Tense Marking System in Limbu and English

Abstract

This research entitled Tense Marking System in Limbu and English is an attempt to identify the tense marking system of Limbu language to compare and contrast them with this of English and suggest some pedagogical implication based on the findings. In order to accomplish the objectives of the study, both primary and secondary sources of data have been used. The sample population of the study consists of 60 Limbu native speakers selected through purposive non-probability sampling procedure to elicit the required data. Data for English language has been taken from secondary sources. A set of questionnaire was used to elicit the data from literate informants and the same questionnaire was used as an interview schedule for illiterate informants. The collected data has been analyzed, interpreted and presented descriptively. In Limbu, there is not past tense marker with transitive verbs in Limbu but „-ed1‟ marker is in English. There is „-s‟ marker with 3rd person singular in English and „-0‟ marker in Limbu for present tense. i.e. tub-u, thuŋ-u (Limbu) and plucks, goes (English). In Limbu, suffix ‘-ra’ on main verb khaktu show progressive aspect and other morphemes yaka, keyaksi are present markers in Limbu and suffix „-ing‟ on main verb in English along with auxiliary verbs „am, is, are‟ as present markers and „was, were‟ are past markers in English. Similarly, yage, meyage are separate morphemes in past tense markers in Limbu for progressive aspect. In Limbu, suffix ‘- aŋ’ is added to root verb to indicate perfect aspect. ‘Waʔ‘ is present perfect marker and ‘we’ is past perfect marker. But have+v-ed2 is present perfect markers and had+ved2is past perfect markers in English.