Abstract:
The purpose of this study is an attempt to provide a description of a limited topic in
Masikoro grammar.
Up to now a few linguists have written about this language, basically on discourse,
stories, and proverbs. Very little has been written on grammar. I have never found any
grammar exclusively done on Masikoro language.
This linguistic project, therefore, is to describe tense in Masikoro in a way using
linguistics theories I have learnt in class.
Masikoro has three tenses, the Present tense, the Past tense, and the Future tense. Only
these three basic tenses have each their particular form. Complex tenses like Present
Perfect or Pluperfect, and Aspects such as Progressive and Completed are covered
under these three basic tenses. As for meaning, these basic tenses have two main
roles. First, they express time reference, and second, they express the order of
occurrence of events. The role of tense masking in subordinate clauses is also
discussed.
Since this work is the first detailed study of this subject, I hope it will provide a
foundation for those who will do further study on the Masikoro language in future. I
also hope it will be a relevant tool for the Masikoro Bible translation team for
understanding the overarching of the tense-system.
