Tense Marking System in Limbu and English
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of English Education
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.
Description
Keywords
Limbu language, tense marking system, pedagogical implication