Towards an Aspect-Based Analysis of the Verb Categories of Amurdak

This paper proposes a reanalysis of the TAM categories of Amurdak. Previous work has assumed a contrast of tense categories. It will be shown that such an analysis is inadequate, as it cannot accurately account for the data, because the morphemes representing these categories do not have the function to localize events in time. Instead, it is posited that the Amurdak verb possesses a contrast between a perfective and an imperfective aspect. This permits an accurate explanation of the data, and it is well-supported cross-linguistically. In addition, it opens up interesting questions from the viewpoint of comparative areal and typological linguistics.