Beyond Time - Linguistics - University of California, Berkeley

Chapter 6
Relevance and time: -ite
6.1 Introduction
The verbal suffix -ite presents numerous complexities and defies a strictly temporal analysis
for a number of reasons. First, its temporal interpretation is highly dependent on the predicate
selected. With some predicates, -ite typically gives a stative or resultative reading, as
in (320). In the resultative cases, the situation described in the predicate took place in the
past, but its results continue. With other predicates, such as those in (321), the reading is
more progressive-like, with the situation described still underway at perspective time.
(320) Stative and resultative uses
a. Stative:
ndìlíbwènè
ndi-li-bwene
1sg-pres.stat-see.stat
‘I see’
b. Resultative:
ndìlízìmènè
ndi-li-zim-ene
1sg-pres.stat-stand.up-stat
‘I am standing’ (because I have stood up)
c. Resultative:
ndìlílìbììkìtè
ndi-li-li-biik-ite
1sg-pres.stat-refl-hide-stat
‘I am hiding’ (because I have hidden myself)
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