethio-Semitic language Tigre. It is proposed that “weakfinal” verbs are constructed using the same templates and vocalizations as “strong” verbs. All of the differences between the two inflectional paradigms follow from weak-final verbs involving a vowel /e/ where strong verbs position a consonant. The analysis, conducted with the tools of Strict CV Phonology and Element Theory, is the first of its kind for Tigre.