Abstract:

Suffix {-i/y} is one of the most used tense markers in modern Uyghur. it is a multi-functional suffix that, in different contexts, can express future, present, aorist and even sometimes past tense. In some studies, different accounts have been given on the functions of this suffix and various terms were used. Although there are some studies that mainly focused on the tense marking function of this suffix, the important factors such as actionality and temporal adverbs, which are essential for expressing different tenses, were not taken into explanations. In this paper, we will, firstly, look back into the historical development of this suffix, and give a short review on previous studies. Then, examples of suffix {-i/y} will be classified according to actionality of verbs, tense expressed by {-i/y} will be analyzed. Other factors, such as temporal adverbs that determine tense and affect actionality, are also considered in analysis.

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