37.394, Books: Auxiliary Verbs and Main Verbs in Kiswahili: Amidu (2026)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-394. Wed Jan 28 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.394, Books: Auxiliary Verbs and Main Verbs in Kiswahili: Amidu (2026)

Moderator: Steven Moran (linguist at linguistlist.org)
Managing Editor: Valeriia Vyshnevetska
Team: Helen Aristar-Dry, Mara Baccaro, Daniel Swanson
Jobs: jobs at linguistlist.org | Conferences: callconf at linguistlist.org | Pubs: pubs at linguistlist.org

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org

Editor for this issue: Mara Baccaro <mara at linguistlist.org>

================================================================


Date: 26-Jan-2026
From: Ulrich Lueders [contact at lincom.eu]
Subject: Auxiliary Verbs and Main Verbs in Kiswahili: Amidu (2026)


Title: Auxiliary Verbs and Main Verbs in Kiswahili
Subtitle: An Analysis of their Interrelationships and Patterns
Series Title: LINCOM Studies in African Linguistics 100
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Lincom GmbH
           https://lincom-shop.eu/
Book URL:
https://lincom-shop.eu/epages/57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectPath=%2FShops%2F57709feb-b889-4707-b2ce-c666fc88085d%2FProducts%2F%22ISBN%209783969392669%22

Author(s): Assibi A. Amidu (Norwegian University of Science and
Technology)

ISBN 978 3 96939 266 9 (Hardbound). LINCOM Studies in African
Linguistics 100. 400pp. 2025. 17x24cm. Euro 164.

Abstract:

This book is about serial predicate constructions (SPCs) in Kiswahili,
traditionally auxiliary and main verbs. They are popularly called
"compound tenses" consisting of two verbs, each with its
Tense-Aspect-Mood (TAM) marker. The term has drawbacks. The book
distinguishes between TAM-taking verbs and non-TAM-taking verbs, which
regularly combine to form auxiliary-main verb phrases or SPCs. Unlike
Indo-European languages, all verbs that can function as auxiliary
verbs can also function as main verbs and vice-versa. Therefore, there
is no close class of auxiliary verbs in Kiswahili. As the book
asserts, a bona fide auxiliary-main verb phrase or SPC, normally,
occurs within a clause boundary. This assertion is underpinned with
definitions and the finiteness concept of Halliday (1985) as essential
criteria for Kiswahili. The book identifies two types of paradoxical
auxiliary-main verb phrases or SPCs, the cohesive versus non-cohesive.
It also reveals that an auxiliary or main verb with stem -kwisha →
-isha 'finish, complete' is not becoming a new TAM marker by itself or
in associating with any TAM marker. It further reveals that Ashton's
(1947: 371-372) negative for -kwisha → -isha 'finish, complete' and as
'already' as {ja} or {ha…ja…} 'not yet' is a basic grammatical error
not grounded in negative inflections for the auxiliary verb. In
effect, she invented her own negative inflection.

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics
                     Language Documentation
                     Morphology

Subject Language(s): Swahili (individual language) (swh)

Written In: English (eng)



------------------------------------------------------------------------------

********************** LINGUIST List Support ***********************
Please consider donating to the Linguist List, a U.S. 501(c)(3) not for profit organization:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=87C2AXTVC4PP8

LINGUIST List is supported by the following publishers:

Bloomsbury Publishing http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/

Cambridge University Press http://www.cambridge.org/linguistics

Cascadilla Press http://www.cascadilla.com/

De Gruyter Brill https://www.degruyterbrill.com/?changeLang=en

Edinburgh University Press http://www.edinburghuniversitypress.com

John Benjamins http://www.benjamins.com/

Language Science Press http://langsci-press.org

Lincom GmbH https://lincom-shop.eu/

MIT Press http://mitpress.mit.edu/

Multilingual Matters http://www.multilingual-matters.com/

Narr Francke Attempto Verlag GmbH + Co. KG http://www.narr.de/

Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics / Landelijke (LOT) http://www.lotpublications.nl/

Peter Lang AG http://www.peterlang.com

SIL International Publications http://www.sil.org/resources/publications


----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-37-394
----------------------------------------------------------