Analyzing the Tense System in Mehri Language: Unveiling Temporal Structures

Abstract

Based on Rubin’s (2018) book entitled “Omani Mehri: A New Grammar with Texts”, this analysis tries to analyze the tense system in Mehri language to unveil the temporal structure in this language. In addition, the analysis illustrates the main tenses in Mehri in relation to their usage, forms, and functions with detailed explanations and examples. The approach of Rubin (2018) of analyzing the verb tense system in Mehri was adopted as a method of carrying out this analysis. Moreover, additional data were gathered from two native and specialized persons in Mehri language. The analysis revealed that the present tense appears in Mahri in the form of a present verb with a form close to the Arabic form (yafa'ul) with kasra on the /yā/. Some present tense verbs may be preceded by a prefix /ǝl/ to carry out the function of transferring the verb from the present to the future with the meaning of negation, as if it corresponds to the article of negation of the future in Arabic (lan), such as /l-ād ǝdūbǝh zōyǝd/. On the other hand, the past tense in Mehri signifies the conclusion of an event when it lacks any precedence. The form of the end of the event also appears in the emergence of the article /bɛr/ to a meaning that is the meaning of verification, meaning (qad) in Arabic. In specific contexts that depend on the context of the situation, the past tense may refer to the near future, and this meaning is understood from the sentence (sǝyūr sǝyūr). When a prefix, such as the subjunctive, precedes the verb, the past tense can signify the immediate present occurring at the moment of speaking, bringing the meaning closer to the condition. Finally, a prefix /qis/ usually precedes the future tense in Mahri, indicating the action that will occur in the future, depending on the context.